The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-02
AN oLp-rIME ARKANSAS duel.
Member of the Legislature Stabbed to the
Heart by the Presiding Officer.

OeudJor UdrlaHu, Oh AFkauSaS, seems 10 De
fated for the Cabinet. AS he represents Arkan-
sas, friend out there sends me sketch of the
Arkansas Legislature about 1S40 which every
body will read with interest and it is the only
full account of this well known duel have ever
seen:
AT the last session of the Legislature of that
State u837), says my correspondent, Colonel
John Wilson, president of the bank at Little
Rock the capital of the State, was elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives. He
had been elected to that office for number
OF years successfully, and was one of the most
influential citizens of the State. While pre-
siding over the deliberations of the House he
took umbrage at words spoken III debate by
Major Anthony, conspicuous member, came
down from the Speakers chair drew large
bowie knife from his bosom, and attacked Major
Anthony who defended himself for some time,
put was at last stabbed through the heart, and
fell dead on the floor. Wilson deliberately wiped
the blood from his knife, and returned to his
seat. The following statement of the circum-
stances of the murder and the trial of the muir
derer IS abridged from the account published in
the Arkansas Gazette few months since 1t is
here taken from the Knoxville Tenn Register
July 4, 1888:
'On the 18th of December last, Major Joseph
j. Anthony, member of the Legislature of Ar
kansas, was murdered while performing his duty
as a membsr of the House of Representatives by
JohI Wilson, Speaker of the House.
The facts are these A bill came from the
Senate commonly called the Wolf bill Among
the amendments proposed was one by Major
Anthony that the signature of the president of
the Real Estate Bank should be attached to the
certificate of the wolf scalp Colonel Wilson,
the Speaker, asked Major Anthony whether he
intended the remark as personal Wilson
couldn't write IL is said-Gath. Major An
thony promptly said: No, do not At that
instant of time message was delivered
from the Senate, which suspended the proceed
ings of the House for few minutes.
Immediately after the messenger from the
Senate had retired Major Anthony arose from
his seat, and said he wished to explain that
he did not intend to insult thesSpeaker of the
House, when Wilson, interrupting. perempto-
rily ordered him to take his seat. Major
Anthony said as member he had a right to the
floor to explain himself. Wilson said, in an
angry tone: Sit down, or you had BETTER and
thrust his hand into his breast and drew out a
large bowie knife, ten or twelve inches IN
length. and decended from the Speakers chair
to the floor with the knife drawn in menacing
manner
Major Anthony, seeing the danger he was
placed in by Wilson's advance on him with a
drawn knife, rose from his chair, set it out of
his way, stepped back a pace or two and drew
his knife
Wilson caught up chair, and struck Anthony
with it. Anthony recovering from the blow
caught the chair in his left hand and fight en-
sued over the chair
Wilson received two wounds, one on each
arm, and Anthony lost his knife, either by
throwing it at Wilson, it escaped by acct
dent.
After Anthony had lost his knife Wilson ad-
vanced on Anthony, who was then retreating
looking over his shoulder. Seeing Wilson pursu-
ing him, he threw chair Wilson still pur-
sued and Anthony raised another chair as high
as his breast. with view, it is supposed, of
keeping Wilson off.
Wilson then caught hold of the chair with his
left hand. raised it up and with his right hand
deliberately thrust his knife into Anthony's
heart, seek that spot. under the chair. and drew
it out; and, wiping off the blood with his thumb
and finger, retired near to the Speakers chair.
LAS the knife was withdrawn from Anthonys
heart, he fell lifeess corpse on the floor, with
out uttering word, or scarcely making a
struggle so true did the knife, as deliberately
directed, pierce his heart
''Three days lapsed before the constituted au
thoritieS took any notice of his horrible deed, and
not then until relation of the murdered An
thony demanded a warrant for the apprehension
of Wilson. Several days elapsed before he was
brought before an examining court. He then,
in carriage and four came to the pltcu ap-
pointed for trial. Four five days en-
ployed in the examination of witnesses and
never clearer of murder proved than
on that occasion. Notwithstanding. the court
(Justice Brown dissepting) admitted Wilson to
attorney tor the State should introduce the law
to show that it was not bailable case, or even
to hear an argument from him.
SAT the time appointed for the session of the
Circuit Court Wilson appeared agreeably to his
recognizance. motion was made by Wilson's
counsel for change of venue. founded on the afr
davitS Of Wilson and two other men. The court
thereupon removed the case to Saline county.
and ordered the sheriff to take Wilson into Gus
tody and deliver him over to the sheriff of Saline
county.
THE sheriff of Pulaski never confined Wilson
one minute but permitted him to go where he
pleased. without guard or any restraint i'm
posed upon him whatever. On his way to Saline
he entertained him freely at his own house, and
the next day delivered him over to the sheriff of
that county, who conducted the prisoner to the
debtors room in the JAIL and gave him the key
so that he and every body else had free
egress and ingress all times Wilson invited
everybody to call on him. as lie said he wished
to see his friends, and his room was crowded
with visitors who called to drink grog ard
laugh and talk with him. But this theater was
not sufficiently large for his purpose He after
ward visited the dram shops, where he freely
treated all who would partake with him. and
went fishing and hunting with others at pleas
ure, and entirely without restraint. He also ate
at the same table with the Judge while of trial
when the court met at Saliae Wilson was
put on his trial. Several days were occupied in
examining the witnesses in the case. After the
examination was closed, while Colonel Taylor
engaged in very able, lucid and argu-
incentive speech on the part of the prose
cution, some men collected parcel of
the rabble, and came within few yards of the
court house door. and bawled in loud voice.
Part them-part themp Every body supposed
there was an ARRAY. and ran to the windows to
see. Behold! there was nothing more than the
man and the rabble he had collected around him
for the purpose of annoying Colonel Taylor while
speaking few minutes afterward this same
person brought horse as though he was for
sale, and continued for ten or fifteen minutes to
ride before the court house door, crying the
horse, in a loud and boisterous tone of voice.
The judge sat as silent listener to the in
dignity thus offered the court and counsel by
this man. without interpreting his authority
ITO show the depravity of the times aud the
people, after the verdict had been delivered by
the jury, and the court informed Wilson that he
was discharged there was a rush toward him;
some seized him by the hand, some by the arm
and there was great and loud rejoicing and ex-
ultation, directly in the presence of the COURT
and Wilson told thC sheriff to take the Jury to a