The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-05
A MISSISSIPPI TRAGEDY.

PopuiiSt Preacher Editor and Member
of tho Legislature Fights Duolto tho
Death With Thrco Mcn-Tho Result of II
Political Fcud.
kosClUsKo, Mss, March 4.-1n the
midst Of d largo throng gathered in the
Alfalfa county court house at noon yes
teriay desperate duel to the death
with revolvers was engaged in between
Rev. W. p. RatlifIe. u member Of the
Mississippi legislature and ono OF the
Populist leaders OF the state. and Hon.
S. 4. Jackson, also 4 member OF the
legislature and prominent Democratic
politician.
jackson was killed instantly as was
also Samuel Russell, bystsnder and
William Saunders, another innocent
spectator, was carried away with but
little hope OF surviving tho wound he
received. Ratlific came Of unscathed
and wasisoon incarccraicd behind the
bars OF tho county jail.
Ratlifie is a Populist representative
in the state Legislature from Attali
county. Mr.. Jackson was Democratic
representative from the same county.
RatliGe is the editor OF tho Kosciusko
PindicutOr. The men. long rivals in
local politics, renewed their old ieud
with added ferceness recently, and out
of publication in Ratlitlo's paper over
his own signature grow the tragedy OF
yesterday.
The trouble all came up suddenly.
The men had not met since the publi-
cation referred 10. I here was an auction
sale OF bankruptcy stock OF goods in
tho court house, and while this WAS in
progress large crowd gathered, though
OF Ratliflc and Jackson. Tho first indi-
cation oil trouble came in the shape OF 4
scullo which occurred as soon as the
two men got eyes on each other.
The auctioneer hushed hisvoice while
bys,anders rushed in on the combat.
ants and pulled them apart, some per-
SONS Selling RatlilIe and others grasp
ing Jackson. Separated by distance
OF half dozen steps and each struggling
for liberty, both men drew their re.
volvera.
At that moment Ratliife. who was
held nearest the door, WAS jorkcd out
side, and as he passed through back
wards he fred twice, but his aim was
unsteady by reason OF the jerk which
drew him out. One bullet struck the
door and the other struck William
Saunders in the groin. At this luncture
jackson ierked loose from those who
held him and ran out Mt another door
in order 10 reach Ratliilc. In moment
tho fusilade WIS resumed.
Ra.liflo emptied his revolver and ,hon
stood still, looking grimly upon his
horrible work. Jackson shot but once
before no fell, hit full in the forehead,
after his pistol arm had been shattered.
His death was instantaneous. Samuel
Russell likewise received his death
wound in the forehead during the final
fusiladc. He gasped few times, but
before the smoke had cleared away life
was extinct.
Russell and Sanders had nothing to do
with tho fight. They were merely spec
tators. Every chamber OF Ratltie's re.
yolver was emptied, but Jackson's re-
volycr had only one empty chamber
when seen soon after the tragedy. The
throng stood aghast when the slaughter
was completed.
Even Ratlitre did not move for ,ine.
Then the slayer was surrounded and
held unit! officers came up and carried
him to the county Jail, where lie was
placed in cell. Strong guards was
placed about the man in moving him to
Jail, as it was deemed advisable not to
give the friends ofthe slain opportunity
to wreak vengeance upon the slayer.
Tho trouble ariscs over the late senu-
tcrial contest in tho state legislature,
when Senator McLaurin was chosen to
succeed ex-senator L. c. Walthall, who
resigned. RatIiliie in his paper pub
liahed card ovur his own signature re.
i,cra,ing charge previously published
in the same paper and denied by jack
son to tho effect that Jackson, Demo.
cratic representative, had cast his vote
Tor Populis: senator. This was fol-
lowed BY denia! from Jackson in the
KossIusco Star, in which no denounced
RatliEe as liar.