Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-17
DISGRACEFUL OCCURRENCE.
Personal Encounter Betwoon Two Mel
hers Of the House Of Representatives.

Personal Encounter Between Two Mem.
hers Of House Of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-Quite . sensation
was created in the House this afternoon by
a personal encounter between Representa-
tives Cobb, OF Indiana, and Laird, OF Ne
traska, growing out Of the charges made
by the former on the floor of the House to
the effect that the Nebraska member had
been concerned in a land ring. Representa-
tive Payson, Of Illinois, q member of the
Public Lands COMMITTEE, was explaining to
Representative Gillillon the effect Of Ger
tain Senate amendments to q bill intended
to protect the rights OF homestead settlers,
when Representative Laird leaned forward
toward the party and asked: "Why do
not you fellows (referring to the Public
Lands Committee) do something to break
up land rings in the South instead of raid
ing uron the north"
Mr.. Payson replied that was what the
committee was ~endeavoring to do.
Mr.. Cobb undertook to defend the Com
mittce, of which he was chairman, and an
angry passage occurred between him and
Laird, which ended by the latter gentleman
calling tn. former aSliar. Witnesses say
that Cob declared thatLaird did not dare
to come outside and repeat his language.
A0AAu 10 odlu W nave EtplSO tuAt Iuc Scu.
tieman could not get out soon enough for
him. With this the pair started into the
lobby and to the basement. Some one
called Mr.. Payson's attention to their
exit with the statement hat they were
going outside to fight it out. Thereupon
Mr.. Paysou hurried through the doorway
and coming up with the would-be combat
ants on the stairway, caught Cobb by the
collar and demonstrated with him for pur-
suing so boyish and foolish a course. He
succeeded in getting Cobb to retrace his
steps so far as the west door OF the lobby,
Laird, following, when the controversy
Cobb had made against him in q speech
several weeks ago, Laird angrily declared
that he Cobb was a liar. Cobbsaid Laird
was a perjurer, but the words had hardly
passed his lips before Laird struck him a
heavy blow on the mouth and nose. A
stream of blood trickled down Cobb's face
and he was thrown backward against the
doorway. The crowd which had congre-
gated interposed at this juncture and the
combatants separated, Laird taking his
seat in the House and Cobb reclining in an
easy chair in the lobby where he was sur
rounded by his friends.
The bad feeling between the two members
dates back some months and it was ap.
parent on the occasion when Cobb made
his charges against Laird some weeks
ago, that the last named member with
great difficulty refrained from emphasizing
with his fist his indignant denial and in the
defiance he hurled at his antagonist. there
was every occasion to believe that if inter-
ference had o come in the shape OF Mr..
Payson, who sought to pour oil on the
troubled waters, that q s%anguinary per-
sonal encounter would have resulted.
Both of the members concerned are of
powerful physique and bear the reputa-
ton OF men ready at all times to defend
themselves in a fitting manner Mr.. Cobb
stands six feet and over in his
shoes and is OF proportionate breadth
but is somewhat at q disadvantage on the
OF age, being in the neighbood OF So
or 60. Mr.. Laird is but 81 years with a
girth OF chest that would ornament an
and of a fiery, impetuous temper.
On the other hand, he is also slightly lame,
the result of y fracture of the leg a year ago.
Neither OF the members are willing to make
q statement at this time, and the probable
upshot Of the encounter is a matter of
among their brother members.
The opinion is expressed in some quarters
that the House of Representatives has
been outraged by the ARRAY and that it ia
fitting subject for investigation by that
body. A majority Of members who are
to talk about the matter, how
ever, hold that as the encounter did not
occur on the floor of the House, that body
is in nOwise concerned in it.