The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-04-10
A FAMOUS FIGHT RECALLED.

~SI"N> N~NH 80
to be fated for the Cabinet. As he
represents Arkansas, n friend out there
sends to Gath" a sketch of the Arkan,
sas Legislature about 1910, which every
body will read with interest. 1t is the
only full account Of this well-known
duel / have ever seen. At the last SEES
SION of the legislature Of that state 1887
says my correspondent, Col, John Will
son, president Of the bank at Little
Rock, the capital of the state, was
elected speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives. He had been elected to that
Office for q number Of years SUCCESSIVE
", and was one of the most influential
citizens of the state, While presiding
over the deliberations of the house he
took umbrage at words spoken III de-
bate by Major Anthony, a conspicuous
member, came down from the speakers
chair, drew a large bowie knife from
his bosom and attacked Major Anthony,
who defended himself for some time.
but WAS at last stabbed through the
heart and fell dead on the floor. vii
son deliberately wiped the blood from
his knife and resumed his seat. The
following statement of the circum-
stances of the murder and the trial of
the murderer is abridged from the &C.
count published in the Arkansas Ca
Zette a few months since. 1t is here taken
from the Knoxville (TenneSSee) Regis
ter, July, 4, 1888;
"On the l4th of December last, Major
Joseph ], Anthony, a member Of the
Legislature of Arkansas, was murdered
while performing his duty as a member
of the House Of Representatives, by
John 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 n by Major Anthony, that the
signature of the President of the Real
Estate Bank should be attached to the
certificate of the wolf scalp. Col. Vii
son, the speaker, asked Major Anthony
whether he intended the remark as per
s0nal. Wilson couldn't write it is said.
CATH Major Anthony promptly
said: NO, / do not" At that instant
of time & message was delivered from
the Senate, which suspended the pro-
ceedings Of the Housef for a 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 in
suit the Speaker of the House, when
Wilson, Interruptlng, peremptorily or
dered him to take his seat. Ma
1or Anthony said as n member he
had 3 right to the floor to explain
himself. Wilson said, IN angry
tone, Sit down, or you had bet
ter, and thrust his hand into his bo-
som and drew out q large bowie-knife,
ten r twelve inches II length, and de-
canded from the speakers chair with
the knife drawn II q menscing manner
MAJOR Anthony, seeing the danger he
YVES placed N by Wilson's advance on
hmm with q drawn knife, rose from his
chair, set Il out of his way, stepping
back 8 pace or two and drew his knife.
Wilson scoHght UP q chair and struck
Anthony with ii. Anthony recovering
from the blew, caught the chair IN his
1efI nKnd, and q eight ensued over the
6haiT. Wilson received two wounds,
one ON each arm, and Anthony lost his
knIfesaither by throwing it 81 Wilson. or
4 escaped by accident After Anthony
Ind lost ms knife Wilson advanced
on Anthony. who was then ~retreating.
4n~E1wv ~w~uw lie A~-1I. c.
Wilson parsHlng hum. he threw q chair.
Mlsna s@ Ptrsued, and Anthony
raised another chair IS high as his breast.
E1hh 3 view, il is supposed Of keeping
Wilson on. Wilson then caught hold
nf1he chair with his left hand. raised
1t mp and with mis- right hand deliber-
Shelly thrnsf his knife into Anfhonyis
haart seeing that spot under the chair,
and drew ii Outs and wiping Of the
blood with LIS hazab and finger retired
nszr 10 the Speakers chair.
IA tie knife WIS withdrawn from
Amth0nys heart, he fell q corpse On
fhs fD0E, without uttering . word, or
scarcsly making a struggle, so true did
the knife, as deliberately directed.
Flsree LIS heart. Three days elapsed
before the constituted authorities took
any notice Of the horrible deed; and
not then, until q relation Of the muir
derad Anthony dem anded O warrant for
The apprehension Of Wilson. Several
dAys elasped before he was brought
before an examining court. He then,
IN 8 carriage and four, came to the
place appointed for trial. Four or Eve
says were employed in the examina-
tion Of Witnesses, and never was q clear
er case Of murder proved than on that
occasion. Notwithstanding, the Court
Justice Brown dissenting) admitted
Wilson to bail, and positively refused
that the prosecuting attorney for the
State should introduce the law to SHOW
that 1t was not q bailable case, or even
So hear M argument from him. At
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