Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-03-14
HOW IT HAPPENED.
Story of One Of the Most Disgraceful
Fights in Legislative History.


Fights in Legislative History.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 13.-The legis-
lature broke up in wild riot, in which
almost every member participated Re
volvers were drawn and many persons
were seriously injured, Adams Of Park
county perhaps fatally
For fully 20 minutes the state house
was filled with bowling, surging mob
Men who had been friends and sat side
by side during the session became
deadly enemies and made every effort
to injure each other. Myron King,
Governor Matthew'S private secretary,
was locked in the elevator and big,
burly man guarded the door and refused
to allow him to leave. The police
Finally Drove the Man Away
and the secretary was released. When
he arrived at the door Of the house at
important message from the governor
and great deal depended upon it's de-
livery to the house before IL o'clock.
He pounded on the door but was denied
admission. He cried that the door was
locked and requested that it be opened
as he had a message from the governor.
His voice was heard by a number of
Democrats who were in the corridors,
and they ran to his assistance. An at
tempt was made to force open the doors,
but the crowd of Republicans who were
keeping the governors secretary out
with his message resisted with all the
force they could command. The doors
were
Unable to Stand the Pressure
brought to bear upon them and they
We're forced open. King, who was i'll
front, was forced right into the crowd
Of Republicans, who were bent on keep
ing him from reaching the speaker
desk. With one accord the men began
striking at each other and the secretary
was in great danger of being killed.
xiii him! kill htmr' cried 100 voices.
The women who were in the galleries
yelled and one or two tainted. All was
confusion and friends and enemies alike
were fighting. The sole aim OF the
Democrats was to get King through the
crowd to the speakers desk with the
governors veto, and the Republicans
We're determined to hold him back unJil
12 o'clock, at which time the house
would adjourn sine die. Inch by inch
the
Democrats Gained Ground.
Many persons were knocked down and
trampled under foot. Revolvers were
fourished in the air but as fast as one
was drawn the man holding it was
knocked down. The heavy chairs were
torn from the floor by the mob and the
desks were broken to pieces. Doors
leading to other rooms were shattered
by persons in the corridors trying to ef-
feet an entrance to the chamber. The
police were powerless to check the
mob which seemed bent on destroying
everything in fhe room.
At 1857 the excitement was intense.
Men were wrestling at every part of
the room and several of them were
Bleeding from Numerous Wounds.
The Democrats were gradually forcing
King toward the speakers desk and the
Republicans were growing weaker
on account of many of their num-
ber being injured. A few seconds
later, with his clothing torn from his
body and his face bleeding, he was
pushed by main strength through the
crowd and thrown heavily against the
speakers desk. He still held the COVER
nor's veto in his hand, but it never
reached the speaker.
Just as King was about to place it in
his hands Speaker Adaws kicked and
beat back the crowd, and, in a voice
which could be heard above the horrible
din, cried:
"The House Has Adjourned!"
This raised great cry from the crowd
and everybody made a rush toward the
speaker. The veto was torn from Kings
hands by a man who dashed out of the
crowd with it and made good his escape.
This practically ended the riot Several
small fights occurred, but the police and
others finally succeeded in driving the
men from the chamber. No less than
two dozen persons were hurt. No AZ.
rests We're made.
The trouble originated over the bill to
supplant Custodian Griffin, Demo-
crat, with Republican. The governor
has three days in which to consider all
measures The bill was delivered to
the governor two nights ago. 1t was
his idea to hold it until the last minute
and then the legislature could not pass
it over his veto, as adjournment would
take place at -.
The governors secretary started with
the bill within 10 minutes time The
Republicans attempted by force to pre-
vent his reaching the legislative hall
with the bill in time
Adams, who was injured, was the
representative of Parke county. He
was kicked in the pit of the stomach
and had to be carried from the hall,