Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-11-10
WHO STRUCK BILLY
MahoneP Is the Question Which
Troubles Virginia Just Now.
The Senator Struck In the Face BY
Someone Unknown, and Bloody
Work Averted BY
Close Shave.

PETERSBURG, Va, Nov. S.-For the frs
time in the history of this state, and mos
likely any other state, has one of the repre-
senativeS in the United States senate been as
saulted at a voting precinct. In this partic
ular Virginia has distinguished herself il
the person of one of her senators, to-wit
! William Malone, the head and from
of the Readjuster party in this state. Th
! Fourth ward of this city has always beel
one Of the Democratic strongholds, and il
! has been Senator Mahone's ardent wish tC
| dispossess the enemy in that quarter. 81
| great was his anxiety in this respect that
accompanied by his son, Butler Malone, ht
| drove up to one of the polls of that ware
to convince himself in person of how things
were going.
There was a considerable crowd gathered
at the poll. the colored element largely pre-
dominating and in one place particularly
there was quite jam. All of sudden there
was rush toward Malone, who had de
scended from his carriage, and some one
struck him squarely in the face, without
however, bruising or otherwise seriously
hurting him. His son, who had remained
seated in the carriage, seeing his father at
tackled, drew pistol, and it is said, was
about to fire it, when some one wrenched it
away from him.
For minute it looked as if a serious street
fight was impending. 1t was fortunate that
the young mans pistol was not fired, for the
people were greatly excited, and there was a
very general movement in the direction of
hip pockets. The police, however quieted
the trouble in its incipiency and Senator
Malone re-entered his carriage and drove
off shortly afterward.
1t appears he met Col. j. P. Minetree,
president of the city council, and a warm
personal friend of his. He made his son
Butler dismount, took Col Minetree, and the
two drove in the direction of the place where
the encounter had taken place for the pur-
pose, it was stated, of finding, if possible
the senator's assailant 1t was also stated
that both were armed but whether this is
true or not it is impossible to state. 1t is
certain that they did not find anybody, if,
indeed their errand was as represented, and
it is not known who it was that struck
Senator Malone, nor as to the cause of the
fray.
Senator Malone states that when he arrived
at the polls and saw large mass of people,
almost blocking up the way to the ballot
box. he got out of his carriage to clear a
passage, when some one exclaimed, ga free
election and a fair count" The senator
echoed the words, adding, II am here to see
that both shall be had.n 1t was then he saws
that crowd closed in. upon him and some
one struck him. He says the act was that of
dirty assassin" and that he would give
800 to know who his assailant was.
On the other hand, the popular version of
the difficulty is that about the time Senator
Mahone came to the poll a colored man was
about to vote the Democratic ticket, when
one of the Readjuster canvassers said to him:
''You haven't the right ticket. This is the
ticket you want to VOTE" at the same time
rendering Readjuster ticket. The colored
man insisted, however, that he knew whom
he wanted to vote for. Then it is stated
Senator Malone, who had watched the con-
troversy, said in a loud tone of voice to his
son. HE has Funden money in his pocket"
and these words are alleged to have aroused
the indignation of the crowd who rushed
upon him. The occurrence is the talk of
the town.