Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-23

been a deliberate and cold-blooded murder.
Judge Bradford was secured to defend liar,
gus, who was rich and quite a promin emit
citizen. The case was so strong agairs st the
murderer that his chances for escape were
considered hopeless By himself and counsel,
but Bradford secured q delay of the trial,
and, in the meantime, was elected to the
territorial assembly where he introduced the
bill above referred to-an heroic treatment
of q desperate case The act was crowded
through both honses, the vote in the council
being IL to DIR. George L.. Miller alone
opposing 1t; in the house the vote was "a to
2-H. johnson and w. e. Moore of Douglas
county voting against it. The bill was vetoed
by Governor lizard but was passed over his
veto, and the only provision for the punish
ment OF criminals from that until
the legislature, called by Governor
Richardson was by rules of the common
law. Hargus was subsequently, tried for
murder, and Notwithstanding the plea of
the defense of the absence of any criminal
code. ne was found guilty and sentenced to
ten years. imprisonment. The case, how
ever, was taken to the supreme court, which
held that he must be discharged because of
the defects in the laws. 1t is interesting to
note, In passing, that the heirs OF the mur-
for damages against Hargus. 1he latter
then removed to New Mexico and lived the
life of a hermit and died a few years ago
from injuries received in the burning of his
u u WCub W U ubUlU, ID
where he was appointed to the supreme
bench OF the state and later was elected TO
congress, dying at his home In Colorado
three years ago.
MIR. Morton was reelected to the terrific
rial legislature in 1857, in time to take an
active part in the bitter struggle and to adj
journ the assembly from Omaha to Florence.
From tho beginning OF the session a desire
was manifested by a majority of the mem
bers to remove the capital from Omaha to
anna nthAr min M m THE nn1 N Isl .sa,
introduced on January z which was strenu.
ously opposed by Omaha and Its friends. On
the same day a joint resolution. introduced by
MIR. Morton. to award the territorial printing
TO o Nebraska printer, was taken up and
much time was spent in its discussion. Its
advocates were accused Of talking against
time, Tor the purpose OF delaying action on
the capital bill, and the whole matter was
denounced as an undetermined scheme.
James II. Decker, speaker OF the house, from
Otoo county, and his friends who favored
the removal of the capital. left the honse in
a body, and MIR. Morton was chosen speaker
pro tenn and the session continued until the
next day, and Decker again took the chair.
Tho minority began to feel uneasy, as the
other side. was out In boisterous force and
threatened trouble. A motion was made to
adjourn to Florence, and Immediately de-.
clared carried by Decker, whereupon all but
thirteen members left the house, those re.
naming choosing Mr.. Poppleton speaker pro
tenn, and the discussing Of the printing was
continued.
In the council a small trouble was in pro-
eress. and a motion to adjourn to Florence
was declared out OF order by President
George L. Miller, who said such an
adjournment would be unlawful, and would
require to official sanction of the governor,
and was further declared TO be in violation
OF all parliamentary Justice. The motion, how
ever, was put by u member on the floor and
by him declared carried by a vote Of 8 to 4,
the eight members Immediately leaving the
m
When Speaker Decker and his friends left
the house they gathered at the Douglas
house where a rlotous conference was held
and threats of deeds of blood were freely
made. Decker finally proposed TO so up to
the house and take the chair or die in the at.
tempt. TIL party marched in a deidnt body
TO the house., which they entered in a bois-
ferrous and mobilize manner. The dignity of
tho place was forgotten and the
gang walked about with their hats on,
kicking over chairs and using every
means TO create a general fight.
The printing was still in session,
a DIR, Thrall occupying the chair. Decker
approached the speakers stand with O swag-
ger and Just at this moment a message was
announced from the council, but as the lat.
ter body had adjourned Mr.. Poppietoa pro-
tested against receiving the message.
Decker said II should be received aud
he would have 1t or die on
the spot. at the same time making
a grab for the message, but it was taken out
OF his reach, and he Inan snatched the gavel
from the chairman's hands with the inten-
tiou OF using 1t as Q weapon.