Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-04-13
SENSATIONAL, ENCOUNTER

SENSATIONAL, ENCOUNTER
Between Gov. Clarke and Representative
JOncs-Murder Prevented by Timely In
terference of Bystanders--They spat In
Each Others Face-StxteInents OF the
Principals-'Twas Sequel to Bribery
Charges In the Legislature. -
ST. LOUIS, April S.---A specia, to the
Globe Democrat from Little Rock, Ark,
says:
Little Rock citizens were treated to
another genuine sensation Sunday
afternoon. As usual, it was the out
come of legislative discussion on the
railroad commission bill and the causes
which led to the defeat of the meas
ure. The trouble was between Gov.
Clarke and Representative w. R.
Jones, of Madison county. When
MIR. Yancey made his startling
statement on the floor of the house
Saturday Mr.. Jones, who was men
tionedin connection with the bribery,
replied to the charges and referred to
Gov. Clarke in very uncomplimentary
terms. Referring to the governor. Mr..
Jones, said: \. $50,
\ can tell you why this charge Is
made right on the eve Of adjournment.
Gov. Clarke, q man whom few weeks
ago had not a warmer friend in all,this
state than l., charged, when the: Rob-
inson commission bill was defeated,
that the railroads had Influenced the
forty-eight members who had voted
againstit. He was dared and invited to
prove the accusation. and, after all the
howl and hubbub, not spot was found
on any of the members. Now he knows
that he will have to besmirch and
blacken the records of these forty.
eight members, and thereby destroy
their influence, or his political career
is ended forever. Mr.. Yancey SAYS
that he acted under the advice of Gov.
Clarke and MIR. Manning. Has it come
to this that the chief executive of the
state will put spies on the tracks of
the peoples representatives to see what
; they are doing?- When he sent his
message to this body he did not even
intimate that he favored rail
road commission. When the fight
over the Robinson bill was on
he sent no special message
favoring it. No. he has gone about
this whole matter like an assassin in
the dark, with knife up his sleeve"
JONES STORY. tHt
What transpired Sunday can best be
told by producing the statements of
the principals, Mr.. Jones said:
81 had just left the dining room
from dinner at Gleason's hotel and had
taken seat in the office on the east
side, facing the east wall, quietly
smoking a cigar, and not expecting
any trouble whatever. Suddenly
heard the front door open
very abruptly, and, on look
ing around, saw Gov. Clarke
enter the Office. saw from his counte-
nance that he meant trouble. vacated
my chair about the time he reached
me. The governor in very abrupt
manner said: Come back here with
me, at the same time motioning toward
the rear. ! was totally unarmed, and
felt that he intended to kill me. said:
"'No, will not do it; if you have
anything to say 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 step or
two. I then stopped, and again de-
clined his invitation in language exact.
ly as repeated above He then
deliberately spat in my face. l
returned the insult by splitting
in his face. When I did this he
turned loose of my arm and made
for his pistol. l 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 go.
ing for his pistol. Isprang and crap
pied with him and caught him around
the waist, pressing both of his arms to
his side, but leaving his arms free ia
act from the elbow down, by this time
he had his pistol drawn. Just then
Representative Roberts, of Madison,
sprang in and grabbed the weapon,
and Immediately Representative Pope
also got hold of the pistol He strug.
gled to free the gun, while the gov.
ernor said: Turn that pistol loose
Roberts declined, when the gov
ernor said: - - you, Roberts,
turn that pistol loose About this
time some one grabbed me around the
waist. requested that the pistol be
taken from Clarke. and then would
release him. Roberts and Pope de-
clined. then said: Give me a pistol
and turn him loose with his weapon.
When the governor saw that he wa.
overpowered he requested Pope to turr
the pistol loose, and said: Il will no,
kill him; Ipromise you positively thai
will, not kill him. Senator Wore
then requested me to release my hole
on the governor, and asked that gt
to my room, saying that he would take
care of the governor. Finally did &c
to my room, and remained there ter
seconds, and returned to the office, bu
the governor was gone" ......4.
r. GOV. CLARKE RETICENT.
Gov. Clarke was seen by your CORE
spondent Sunday night. He said tn,
statement made by Mr.. Jones was falls,
in many essential particulars; thai
Jones did not spit in his face, nor die
he (Clarke) enter the Office of the hote
with the view of causing trouble. III
said he saw Jones as he was passing tn,
hotel and went in to tell Jones that h,
must desist in lugging his name intt
controversies arising among members
of the house. The governor declined
to discuss the subject further.
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