The true northerner., 1875-09-03
BOwIE.KNIFE ARGUMENT.
Tragic Episode ip the Early History of
Arkansas.
[From the Washington (Ark1 Telegraph.l

Arkansas.
GFrom the Washington (Ark) Telegraph
There is law on our statute books
Offering premium for wolf scalps. This
law was enacted in 1887. Every person
killing wolf is entitled TO such compen-
sation as the County Court may fix
usually five dollars. The passage of this
act was associated with one of the blood
lest tragedies ever enacted i'll the State.
The Legislature of 1886, the first con-
vened after the State was admitted into
the Union, had met, enacted many laws,
and adjourned.
Among other things, the real estate
and State banks were Incorporated. In
the fall of 1897 Gov. James s. Conway
convened the General Assembly in ex-
traordinary session. 1t was at this ses-
sion that the law in relation to wolves
was enacted. The bill was introduced
in the Senate, and, after various amend
ments, passed on the 4th of December,
1887. 1t WAS Immediately after reported
to the House, of which John Wilson, of
Clark, was Speaker. Mr.. Wilson was
also President of the Real Estate Bank,
created at the first session of the Gen
eral Assembly. Immediately after the
bill was reported to the House, it was
read a first and second time, under a
suspension of the rules. After several
amendments had been voted upon, Mr..
Davis, of Chicot, submitted the follow
ing as an additional section:
BE IL further enacted That all scalps so
taken and secured shall be good currency
throag tout the State, and be receivable for all
dues to the State.
Mr.. G. F. M. Noland, one OF the Repre-
sentatives from Independence, offered
the following as a proviso
Procided That the certificate of the Magis-
trate, before whom they were proved, accom-
panies them.
Mr.. j. j. Anthony, of Randolph coun-
ty, here offered an amendment which cost
him his life few minutes afterward.
He moved to amend the amendment, by
striking out the word magistrate" and
inserting " the President of the Real
Estate Bank" in its place.
The Speaker, Mr.. Wilson, was Presi-
dent of the Real Estate Bank, and there
had been an i'll feeling existing between
him and Anthony for some time. He
considered Mr.. Anthony's amendment as
an insult which called for resentment on
his part, then and there. He declared
Mr.. Anthonys amendment out of order,
and ordered the member from Randolph
to take his seat. This Mr.. Anthony re-
fused TO do. "Then / will make you,
replied the Speaker, who descended from
his stand TO the floor, and directed his
steps toward that part of the hall where
Mr.. Anthony was standing. The latter
was standing near the first window on
the east side of the hall next to the
Speakers stand. He advanced toward
Wilson, and both met about midway
between the Speakers stand and the
window. Wilson had drawn a bowie
knife as he advanced. At this point
Gen. Grandson ID. Royston, who was
then a Representative from Hampstead
county, endeavored to get between the
two, and did succeed in holding a chair
between them. Wilson, however, with
his long knife, reached under the chair
and stabbed Anthony to the heart, who
fell TO the floor dead man.
This episode, of course, ended the pro-
ceedings for that day. Mr.. Smith, of
Arkansas county, was called to the chair,
the Wolf Scalp bill was laid on the table
till the following Saturday, and the
House adjourned. Next day resolutions
of sympathy were adopted and the dead
member appropriately buried.
On the morning of the 9th, Gen. G..
ID. Royston, of Hampstead county, was
temporarily called to the chair, and pre-
sented to the House the resignation of
Mr.. Wilson as member of the House.
This resignation was then, on motion of
Mr.. Fowler, laid on the table, and Mr..
Il. G. Bird, of Pulaski, offered a resolu-
ton that Mr.. Wilson be expelled as a
member of the House. This resolution
was adopted by vote of 36 to 4, and
Mr.. Wilson was thereupon declared ex-
PEELED.
Thus, it will be observed, the present
"Wolf-scalp law" was a dear one to this
State. To thif day the bloody tragedy in
the hall of the House of Representatives
on the 4th of December, 1887, is pointed
to as an evidence that this is the land Of
bowie-knives.