The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-03-13
THE DAGGER DEFIED.
The Terrible Stabbing Affray Alex.
SteDkens Survived,

Georgis. He was fresh from the grea
,iehates on The acquisition of Californi;
aqd Nv Nc xicn as y. S Territories
aud for having taken, against the wl'he:
OF msi ritz OF the Southern members
a most prominent part in opposition to
such acquisition, he was met with much
adverse criticism Judge Cone, wbc
was at the tire one OF the leading po1i.
ticians Of t,eorgia. was particularly Sc.
vare in his comments upon Mr.. Ste
phens' action. and was reported as hav.
ing publicly denounced him as q traitor
10 The South.
Hardly had Nr Stephens reached his
home when these and similar reports
we're conveyed to him At first he did
not credit them, but as one kind friend
after annther informed him that Cone
! had called him traitor, and advised, in
the true Southern spirit, that he owed i
to himself to demand what is calletl
"saiistaction The fires OF puenacity
in his nature, which we're always smol.
dering, hissed up. and he declared that
if Judge Cone would admit having cali
ed him a traitor to the South lie would
"Slap His Face"
/ Not long after he met the ,Iesage at nu.
uerously attended Whig gathering, and
going up 10 him Quietly said:
"Judse Cone, / have been told that
YOU. for reasons of your own. have de-
nounced me as traitor to the South and
l take this opportunity ofTasking you il
such reports are true"
No sir" was Cones reply, "they
are rot true"
Il I'm very glad TO hear you say 80"
said Mr. Stephens cordial y, and in the
same friendly tone continued: OF course
do not desire 10 be in any way oaen-
sive to you, Judge Gene, but in order
that we may have no further misunder-
standing through the Misrepresentation
Of Others, ! think it right to tell You that
have said ! would slap your face II you
admit ed having used the language al
,lihuted 10 you"
Upon this the Judge again disavow,d
having spoken disrespect'ully of Mr.
Stephens ard Sd for the time The affair
ended. 1t was the subject of discussion
all over the S ate. however, end the gen.
erai verdict was that Judge Cone, very
powerful man, by the way, had shown
the white feather TO Little Aleck S'e-
phens" In such community no pub
lie mar resting under such a charge
could hope either for political prefer
ment or popular respect C9ne Of course
knew this. and very much
Heated and Annoyed
by the comments made upon him, wrote
to Mr.. Sreph, ms demanding an immedi-
ate and public retraci,n of the threat.
In reply, Mr.. Stephens wrote that the
threat Of slappirg the Judges face had
been made contingent upon The truth OF
reports regsrdDg which be { Mr. Core)
had pronounced TO he untrue, and that
such heing the csse, there could he, no
cause for offpnse or angry feeling on
either side. Unfortunately this letter
wss never received ny Judge Cone.
Three or four dass after it was written,
however, he met Mr. Stephens on the
piszzi of ho'el iu Atlanta, and disre-
garding that gentleman's friendly greet
ing, said in very offensive tone:
"Mr. Sterhens, demsEd that you
make an immediate re'rac':on OF your
hreats regarding me "
Sick and Weak
though he was Alexander II. Stephens
could allow no one to speak in the FASH
ion descrihed Judge Cone Was gisn,
in size and muscular development, yet
The trail man whom he ai1ressad, with
aggravatine politeness. and without mes.
rating a moment replied: pardon me,
sir, have a'ready written you On that
subject; | must decline to discuss it fur
ther."
sam | to take this as your answer ?"
asked Cone excitedly
81, is the only answer | have to give
vou," was he calm reply.
Then ] denounce you as miserable
little traitor" cried Cone, mad with ex-
citement. The last words had hardly
left his lips when light cane welded
by the quick hand Of the man he had in.
suited left its red scar across .his cheek
Wild with pain and passion, without
uIterirg g a word. he drew keen-poinied
dirk knife and made one furious thrust
at his weak little adversarv's heart. In
stantly as he did So, however. Stephens,
se;zing stout umbrella which he held
IN his left hand. inte,posed it as de-
fsase. .aai wss able for moment 10 hold
him at arms length.
The Knife Fell
short of lis max Once mnre it was
thrust at Sephe' 3, cutting de p cash
in his arm, hut reach ng NJ vital point ;
eighteen times II ept deep in,n his breast
arms and body hut stiir he III not fall.
Then he could hold nut no LONGER. No
courage, no spirit. however f m and uE
yielding, could tor long withstand such
an attack Cone was determined to fi1-
ish bis woIk. He threS all his great
weight scai, st tie umbrella which held
him away from the man he intended to
kill. /, broke; Stephens. halt 'ainiing
foil uJon his back The giant C'ne was
at his throat in moment; his head, bv
a grip of iron, wss-held against the cruel
floor, the keen and blood dripping knife
vas held alofi he'ore him ready for the
last fatal thrust, hut slill the poor pale
face Of the little hero was set and defiant
Ibis black eyes still dashed undaunted-
lly.
"R trac' or I'll cut your cursed throat,
hissed Cone.
"Cut! Iii pever re;ract!" gasped the
almost l:feless S ephens.
| Like a fli,h the ksi'e csma down
With an aim Isl supnrhnman effort the
prostra'e man caught il in Ills right hand
Clean through the muscles, lendons and
homes of the hand it Cut, then stuck fast
and reached no vital par'. With desper.
ate strength Cone tried to wrench ii Tree
With grasp almost of death the horfi
bly, mangled and mu'ilsted hand still
held it last In the struggle Stephen: