The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-12-19
RECOLLECTIONS OF A SAD
TRAGEDF IN TIE EARLY
LEGISLATURROF
WISCONSIN

LEGISLATURES OF
WISCONSIN.
Mr.. John w. Arndt and wife, from
Green Bay, have been spending
couple of weeks among old friends
and acquaintance in this city, most of
whom were formerly residents of
Green Bay. The visit of Mr.. Arndt
here calls to mind one of the most tragic
events in the early history of Wiscon-
sin. He is brother of Hon. John P.
Arndt, once a member of the Terrific
rial Council from Green Bay, Brown
county, who was killed in the Council
chamber of the capitol at Madison,
February II, 1912. by James R. Vine
yard, member of the Council from
Grant county. In Territorial times
what was then called the Council is
now the Senate. Mr.. Arndt was serv-
ing his third year in the Council; Vine
yard had also served the same length
of time. The question before the
Council at the time of the tragic oc-
currence was on the confirmation of the
Office of Sheriff; that officer then being
appointed by the Governor, subject to
the confirmation of the Council. After
the vote was taken Arndt charged
Vineyard with violating his pledge by
not voting as he had promised to do in
previous caucus. Immediately after
the adjournment of the Council Arndt
and Vineyard approached each other,
Vineyard quickly drew pistol from
his pocket and shot Arndt, causing al
most instant death. Hon. John P.
Arndt, father of the assassinated Arndt
"a man venerable for his years and
public standing, who had served three
years in the Council, beginning with
the first session ever held in the Ter
ritory, was standing by the railing near
his son when the fatal shot was fired,
and caught him in his arms before he
fell to the floor. The scene was an
appalling one; the grief of the gray
haired father was indescribable: the
members of the Council and spectators
We're shocked and horri fled. The bali
passed through the body of Arndt
near the heart, and lodged in the cell
ing above, having glanced upward !;
the indentatlon of the ball in the plaster
lng was noticeable while the old capitol
building remained. The ball itself
ca be seen in the His torical Depart
melt at Madison.
1t is said that Vineyard did not
NJ tnlfest much concern, and had no
intention OF quitting the Council, but
ii tally, two days after the occurrence,
offered his resignation. A majority of
the members refused to accept it; his
expulsion was moved and carried.
The diScredltable finale Of this affair
is yet TO be told. Vineyard went
through the forms of trial in one of
the western counties. Much was said
of that extraordinary trial in the news
papers-more than is prudent to re-
peat. 1t was a whisky carnival; the
jury, the witnesses, the spectators and
the were all in the same conli-
ton. Vineyard was of course &C
quilted. He seemed to stand well with
his fellows, for at the ensuing spring
election he was chosen to an important
county office. 1t must not be inferred
that the counties of Grant and Iowa,
in Wisconsin, have the same kind of
people now as then. The population
of these counties was largely composed
of miners; the lead mines forty years
ago attracted great numbers of reck-
less adventures. I hat section of the
state is now pc opled with inhabitants
not excelled for intelligence and
moral culture by other portions of
Wisconsin. The vest which Was worn
by Hon. John p. Arndt at the time Of
5he fatal shot, showing the perforation
made by the ball, is in the possession
of r. w. Arndt, of this city, a younger
of the Arndt family. Hon.
VIM. Bullen, of this place, was mem
Der of the Council, and witnessed the
tragedy. His letter describing the scene
vas published in the TELEGRAPH of
Feb. 20, 1912.