The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-08
QUARREL OVER BRIBERY.
Representative Jones, While
Angry, Spat in the Face of
Governor Clark.
THE LATTER THEN sPAT BACK.
A Revolver Quickly Drawn by the
Executive and His Arrest Fol-
lows the Scene.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK, April Z. = The
spectacle of an honorable member OF the
Arkansas Legislature, livid with rage, spit
ting in the face of the Governor of this
Commonwealth, quickly returned by a vio-
lent emissary of executive saliva upon the
features of the lawmaker and flourish of
firearms in the hands of the Governor, was
witnessed IN the lobby of Gleason's Hotel
here this afternoon, and was the result OF
the sensational charges OF bribery IN con-
nection with the commission bill sprung
in the House of Representative yesterday
by Representative Yancey OF Philips
County.
Jones of Marion County, one of the
principals of this affair, rose to point OF
personal privilege and denounced Governor
Clark as being at the bottom OF the charges.
He said that Governor Clark was a dema-
gogue and was going around like the assas-
sin in the night, stabbing in the back men
who were his peers.
This afternoon Governor Clark went into
the lobby of Gleason S Hotel and requested
an interview with him. Mr.. Jones replied
that he would accompany the Governor
nowhere, and if the Governor had any
thing to say to him he must make it
known then and there. Hot words fol-
lowed, and in a tit of anger Jones spat In
the Governors face. Governor Clark,
trembling with anger, returned the insult,
and, quick as a flash had drawn his re-
volver; and the difficulty might have re-
suited in bloodshed but for the quick
action of by-standers, who disarmed Gov
ernor Clark.
The Governor was later arrested by
Constable and released on his own recog-
nizance. He will, he says, plead guilty to
the charge of assault. Further trouble
may ensue.
In a statement of the occu rrence given
out to night Representative Jones said:
had just left the dining-room after dinner
at Gleasons Hotel and taken a seat in the
Office on the west side, facing the east wall,
and was quietly smoking a cigar, not expect
ing any trouble. Suddenly heard the front
door open very abruptly, and on looking
around saw Governor Clark enter the Office.
l saw from his countenance that he meant
trouble. vacated my chair about the time he
reached me. The Governor in a very abrupt
manner said "Come back here with me-" and
at the same time motioned toward the rear.
was totally unarmed anu felt that he intended
to kill me.
said: 'No, 1 will not do it. II you have
anything to.say to me. you can say it here"
He then caught me by the right arm with his
left hand, and repeated the command to go to
the rear of the Office, at the same time pulling
me q step or two. / then stopped and again
declined his invitation in language exactly as
repeated above. He then deliberately spat in
my face. returned the insult by splitting in
his face. When did this he let loose of my
arm and made for his pistol. 1 saw that my
only chance was to knock him down, and
struck at him with all my might with my left
hand. He sprang back toward the door, and
my blow failed to reach him. He was reach
ing for his pistol sprang and grappled with
him and caught him around the waist, press
ing both arms to his side, but leaving his arms
free to act from the elbow down. BY this time
he had his pistol drawn. Just then Represen-
tative Roberts sprang in and grabbed the
weapon. He struggled to free the gun, while
the Governor said; ''Turn that pistol loose"
Roberts declined, when the Governor said:
C you, Roberts, turn that pistol loose"
About this time some one grabbed me around
the waist. 1 requested that the pistol be taken
from Clark and then release him. Roberts and
Pope declined. l then said: "Give me a pistol
and turn him loose with his weapon
When the Governor saw that he was overpow-
cred he requested Pope to turn the pistol loose
and said: al will not kill him. l promise you
positively that will not kill him."
Senator Ward then requested me to release
my hold on the Governor and asked me to go
to my room, saying that he would take care of
Governor Clark. Finally did go to my room,
remaining there ten seconds, and returned to
the Office but the Governor was gone.
Governor Clark say s he does not care to
discuss the trouble through the public
press further than to say that he did not
go to the hotel with view of making trou-
BILE, but only to tell Mr.. Jones that he
must desist from Juggling his name into
controversies existing between members
of the House. The trouble which followed
was not of his making.