The Iola register., 1880-09-10
An Exciting Scene In Court Room.

An Exciting Scene In Court Room.
LouBvILLE. KY, August q.
THE C0urier-Joursars special from
Nicholasville gives the following ac-
count of rather startling episode In
the trial of James H. Arnold for the
murder of his brother-in-law, the Hon.
Robert Little, which was concluded at
that place to-day:
At little after four O'Clock Mr.. C. ]. Brons-
ton, the C0mmonwealth's Attorney, rose to
close the argument of the prosecution and re-
view the facts in the case, and lay before the
jury the law and the facts bereft Of the orna-
mentati0n in which skillful counsel had cloth
ed them. At the outset he explained that he
was simply discharging his duty; that he rep
resented the prisoner rs much aS the Common
wealth, and that he intended to discharge that
honestly ss yy.,S and feassss for
Gentlemen of the jury, you do not know
% well as 1 do the difficulties with which
must contend, nor the danger am in; but. 80
CATION to myself. to the Commonwealth and
man."
the wounds In Little's fragile body, and had
dropped from his hand the OvercOat with the
aid OF which he had shown the jury how the
fatal deed was accomplished, when Senator
son, counsel for the defense, who had retired
after the speech of the Senator, re-entered the
room and took their seats within the bar. In
that moment MI. Br0nst0n, who mad elected 70
vigorous language of the forgery wnicn Little
had denounced to AlnOld's face. Quoting the
words of Little, ne exclaimed:
Senator Voorhees, arose from his seat and
Mays it please the Court, no such testi-
mony as that has been introduced IN TINS
true" There had been, God knows, plenty
of excitement in that densely crowded house
all day. There were men there who believed
lieved he ought to be acquitted; men with
convictions born of personal feeling, rather
than the mature result OF careful weighing
or the testimony. Such men were the com
to set fire to and become blazing, riotous
mob. This spark was, unintenti0nally no
doubt, furnished by Senator VOORHEES,.
Thinking that our civilization was not on
trial, but was assured and based upon the
bowling of ali heads to the imperial mandates
of the law peacefully administered, he fired
up at what he Thought was an overwrought
statement by the Prosecuting Attorney. and
denounced it as untrue. There was buzz
of excitement, and mems voices began to
hum. Mr.. Bronson, turning to the Senator,
was such evidence, and his statement was
true" The buzz of voices became louder, and
wOmen's faces began TO pale.
Again the Senator sald it was untrue, and
again the attorney aSsevel ated the truthfulness
of his statement. A third time the Senator
said:
"I say it is not true"
man named J. Z. LEVEL, who was sitting
friend Of the prisoner, James H. Arnold, said
nothing OF the kind had been offered in testi-
mOny.
At the same instant, some person in the
20 tk,,k fnlV
side the bar, shouted, with an oath, that it was
lie.
Immediately following that came woman's
scream, and then ensued scene Of confusion
and riotOus disorder almost impossible to por.
tray. How it was accomplished l know not,
but the vast audience of women got out of
that house in quicker time than it takes me to
tell il. Men and women went tumbling over
chairs and tables, leaving lunch, lunch-bas-
kets, napkins, flowers, and other feminine
articles scattered in the wake of the retreat.
Some made their exit by the windows. and,
when the danger of bloOdshed seemed most
imminent, there was crowd OF men covered
in the far end of the hall, who dared not ap-
proach the door for fear of stopping eccentric
bullets.
A brother of the prisoner had run up to Mr..
pointing pistol at his bosom, exclaimed, with
curse:
1--WE got you now!"
Before he could fire, the pistol not having
been cooked when presented, some by-stander
grasped the weapon and turned its muzzle
aside. Mr.. Bronston backed to the Judges
"Give me pistol: give me a pistol, some
body! Don't you see that man is trying to
Judge b. F. Buckner, the new Circuit Judge,
was on his feet taking in this scene with mis-
eagle eye. Quietly and decisively he gave his
commands to the officers, who, numerous as
they were, were almost pOwerless to control
that vast and raging thrOng. BehOlding the
man with the pistol. ne shouted:
:. Mr.. Sheriff, disarm that man."
The Sheriff had already his hands full guard
and the order not being Obeyed instantly he
called to the clerk and bystanders 10 at once
disarm the man, who was struggling to hold
Among the bystanders was Walter Rhodes,
Deputy Sheriff Of Fayette, who took hand
Instantly in assisting to make the arrest,
while Slew Baldwin, the Circuit Clerk, clear
ing tables and chairs, succeeded in getting
hold OF the uplffted pistol and wrencning IT
from the mans grasp. On the instant he was
ordered to prison.
When the Sheriff and his determined depu-
ties, assisted by Colonel Thompson and q few
citizens, had restored order, and the Judges
gavel could once more be heard, he proceeded
to express his opinion OF the outrage that had
just been perpeIrated, and announced that he
should stop all proceedings until peace had
been completely restored.
James s. LEVEL, the man who had denied
that such testimony had been introduced, was
called before his Honor, and was required to
give bonds for $l,O00 each, one to keep the
peace, and one to answer any Indictment that
might be found against him.
Andy Mershan was brought up and SEN
fenced to confinement in the jail for twenty
four hours and the payment of a fine of thirty
dollars. Then turning to the clerk, the Judge
directed an order to be entered requiring the
Sheriff to summon q Grand Jury at once.
When these things were done, Senator VOOr-
hees arose to explain to the Court that he had
not intended to raise disturbance by his re-
between the Senator and Mr.. BronstOn, the
gentlemen agreed that their remarks had
been the result of q misunderstanding. The
jury and the prisoner were then ordered to be
brought into court and the trial to proceed.
Arnold came out with his wife clasped about
his neck, and when he took his place beside
ing to be separated from him, and looking
defiance at any and all that should attempt