The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-03-07
A TRAGEDY In MISSISSIPPI.
TWO LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS
start Fight in a Crowded Court Room
and Three Persons Are Killed.

Tn the midst of a large throng gathered in
sdespeia,e duel TO the death with revolvers
was engaged in between Rev. wP. RatliiIe
smember Of the Mississippi Legislature and
one OF the Populist leaders Of the State, and
Hon. y, A, Jackson, also member of the
Legislature and q prominent Democratic
politician.
Jackson was killed instantly as was also
Samuel Russell, bystander and William
Saunders, another innocent spectstor, was
carried away with but little hope of surviv-
ing the wound he received RatlifIe came
of unscathed and was lsoon incarcefated
behind the bars of the county jail.
Ratlife is Populist representative in the
State Legislature from Attali county Mr..
Jackson was Democratic representative
from the same county. Ratliffe is the
editor OF the kosciusko "Nindicator." The
men, long rivals in local politics, renewed
their old feud with added ferceness recent.
ly and out Of publication in Ratliiies
paper over his own signature grew the
tragedy.
The trouble all came up suddenly. The
men had not met since the publication re-
ferred TO. There was an auction sale of a
bankruptcy stock Of goods in the Court
House and while this was in progress q
large crowd gathered. though no person
noticed the coming together of Ratliffe
and Jackson. The first indication OF trouble
came in the shape of a scuffie which occur.
red as soon us the two men got eyes on each
other.
The auctioneer hushed his voice while
bystanders rushed in on the combatants and
pulled item apart, some persons seizine
Ratliffe and others grasping Jackson. Sepa-
rated by distance of half q dozen steps
and each struggling for liberty, both men
drew their revolvers.
At that moment Ratliffe, who was held
nearest the door, was jerked outside and as
he passed through pack wards he ired,twice
but his aim was unsteady by reason of the
Jerk which drew him out. one bullet struck
the door and the other hit William Saund-
ers in the groin. At this juncture Jackson
jerked loose from those who held him and
ran out at another door in order to reach
Ratiiie, In u moment the fusilade was
resumed.
Ratliffe emptied his revolver and then
stood still, lookinggrimly upon his horrible
work. Jackson shot but once before he fell
hit full in the forehead after his pistol arm
had been shattered His death was in.
ttan,aneous Samuel Russell likewise re-
ceived his death wound in the forehe ad
during the final fuslade. He gasped a few
times. but before the smoke had cleared
away lige was extinct.
Russell and Sanders had nothing to dc
with the fight. They were merely specta-
tors. Every chamber in Ratliffe's revol
yer was emptied, but Jacksons revolver
bad only one empty chamber when seen
after the tragedy. The throng stood aghast
when the slaughter was completed.
Even Ratlifie did not move for time
Then the slayer was surrounded and held
until officers came up and carried him tc
the county jail, where he was placed in a
cell. Strong guards were placed about the
man in moving him TO the jail as it was
deemed advisable not TO give the friends of
the slain an opportunity to wreak ven
geaIce upon the slaytr.