Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-02-09
Fighting in High Places by Pub
lie Men.

COLUMBIA February S.-The Fishburne.
Smythe controversy has assumed disgrace
ful phase 80 far as the former is concerned.
Fishburno who wns committed to Jail in do.
fault Of $4,000 bail, was released from cnn~
finement night befoie last. two friends quali-
Tying rs his sureties. Yesterday he resumed
his place in the Senate and. for the first timo
in weeks, appeared duly sober. The stock
law his hobby up for discussion and
ho mado q violent speech against it. To.day
ho appeared in tho Senate chamber in his
no rmal condition, uncompromisingly drunk
His wild behavior gave promonition of IN
outGurst in somo direction. When the rTstock
law wns again brought up he took the floor
and made vigorous effort against it. char-
acterizing its defenders in terms which
would better bcfit rat pit than the serene
atmosphere of q legislative chamber. His
unparlamentary language elected tho mild
rebuko Of the President, Lieutenant Governor
John D. Kennedy, who endeavorod to check
his excess Of speech This was construed by
Fishburno as diroct affront, and he used
rather bi,tor language toward tho presiding
officer.
Shortly afterward the Senate adjourned. :.
AS Kennedy was passing tho row Of desks,
Fishburne nccostcd him and charged him
with unfnirncss and partiality in his rulings
This Kennedy denied, stating TINT he treated
all Senators alike. and had shown especial
leniency toward Fishburne. The latter then
exclaimed: you are damned lar!"
Tbo oron,>or II on,oI, ,>lontol ~, e,. -, E.L
burne's face. The two then clenched in
physical combat and tho Senators had con-
siderable trouble in parting them.
Kennedy then left the hall in company
with several Senators. Fishburne seized his
large hickory stick and followed. At the
gate the two again cnme together, but were
separated before any blows wero passed.
Kennedy then proceeded up Main street for
two blocks when he was again ovcrtakcn by
Fishburne who irquircd if he was armed. lie
answered that he was not and Fishburnc
made violent blow at him with his stick.
The lick was wurded off by Colonel Goodwyn,
Reading Clerk of tho Senate, who pushed
Fishburnc off so violently that he fell to the
ground. No further trouble occurred, Fish
burnc being shortly nftcrward arrested.
This afternoon he had hearing before o
Trial Justice. who decided that having for
fcitcd his bail he must 60 to Jail. Fishburne
sleeps in the lookup to night. Tomorrow
an effort will be made by his friends to take
him out on writ Of habcas corpus. The
affair has produced considerable excitement
in the community. Kennedy is ono of the
most prominent Democratic candidates for
Governor, and Fishburne is the leader of an
independent party in the lower counties of
the State The difficulty is deprecated in
legislative circles. Kennedy is held blame
less, while his assaiant is universally cen.
sured.
Senator Fishburne, on failure to give
bail, was committed to the Jail of Richland.
COLUMBIA, February 4.-There are no now
developments in tho Fishburne uffar. The
Senator from Colleton is still confined in iail,
and has been suffering severely to-day from
tho effects of an old wound in tho hoad,
which he received during the war. lilo has
been attended by DR.. Taylor and is better
this evening. IIe is greatly affected by his
unfortunate condition and is said to regret
the circumstances which led to his noarcera-
ton.
Some effort has been mado to secure bonds
men for him, but 60 fur without success.
Nothing will probably be done to secure his
release before Monday or Tuesday. The
Trial Justice having determined to grant
him release upon entering into now bond
of 5000, it is probable that no application
for writ of habeas corpus will now bo made.
Aftor the adjournment Of the Senate to-
day tho Senators went into another caucus
with Gen. IIarlee, in the chair. After dis.
cussion. q committee consisting of Messrs.
liarllee, Beatty, Maxwell, Jeter, Coker and
Wylie, was appointed to take the wholo matter
under consideration and report Monday. Mr..
Fishburne's conduct has boon suoh that some
Of tho most conservative members of tho
body feel that tho Senate will be forced to
tako such steps as will vindicato it's dignity.
What the final result will be it is hard to toll,
but have heard some hints of Mr.. Fisburne's
expulsion.
CoLUMRIA, Sunday, February 5.-The
Capitol has boon very quiot to-day. Senator
Fshburno is still in confinement. Tho com,
mittce of Senators appointed to investigate
his case have not agreed upon any definite
action.
COLUMBIA, February 6.-Sonator Fish.
burne was released from Jail to-day upon
entering into bond to keep tho peace, be-
fore Trial Justice Marshall, in tho sum Of
$4,000, tho amount Of tho bond having been
reduced by tho Trial Justioe--Major B. Il.
Griffin, of this city, and Mr.. Il. 9. Fish
burne, the brother of tho Senator, becoming