The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-10
A FAMOUS fight IECALLgD.


represents Arkansas, . friend out there
sends to Gath" sketch Of the Arkau-
sas Legislature about 1910, which every
body will read with interest. II Il the
only full account Of this well.known
duel have ever seen. At the last ses-
sion Of the Legislature of that state (1ao7 }
says my correspondent, Col. John VII
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 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 IN de-
bate by Major Anthony, . conspicuous
member, came down from the speakers
chair, drew large bowie-knife from
his bosom ind attacked Major Anthony,
who defended himself for some time,
but was at last stabbed through tbs
heart and fell dead on the floor. Will
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 Ga.
zette a few months since. tits here taken
from the Knoxville (Tennessee) Regis.
ter, July. 4, 1898:
ION tho 18th of December last, Major
Joseph j. Anthony, a member of the
Legislature of Arkansas, was murdered
while performing his duty as 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 one by Major Anthony, that tho
signature Of the President Of the Real
Estate Bank should be attached to thu
certificate of the wolf scalp. Col. Viii
son, the speaker, asked Major Anthony
whether he intended the remark as per-
sonal. Wilson couldn't write it is eaid.
-Gath.) Major Anthony promptly
said: mo. I do not" At that instant
of time a message was delivered from
the Senate, which suspended the pro.
ceedings of the House for q 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, interrupting, peremptoril,eor-
dered him to take his seat. Ma.
jor Anthony said as. q member he
had 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 DO.
som and drew out a large bowie-knife,
ten or twelve inches in length, and de.
cended from the speakers chair with
the knife drawn in menacing manner.
Major Anthony, seeing tue danger he
was placed in by Wilson's advance on
him with drawn knife, rose from his
chair, set it out OF his way, stepping
back pace or two and drew his knife.
Wilson cought up chair and struck
Anthony with it. Anthony recovering
from the blow, caught the chair in his
left hand, and fght ensued over the
chair. Wilson received two wounds,
one on each urn, and Anthony lost his
knife, either by throwing it at Wilson, or
it escaped by accident. After Anthony
had lost his knife Wilson advanced
on Anthony. who was then retreating,
looking over his shoulder. Seeing
Wilson persuiug HIM. he threw chair.
Wilson still persued, 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 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.
"As the knife was Withdrawn from
Anthony's heart, he fell corpse on
the floor, without uttering q word, or
scarcely making struggle, 30 true did
the knife, as deliberately directed,
pierce his heart. Three days elapsed
before the constituted authorities took
any notice of the horrible deed; and
not then, until . relation of the muir.
dered Anthony dem anded warrant for
the apprehension Of Wilson. Several
DAYS elasped before he was brought
before an examining court. He then,
in carriage and four, came to the
place appointed for trial. Four or five
days were employed in the examine
ton OF witnesses, and never was 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 it was not a bailable case, or even
to hear an argument from him. Al
the time appointed for the session Of
the Circuit Court Wilson appeared
agreeable to his recognizance. A mo.
ton was made by Wilson's counsel for g
change of venue, founded on the aft
davits of Wilson and two other men
The Court thereupon removed the cast
to Saline county. The Sheriff of Pulaski
never confined Wilson one minute, but
permitted him to go where he pleased
without guard or any restraint imposed
on him whatever. On his way to Salin,
he entertained him freely at his owl
house, and the next day delivered Inn
over to the Sheriff of that county, who
conducted the prisoner to the debtor
room in the Jail, and gave him the key
SO that he and everybody else had fire,
egress and ingress at all times. Wilson
invited everybody to call on him, as h
said he wished to see his friends, and hi
room was crowded with visitors, VIII,
called to drink grog and laugh and tall
with him. But this theatre was no
sufficiently large for this purpose. 81,
afterward visited the dram. shops, wher,
he freely treated all who would partak'
with HIM, and went fishing and huntinI
with others at pleasure, and entirel!
without restraint. He also ate at til,
same table with the Judge while o,
trial.