The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-04-08
A VIOLENT GOVERNOR
Arkansas Chief Magistrate in a
Disgraceful Row.
sPAT IN A LEGISLATORS FACE

The Insult Was Returned and the Gov
Prevented from Becoming a Murderer
By the Interference of Friends.
LITTLE ROCK, April s.-The spectacle of
an honorable member of the Arkansas
legislature, livid with rage splitting in the
face of the governor of this commonwealth,
quickly returned by violent emission Of
executive saliva upon the angered features
of the lawmaker, and a flourish of fire.
arms in the hands of the governor, was
witnessed in the lobby of Glason's hotel
here yesterday afternoon and was the re-
suit of sensational charges of bribery in
connection with the railroad commission
bill sprung in the house of representatives
on Saturday by Mr.. Yancey, of Phillips
county, Mr.. Jones, of Marion county, on
Saturday arose to point Of personal priv
ilego and denounced Governor Clarke as
being at the bottom of the charges. He
said that Governor Clarke was a dema-
gogue, and was going around like an as
sassin in the night with knife, stabbing
In the back men who were his peers.
Yesterday afternoon Clarke met Jones
in the lobby at Gleasons and requested a
private interview with him. Jones replied
that he would accompany the governor
nowhere, and that il the chief executive
had anything to say to him he must mako
1t known. Hot words followed, and in
fit of anger Jones spat in the governors
face. Governor Clarke, trembling with
anger returned the insult, and us quick as
flash had drawn his revolver, and the
difficulty might have resulted in bloodshed
but for the quick action of bystanders, who
disarmed the governor. Governor Clarke
was later arrested by constable and re-
leased on his own recognizance. When
arraigned in court this morning he pleaded
guilty to the charge of assault and paid his
fine. Further trouble may ensue.
In statement Of the occurrence Repre-
sentative Jones said: II had Just left tho
dining room at the Gleason hotel and
taken a seat in the Office on the east side,
quietly smoking cigar, and not expect
ing any trouble whatever. Suddenly 1
heard the front door open very abruptly,
and on looking around / saw Governor
Clarke enter the Office. l saw from his
countcnance that he meant trouble. 1
vacated my chair about tho time no
reached me. Tho governor, In very abb
rupt manner, said: Come back here with
me, Mt the same time motloning toward
the rear. was totally unarmod, and felt
that he intended to kill me said: No,
i viii not do It, If you have anything TO
hsiy W lilt you tlll say IL mere.
He then caught me by the right arm
with his left hand, and repeated the COM
mand to go to the rear of the office, at tho
same time pulling me n step or two
then stopped and again declined his invi-
tation He then deliberately spat in my
face. i returned the insult by splitting in
his face. When l did this, he loosed my
arm and made for his pistol i then saw
that my only chance was to knock him
down, and struck with all my might at
his face with my left hand He sprang
back toward the door, and my blow failed
to reach him. He was still reaching for
his postol. sprang forward. grappled him
and caught him around the waist, pressing
both arms to his side, but leaving his arms
free to act from the elbow down. BY this
time he had his pistol drawn, and Repre-
sentative Roberts rushed forward and
grasped it.
Just then Representative Pope also got
hold of the pistol. He struggled to free
the gun, while the governor said: Turn
that pistol loose Roberts declined, when
the governor said; 'D-n you, Roberts,
turn that pistol loose About this time
some one grabbed me around the waist I
requested that the pistol be taken from
Clarke, and then release him Roberts
and Pope declined. j then said: 'Givem me
n pistol, and turn him loose with his
weapon. When the governor saw that he
was overpowered he requested Pope to
turn the pistol loose and said; will not
XII him. promise you positively will
not XIII him. Senator Ward then re-
qucstod me to release my hold on the gov
ernor, and asked that / go to my room,
saying that he would take care of Cover.
nor Clarke. Finally did go to my room
and remained there ten seconds, and then
returned to the Office, but the governor
was gone
Governor Clarke said he did not care to
discuss the trouble through the public
press further than to say that he did not
go to the hotel wiGh the view of making
trouble, but only to tell Mr.. Jones that no
must desist from Juggling his name into
controversies. The trouble which followed
was not of his making