The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-04
THE PREACHER SHOT TOKILL.
TWO KILLED AND ONE WOUNDED M
a MISSISSIPPI IkGISLA TOR

"
The Rev. w. r. Ratiins, +. Fopuiist Member
OF the Legislature. Kills the Hon. 3. A.
Jsck-on, . Ds-.oeratIc Member or the
Same BODY. Q. y Pistol Fight In n Court
House The Preacher Also Wounds
Two Bystander-. Ons OF who's Dies.
Kosc1usKo. Miss, March as. A. Jackson.
q member OF tho State Legislature. and
one OF the best known Democratic politicians
In the State. was shot and instantly
killed. and Samuel Russell and VIM. Sanders.
two bystanders, were fatally wounded here to-
day By the Rev. W. p. Ratlitfe. also member OF
the Legislature and one Of the leaders OF the
Populist party in Mississippi Russell died
soon. and Sanders cannot live.
The tragedy was the elimination OF q DO
litical feud OF long standing which was
brought to a climax By q bitter newspaper
controversy. Ratlifrs published an editorial
article in his paper. the Vindcdtor. rejecting
on Jacksons vote In the recent contest In the
Legislature over the election OF successor to
United States Senator WalthalL Jackson re-
piled In q card in another paper. In which he
denounced Ratlifre as liar.
The two men met at the Court House In
Kosciusko to- day for the first time since the
publication Of Jackson's article. There was q
large crowd present attending bankrupt sale
By the Sheriff.
No one noticed the meeting OF the two men
until they began scufllinR near the Court
House door. Both pulled their revolvers and
began to shoot. When the smoke OF battle
cleared away Jackson was found with bullet
hole in his forehead and his right
arm near the shoulder was wounded by
glancing shot aimed at his head. A few fee.
away lay Russell and Sanders. with mortal
wounds. Russell was shot through the head
and died In q few minutes. Sanders ,sas shot
in the thigh and is expected to die before
morning.
Ratlire discharged every chamber OF his
revolver. and finding that no had no moro
bullets stood and watched his victims until
the Sheriff arrested him and took him to jail
1t appears that the auctioneer hushed his
voice when he saw the m en-. and bystanders
rushed in on the combatants and pulled them
apart. some persons Selling Ratliffe and others
grasping Jackson.
Separated by q distance Of half dozer stops
and each struggling for liberty. both en- drew
their revolvers. At that moment RatlifIe. who
was held nearest the door. was jerked outside.
and as he passed through backward he fred
twice.
Ratliffe came of unscathed and was soon
incarcerated behind the bars OF the county
jail. Ratlifre and Jackson were long rivals In
local politics. and renewed their old feud with
addedlherceness in the Legislature.
Sanders and Russell are young farmers liv-
ing few miles out Of town. In the recent
contest for the United States Senate when
McLaurin was elected there was a deadlock
for some time in tho Democratic CAUCUS
The Legislature had to vote daily. but the
Democrats. who constitute the overwhelming
majority Of the LEGISLATURE. prevented an cleo
ton by scattering their votes. the members
- he mil fo NIL fra ia
jackson. who was o stalwart Democrat. In one
OF these complimentary votes which were Of
no moment. voted for Populist for Senator.
Ratiffe ridiculed Jackson for this. and the
controversy between tho two became very
bitter.
This is what Ratlifre said in his paper:
"A STATESiENT.-Mr. & A. Jackson says We
T%disrePressn.ed him when we said he voted for
sss Voted tsf NJ Col a1NSs sssa. Va the
H S sss nsIs Ss s IN
secret ballot. What We said about the incl
dent was in spirit Of I;yty but Mr. JaStsGn
S % t' mn IA. .N Il. 0SRn
e. fopaiis. Tor United States Senator.
We reiterats every statement made IN
psnsd iI the Joint convention Instead
q q the caucus. which fact only Place, Places
Pm Their. T. % ang consSistUn IN ''a mi:
correction to Mr.. Jackson he is welcome to 1t.
but. lest he should think II is subject to COM
ment. We will now call tho previous question
on the whole concern"
.Jaekson's reply TO this. which appeared In
the kosciusko star. was:
When Andrew Jackson was President no
appointed in this State one John smith
In some crook edness by. the, lamented
Smith before the Administration with
out avail, The chief. not satisfied. went
on TO Washington and confronted the
President, when this colloquy ensued: j,
Andrew Jackson. President OF the United
States. know Mr.. Smith to be an honest
his full height and with his keen searching
i, Greenwood Ledere, Chief of the ChoctAw
Nation. know Mr. Smith to be damned ras-
call IL is unnecessary to say that the previous
I'm citing the above history l will add
in Alfalfa county, to wit: /. ". +. Rat
ellie. Populist Representative from ,Attala
ss@pSssizs ,hs, rs, %scksSn; Ps%csistls
Populist for United States senator. ].
s, A.. jackson. Democratic Representa-
tive Of Alfalfa county in the Mississippi
Legislature. emphasize that W. T.. Ratline.
ropulist Representative from Attala county. Is
an Internal damned liar. As to the previous
question on this amendment. Ratllls can
make any move he desires"
ks Ess 5Ss Wsm, Ia the Sr fGa
Congress district at the last election. but he
did not carry a county in the district jack
SON the murdered man WAS quite wealthy