Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-07-16
ruGIL1sTsc CONGRESSMAN.

49,
PUGILIsT1C CONGREssMEN.
LAIRD, OF NEBRASKA, AND coBB OF IN
DIANA, GAME TO BLOWS ON THE FLOOR
OF THE HOUSE OVER A DISCUSSION.
Washington, July 16-Quite q ssnsa-
ton was created in the house this
afternoon by q personal encounter be-
tween Representatives Cobb, OF Indiana,
and Laird, of Nebraska, growing out OF
charges made by the former ON the hoor
of the house to the effect that the
Nebraska member had been concerned
10 q land ring. Representative Payson'
Of Illinois, q member OF the public lands
committee, was explaining to Represen-
tative Hilfllan the effect OF certain SEN
ate amendments to the bill intended to
protect the rights OF homestead settlers,
when Representative Laird learned from
his seat towards the party and asked:
why don't you fellows referring to the
public land commlttee) do something to
break up land rings in the south, instead
OF railing at the north?'
Mr. Payson replied that that was what
the committee was ~endeayoring. to do.
Mr.. Cobb undertook to defend the
committee, Of which he was chairman,
and
AN ANGRY PASSAGE
occurred between him and Laird,
which ended by the latter gentleman
calling the former a liar.
The witnesses say Cobb declared that
Laird dared not come out side and
repeat HE language. Laird is said to
have replied that q gentleman could not
get out aoon enough for him. With
this the parties started. through the
lobby into the basement. Some n
called Payson's attention to their exit,
with the statement that they were going
outside to fight it out. Thereupon Pay
son hurried through the doorway and
caught Cobb by the collar and remon-
strated with him for pursuing SO boyish
and foolish q course. He succeeded
ID getting Cobb to retrace his
steps Us far as the west door of the lobby,
Laird following, when the controversy
broke out afresh. Recurring to the
ehargss,Cobb had made against him in
q speech several weeks ago, Laird
angrily declared that he Cobb was o
damned liar. Cobb rejoined, that Laird
wasa damned perjarer, but the words
hid hardly passed his lips before Laird
STRUCK HIM A HEAVY BLOW
on the mouth and nose. A stream o
blood trickled down Cobb's face and he
was thrown against the doorway. The
crowd which had collected interposed at
this uncture and the oombatants were
separated, Lsird taking his seat in the
house and Cobb reclining in an easy
chair in the lobby. whore he was sur
rounded by friends.
The bad feeling between the two
members dates back some months audit
wac apparent on this occasion when
Cobb made his charges against Lsird,
some three weeks ago. that the last
named memb,r was with great difficulty
restrained from
EMPHASIZING WITH HIS FISTS
the indignant Denial and defiance h,
hurled at his antagonist. There waf
reason to believe that il interference.
had not come inthe shape Of Payson, who
sought to pour oil on the troubled
waters, . sanguinary personal oomba
would have resulted.
Both OF the members are OF powerful
physique and bear the reputation o
men ready at all times to defend them
selves ina fitting manner. Cobb stand
six feet and over in his shoes aud is o
appropriate breadth, but is somewha
as disadvantage on the score OF age, j,
the nsighborhood of tifty-eight or sixty
years old. laird is but thirty. sever
years old, with q glrth Of chest tina
would ornament an athlete and OF o fe-y
impetuous temper. On the other han,
he is also slightly lame. Neither of TIL,
members are willing to mako q state.
ment at this time and he probable up
SbVs Va cAO OuCOuubCI Id u Adbtck Y
speculation among their brother mem
bers.
THE HOUSE FEELS OUTRAGED.
The opinion is expressed in som
quarters that the house has been out
ragged by the affray and it is " fttinI
subject tor investigation by that body
A majority OF the members vino ar
disposed to talk about the matter hol
that, as the encounter did not occur O
the floor, the house is in no wise con
cerned in it.
CRIMINAL RECORD.
A WARD STRIKER WHO MURDERED A
! ALDERMAN IN CHICAGO.
Woodstock, Ills, July TO- JAIME
Dacey, the murderer Of Alderma
Michael Gaynor. of Chicago, was hange
here at 1895 to day.
s political tend ia the bloody mint