The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-05-16
FIGHTING EDITORS.
Lively Shooting Bee Between Two Arkan-
sas Quill-Drivers.
little Rock Cor. st. Louis Globe.]

Lively Shooting Bee Between Two Arkan-
sas Quill-Drivers.
little Rock Cor. st. Louis Globe.l
A newspaper controversy has been
progressing between Maj. John ID. Ad-
ans. of the Gazette, and one OF the lead
ing financiers OF the State, and Col. j..
N. Smithee. State Land Commissioner
and editor of the Democrat, for the past
few days. In his reply, Saturday, Col.
Smithee used the following language :
"There is no alternative but for me to
pronounce John D. Adams Liar, in
whom there is no truth; a corrupter OF
men. as he is notorious debaucher OF
W men: a slanderer who is purse proud
enough to suppose that his money can
shield him from the consequences of
his calumnies q thing in human form
which, when necessity requires it, will
develop him into either petty or a
frst-class thief, according to the size of
the pile in his reach.
To the above Maj. Adams made a
lengthy reply in the Gazette of this
morning, winding up as follows :
Summing up the facts in the case, the
following points are made: l. Smithee
purloined the document referred to at
the solicitation of Hovey. 2. He al
lowed an innocent boy to be accused of
the ofense, and saw him driven in dis
grace from the Gazette office on account
of aninfamous act of which he (Smithee)
was guilty. 3. He seeks by vile cpl
thets and a general denial to defend
himself. 4. After publishing all the
vile language which he could command,
like q coward that he is. he hides him.
self"
At about 10 o'clock this morning,
Maj. Adams, walking alone and in front
of the stairway entrance to the Stoddard
Bank building, came almost face to face
with Col. J. N. Smithee, who, in COM
pany with Capt. James Cook, was just
mounting the pavement at the corner
Quite number of persons were on
either corner anticipating such a meet
ing, and, as the two principals discov-
cred each other, each drew a pistol.
Mayor Fletcher, who was present, Or
dered the parties to deslst. Maj.
Adams, wto, under the circumstances,
appeared to be unusually cool, as he
drew his pistol with his right, waved
his left, requesting the crowd to clear
the way. Col. Smithee, probably un-
der the excitement and Importance of
the occasion, appeared to be somewhat
nervous, but was on time with his pis-
toll, and, although opinions are divided
on the subject, it is generally asserted
that ne got in the first shot, followed with
rapidity by one from Maj. Adams. The
distance between the parties could not
have exceeded twelve feet. After firing
his first shot, Col. Smithee stepped or
jumped behind the upright triangular
board sign of T. B. Mills, at the same
time continuing his shooting at Maj.
Adams, who Immediately advanced on
him, firing at him as he lodged around
the sign on one side. and then meeting
and firing on him as he came around
the other. The distance in the last in
stance was not over two or three feet
between the parties, and, as Col. Smithee
fired four shots in all, and Maj. Adams
three, the wonder is that both were not
killed. After his fourth shot, Col.
Smithee threw his pistol at Maj. Adams,
and, it is asserted, did draw, or attempt
ed to draw, a second pistol, at the same
time staggering or running sideways,
until about two-thirds of the way across
Markham street, when he fell, and,
while lying in reclining position, was
approached by Maj. Adams, pistol in
hand. After gazing down on his pros
trate fos for a moment the Major re-
marked: "You damned dog, could
kill you, but will spare your life. %
Maj Adams was arrested, and gave
bonds for his appearance in the sum of
$4,000. Maj. Adams received no
wounds, but the brim of his hat was rid
died by ball. Col. Smithee was shot
through the right arm below the elbow,
and, as his arm was bent, the ball struck
it again and lodged just below the shout
der, from whence it was extracted. He
also received fesh-wound in the left
buttock.