The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1885-09-24

body, established that
place as the temporary seat Of gov
ernment, and passed the first organ
lc laws and acts, which put the ter
ritory on foot and in motion. George
w. Scott acted as first secretary for
this body.
THE sELDEN SCOTT DUEL.
Some time in 1920 Judges G..
Letcher and Robert P. Jouett re-
signed, and Benjamin johnson and
Joseph Selden were appointed as
Judges in their places. In the fall
or winter Of 1920, or spring of 1921,
an alteration took place between
Judges Selden and Scott, resulting
In a challenge being given and pass.
ed from Selden to Scott, to fight q
duel, which was accepted by Scott
This duel took place (date not re-
collected) l think, perhaps, in 1921.
They repaired to an island. just
above Helena, in the Mississippi
river, l was inclined to believe, but
Mr.. William f. Woodruff, Sr., told
me some three years ago that he
thought it took place across the Mis-
sissippi river, opposite Montgome-
ry's Point. The second and surgeon
Of Judge Scott was DR.. Nimrod Men
ifee. The second OF Judge Selden
was, perhaps, Robert G. Oden, not
now recollected, although Mr.. Wood
ruff, Sr., gave me his name. They
fought at the distance of ten PAGES
with pistols. One shot was exchang
ed. Judge Selden was killed. Judge
Scott escaped uninjured. This was
very unfortunate affair, and but
for the intermeddling interference,
as Judge Scott said, of pretended
friends OF each OF them in bearing
news from one to the other, as was
afterwards learned, wonld have been
settled smicably, as it had previous
ly been, without necessity OF resort
ing to the code of honor. Benjamin
johnson, Joseph Selden and Andrew
Scott, all three were then associated
as judges of the supreme court.
ANOTHER DUEL.
In the winter of 1919 or spring OF
1920, at the Post of Arkansas, an en-
nifty grew up between Col. Robert
c. Oden, young lawyer of promi-
nence at that time, aged about % or
% years, and Col. William 0. Allen,
aged some 40 or As years, original
ing out Of very simple, and at the
time was intended as a playful &C
tion on the part of Col. Oden, but
which provoked and irritated Col.
Allen very greatly, SO much so that
he Immediately challenged Col. Oden
to fight duel, which was accepted
and fought with pistols at ten PAGES
on the south bank Of the Arkansas
river at the Post of Arkansas. Col.
Aliens ball struck Col. Oden on the
suspender button of his pants at the
waist under his right arm and ranged
around the body, from which he sub
sequently recovered. AS Col. Oden
was falling from the effects of the
shot received in hls body he discharg-
ed his pistol, being ready to fire, the
ball striking Col. Allen in the fore.
head, cracking the skull, but not
penetrating it. Col. Allen was taken
to Judge SCOTS by his second,
George w. Scott, and after lingering
in great pain and agoLy for over one
week, expired. / do not recollect
who acted as second for Oien.
The circumstances which brought
about this duel were these: The tive
were quite friendly, and bearded al
hotel near the residence OF Col
Frederick Notrese. The building
was OF French architecture, with a
wide, open hall, with porches alike
open, extending IN a circle all around
the building. Col. Allen walked
with a cane which had spear in the
top. The sudden finging of the
cane would thrust open the spring