The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-03-08
A TRAGEDY In MISSISSIPPI.
TWO LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS
Start Fight in Crowded Cour; Room
and Three Persons Are Killed.

In the midst Of large tbrong gathered in
the Atni Court House at koscinsko, Miss,
adespeia;e duel to the death with revolvers
was engaged in between Rev. w.P. Ratlifie
amember OF the Mississippi Legislature and
one OF the Popuist leaders of the State, aud
Hon. :. A. JACKSON, also n,cpber Of the
Legislature am prominent Democratic
politician.
Jackson was killed instantly as was also
Samuel Russell, a bystander and William
Saunders, ~ other innocent spect tor, was
carried away VISA but little hone of surviy.
inc The wound he received. Rathffe came
on unscathed aud was soon ipcarcerated
behind the bars of the county Jail
hatllhe is fopllist representative in the
state Legislature from Attali county. Mr..
Jackson was Democratic representative
from the same county. Ratlffe II the
EDITOR Of the kosciusko "NindiCator" The
men. long rivals IN local politics rene wed
their Old feud with added iierceness recent.
ly and out OF Publication in Rnthne's
paIer over his own signature grew the
tragedy.
The trouble all came up suddenly The
men had not met since the publication re
iefred To. There was an auction sale of a
bsnkiuptcv stock OF goods in the Court
House and While this was in progress a
large crowd gathered. though no person
noticed the coming together of EatufIe
and Jackson. The first indication OF trouble
came IN the shape of a sculils which occur.
red ~ soon as the two men gol eyes on each
other.
The auctoneer hushed his voice while
bystanuers rushed in ON the com ba,ants ana
pa led item apad, some persons seizing
katllHe ana others grasping Jackson. Sepa.
rated by distance OF halt n dozen steps
nnd each struggling for liberty, both men
drew their fevclNers
At that moment Ratliffe. who was held
nearest The door was Jerk,d outside and as
he passed through oach wards he iircd,t vice
but his aim was unsteady by reason of the
jerk which drew him out. one bullet struck
the door ana the other Tit William Saund-
efs in he rroin. At this junctntc Jackson
lefked louse from hose who held him and
ran out at another door in order to reach
Katlihe; In moment the iusilade was
resumed
Ratlifie emptied his revolver and then
stood still, looking grimly 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.
,tanIaneUus Samuel Russell likewise re-
reived his death wound in the forehe ad
during the iual fus lade. He gasped few
hme'. but before the smoke had cleared
away lige was extinct
Ed'se ana Sanders bad nothing 10 do
VITA The fight. They were merely specia-
iors. Every cham her in Rnlliffes revoi
yer was enptieJ, but JacKson's revolver
had only one empty chamber when seen
after the tragedy. The throng stood aghast
when the slaughter was completed.
Even RatllfIc did not move for a time.
Then the slayer was surrounded and held
nnll officers c'me up and carried hnn TO
he county jail, where he was placed IN
cell. strong guards were placed about the
man in moving him 10 the jaIl, as H. was
deemed advisable not to give the friends of
the slain an opportunity TO wreak ven
geince upon the slsy,r.