Evening journal., 1890-03-01
SHOT BY A JOURNALIST.
An insult Avenged by a Ken
tuckian's Bullet.
THE HOUSE HEARD THE REPORT.


that echoed through the lofty corridors Of
the Capitol; man staggering down the
marble steps. bis face covered awith blood,
and upon the landing, alone, another man,
holding smoking revolver in histrsmhling
hand, was the tragic tabieau which shocked
Washington yesterday afternoon Charles
K. Kincaid, well known Kentuckian and
newspaper correspondent here, had shot
William Preston Tanlbee, representative
from the Tenth Kentucky district, ia retail
alton for an indignity he had suffered at
the ex-congressmans hands
When the shot rang out the corridors were
filled with people coming and going. In
the chamber Of the house, not dozen yards
away, lively wrangle was In progress, and
within eye range OF the stairway were
Representatives Flower and Dunphy OF New
York. At the hollow, resounding report of
the pistol shot they sprang TO their feet and
rushed into the corridor in time to see Taul-
bee reel down the staircase and sink OK
hausted upon the marble tiling. In mo-
ment dozen men surrounded the prostrate
form. As the strong arms lifted his head
from the floor the wounded man covered his
My God, my God, he has shot mel l am
terribly hurtln
The Shooting Described.
The shooting is thus described: Tauibse
arm In arm with ex-Doorkeeper Donaldson,
was descending the steps leading 70 the res
taursnt Kincaid came just bahind. On
reaching a spot about three steps up Kincaid
called Taulbee by name and the latter
turned The correspondent quickly drew a
52caliber revolver, placed u close 70 his
forehead and fired. The ball entered just
over the left eye and lodged where the SUR
geons cannot find II. Kincaid, who stood
by with the smoking revolver in his hand,
coolly admitted that he fired the shot He
was placed under arrest.
A Possibly Fatal Wound.
Within Ave minutes the story had been
told IN the renaotest corner Of the Capitol
The wrangle IN the house ceased aud the
members hurried into ths corridors Repre-
sentative Yoder, Of Ohio, who Is physi-.
clan, hastened 30 tho room where the
wounded man lay. He was shortly after
wards joined by DR.. Adams. and the two
made careful examination Of the wound
They found that the bullet had entered just
above the left eye and was lodged some
where at the base Of the skull. Stimulants
were administered and as soon as he could
be moved Taulbee was taken In a carriage
TO his home at the corner Of East Capitol
and Third streets, where DIR. RAyna attend
cd him. Upon the doctors advice the
wounded man was subsequently removed in
an ambulance to Providence hospital
| There his wound was again examined and
pronounced dangerous, but not necessarily
fatal Taulbee will be dlshgured for life
and will undoubtedly loss the sight OF his
left eye.
| The Cause OF tha Shooting.
The complete story OF the shooting will
not be told until Kincaid is put on trial.
The statement he now makes is that OF an
overweight, unstrung man. and the only
witness Of the whole affair. ex-Doorkeeper
Samuel Doneldson, declares he will say moth
ing until hidden 10 do 80 by those who have
| the right to demand his testimony
| The case is shrouded In very little mys-
terry, however, and the causes which led up
TO the unfortunate episode ara well known
here. Two years ago Taulbee represented
the Tenth Kentucky district in the Fiftieth
congress. Several of his escapades became
current gossip about the Capitol Women
usually figured prominently in them. On
one occasion he was reported TO have been
discovered under compromising circum-
stances with female clerk In one of the
model rooms of the patent office The story
found its way into print in the local news
papers here Kincaid was at that time the
Washington correspondent Of The Louisville
Times The scandal Of the occurrence as
sumed such proportions that be wrote an
account Of Il and telegraphed II to his jour
nal. The Times circulated widely in the
Tenth Kentucky district, and the effect OF
the publication was to do considerable dam
age TO Taulbee's reputation
Giant Against PiEmy.
Since that time Taulbee has nursed his
wrath against Kincaid and has never lost
and opportunity 10 annoy him. The Ken
tucky congressman Is a large nan quite six
feet tall and, though spare, OF strong and
wiry frame. Kincaid is not above five feet
three inches in height and weighs only a
trife over hundred pounds. Taulbee is 80
years old, while Kincaid is about As Both
men are quick tempered and both have been
brought up with a profound respect for the
code duello. Both have very nice ideas
about personal responsibility for affronts
and exact and punctiIious notions In regard
TO resenting insults From the best testi-
mony obtainable it appears that Taulbee
has studiousy =endeavored to provoke Kin
caid into a demonstration OF some sort,
while the latter has quite as studiously
tried to avoid any encounter.
Kincaid's Ear Pulled.
Shortly after noon Kincaid walked up 70
the eastern door Of the chamber OF the
house and sent his card in to Representative
Caruth, of Kentucky While he was wait.
ing for Mr. Caruth 10 come out Taulbee left
the chamber, and, observing Kincaid,
walked up to him and said:
81 want to have a few words with youn
81 have no time to talk with you now,
replied Kincaid; II am waiting here to see
a gentleman"
One of the doorkeepers thinks that Kin
caid put considerable emphasis upon the
word gentleman At all events the door
keeper is quite sure of what followed.
Tahbee seized Kincaid by the ear and
gave it vigorous twist Kincaid broke
from his grasp and, stepping back out Of
reach Of the Kentuckian's long arms ex-
claimed:
Taulbee's Advice Was Taken.
"You know l am not physically able TO
cope with you, and am not armedP
There seems to be some doubt as 20 the
sxact language Of Taulbees reply, but sew
sral witnesses declare that he retorted;
"Then, you had better be"
The men then separated, only TO meet
again, as above noted. In the meantime
Kincaid had procured a revolver.
Mr. Kincaid was visited by many friends
in his cell. Among the callers were Senator
Joe Blackburn, Copgressmen McCreary and
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