Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-26
A FAMOUS FIGHT RECALLED.
The story of Murder In the Arkan-
sas House of Representatiyos--Tb 9
Speaker Thrusts "a Knife Into the
Heart of Member-The Trial only
n Farce.

Senator Garland. of Arkansas,
seems to be fated for the cabinet. AS
ne represents Arkansas, a friend out
there send TO Gath" a sketch of the
Arkansas legislature in 1887 which
rybody will read with interest. 1t
is the only full account of this we'll
known duel | have ever seen. At
the last session of the legislature OF
that state $3.50 says my correspond
ent, Col. 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 mum
Der Of years successfully, and was one
of the most influential citizens of the
state. While presiding over the de-
/ liberations of the house he took UNI
bragg at words spoken in debate by
Maj. Anthony, O. conspicuous looking
member, came down from the speak.
er's chair, drew large bowie knife
/ from his bosom and attacked Mai
Anthony, who defended himself for
some time, but was at last stabbed
/ through the heart and fell dead on
the floor Wilson deliberately wiped
the blood from his knife and resumed
| his seat. The following statement of
the circumstances of the murder and
the trial of the murderer is taken
from The Knoxville Tenn Register,
July A, 1888:
ION the 14th of December last, Mai.
Joseph j. Anthony, a member of the
legislature of Arkansas, was murdered
| while performing his duty as mem
Der 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 pro
posed was one by Maj. Anthony,
that the signature of the pres.
ident of the Real Estate bank
should be attached to the certificate of
the wolf scalp. Col. Wilson, the
speaker, asked Mai Anthony whether
he intended the remark as personal.
Wilson couldn't write, it is said
Galh.l Maj. Anthony 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 a few minutes.
| Immediately after the messenger from
the senate had retired, Maj. Anthony
arose from his seat and said he wished
to explain that he did not intend to
insult the speaker of the house, when
Wilson, interrupting, peremptorily
ordered him to take his seat. Mai
| Anthony said as a member he had a
right to the floor to defend himself.
Wilson said in an angry tone, Sit
| down, or you had better, and thrust
his hand into his bosom and drew out
a large bowie knife, ten or twelve
inches in length, and descended from
the speakers chair to the floor with
the knife drawn in menacing man
ner. Maj. Anthony, seeing the danger
he was placed in by Wilson'S advance
on him with a drawn knife, rose from
his char, 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 a 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, or it escaped
by accident After Anthony had lost
his knife, Wilson advanced an An
thony, who was then retreating, look
ing over bis shoulder. Seeing Wilson
pursuing him, he threw chair. VIII
son still pursued, and Anthony raised
another chair as high as his breast,
with a view, it is supposed, of keeping
Wilson off. Wilson then caught hold
of the chair with his left hand, raised
1t up, and with his right hand deliber-
ately thrust his knife into Anthony's
heart, seeing that spot under the chair,
and drew it ont, and wiping off the
blood with his thumb and finger,
retired near to the speakers chair.
LAS the knife was Withdrawn from
| Anthony's heart, he fell a corpse on
the floor without uttering a word,
or scarcely making a struggle, so true
did the knife, as deliberately directed,
pierce his heart Three days elapsed
before the constituted authorities took
any notcc of this horrible deed and
not until a relation of the murdered
! Anthony demanded a warrant for
the apprehension of Wilson. Several
DAYS elaped before he was brough be-
! lOFtE1u tAdullHiAS SONi lAC biNh, IL
carriage and four, came to the place
appointed for trial -Four or five days
were employed in the examination of
witnesses, and never was clearer
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 it was not a bailable case or even
to hear an argument from him. AT
the time appointed for the session Of
the circuit court Wilson appeared
agreeably to his recognlzance. A
motion was made by Wilson's council
for a change of venue, founded on the
affidavits of Wilson and two other
men. The court thereupon removed
the case TO Saline county, and ordered
the sheriff to take Wilson into custody
and deliver him over to the sheriff OF
- L = l. e Dbl saevl~F