The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-03-28
SMITH AS A SMASHER.
Senator ROderick Butler Beaten with
a Club.

h SAHbs
NASHVILLE, March 25.-Frank M
Smith, State superintendent OF public
instruction, made an assault upon Sen.
ator Butler, of johnson county, this
morning at about 10 80 o'clock in the
private office OF the comptroller at the
capitol.
The Banner reporting the ARRAY,
says: There has been i'll feeling OF
several years standing, it is learned,
between Senator Butler and Mr.. Smith,
but the direct cause OF the trouble to.
day was remark made this morning
by Senator Butler, that Frank Smith
had not been in his office more than a
week since the first of October
AT the time the difficulty occurred
Senator Butler was standing in the
private Office of the State comptroller,
by the side Of large deck, and ncar
the door, joking and pleasantly talk,
ing with W. T. Jones and Leon Trous-
dale.
Mr.. Smith entered the room from
the main Office of the comptroller, and
as he did so he said to Senator Butler,
Damn you, what have you been say
ing about me?"
Senator Butler, who was s'ard, .
with his back to the door, turned par
TALLY around and said: "Well, Frank,
what have l been saying about your"
Without another word Mr., Smith
struck him over the head twice with a
: stick which he carried in his hand,
and as Senator Butler started around
the desk he SAID "What do you mean,
s Frank; are you trying to kill me?''
Mr.. Smith made no reply, but struck
him across the back. They were sep
arated by Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Trous.
| dale.
Mr.. Smith, while being held by the
gentlemen who parted them, was very
abusive in his language, and contin'
ued to hurl his epithets until Mr.. Har
rls told him she could not talk that
way in his Office. Mr.. Smith then
turned and walked to his own office
further down the hall.
The blows across the head made 8
very ugly cash about two inches long
on the forehead of Senator Butler, and
it bled profusely. DIR. W. G. Ewing
was called and the wound was dressed
The scalp was SO badly cut as to re-
quire four stitches. Senator Butler
was taken in the carriage OF DR.. Ewing
to his rooms at the Maxwell house.
Mr.. Smith was seen and asked as to
the origin of the trouble, but he refused
to make any statement at the present
, Senator Butler said, when seen in
his room by reporter, 81 walked into
the comptroller's office this morning
and was talking to the boys when
, Frank Smith came in. He carried q
heavy stick in his hand. Addressing
| me, he said, "What have you been say
ing about me?"
II said, why, Frank, I don't know,
: and laughed, thinking he was joking
by asking the question. Without an
other word he raised the stick and
dealt me three heavy blows"
"Do you know what was the cause
, of the assaults"
. Senator Butler replied: "The only
= thing | ever said was about three
. weeks ago. A man came to the city
:, to see Smith and meeting me asked
if l knew where he could be found.
, replied that ! did not The man sale
Smith was never in his office. | re
piled, Yes, he has been out since las
August making political speeches, an(
is never in his Office to attend to bust
!, ness
|, "This conversation was repeated t
: Maj. Allison, commissioner of agricul
, ture. this morning, and l suppose The
major told Smith what / said"