St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-08
SPIT AND SPIT BACK
Queer Method of Fighting
Adopted, by Prominent
Arkansans.
A MEMBER OF LEGISLATURE
Splits in the Governors Face.
and the Latter Returns
the Compliment.
DRAWS AGUN
He Is Arrested and Released
On His Own Reeog-
niZance.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, April T.
The spectacle of an honorable men,
ber of the Arkansas legislature,
livid with rage, splitting in the face
of the governor of this common
wealth, quickly returned by vio-
lent emission of executive spit upon
the angered features of the law
maker, and flourish of firearms in
the hands of the governor, was wit
messed in the lobby of .Gleason's
hotel here this afternoon, and was
the result of the sational charges
of bribery in connection with the
railroad commission bill sprung in
the house of. Representatives yes
terday by Mr.. Yancey, of Phillips
county. Mr.. Jones, of Union
county, one of the principals in the
alteration of this afternoon, yes
terday arose to a point of personal
privilege and denounced Gov Clark
as being at the bottom of the
charges. He said that Gov. Clark
was a demagogue, and was going
around like the assassin in the
night with a knife, stabbing in the
pack men who were his peers. This
afternoon Gov. Clark met Jones in
the lobby at Gleason's and requested
a private interview with him. Jones
replied that he would accompany
the governor nowhere and that if
the chief executive had anything to
say to him to make it known there
Hot words followed, and in a fit of
anger Jones spit in the governors
lace. Gov. Clark returned the in
suit and quick as flash had drawn
ms revolver, and the difficulty might
nave resulted in bioodshed, but for
the quick action of bystanders, who
disarmed Gov. Clark. The COVER
nor was later arrested and re-
leased on his own recognizance. He
VIII, he says, plead guilty to- the
charge of assault tomorrow morn
ing. further trouble may follow.
JONES' STATEMENT.
In a statement of the occurrence
given out tonight, Representative
Jones said:
L had ust left the dining room from
dinner at Gleason's hotel, and took a
seat in the Office on the east side. fac
ing the east wall, quietly smoking a
cigar, and not expecting any trouble
whatever. Suddenly 1 heard the front
door open very abruptly, and, on look
ing around, / saw Gov. Clark enter the
office. saw from his countenance
that he meant trouble I vacated nv
chair about the time that he reached
me. The governor in a very abrupt
manner said:
Come back here with me-" and at
the same time motioning toward the
rear. | was totally unarmed, and felt
that he intended to kill me. I said.
No, l will not do it. If you have any
thing 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 a
step or two. 1 then stopped and again
declined in language exactly as
repeated above. He then deliberately
spat in my face. I returned the insult
by splitting in his face. When I did
this he turned loose my arm and made
for his pistol. 1 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 towards the door and my blow
failed to reach him. He was reaching
for his pistol. 1 sprang and grappled
with 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. Just then Represen-
tatiye Roberts sprang in and grabbed
the weapon, and Immediately Repre-
sentative Pope also got hold of the
pistol. He struggled to free the gun,
while the governor said:
Is 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 about the waist. I re-
quested that the pistol be taken from
Clark, and then release him. Rob
erts 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:
I will not kill him. I promise YOU
positively that 1 will not kill him Sen
ator Ward then requested me to re-
lease my hold on the governor, and
asked me to go to my room, saying
that he would take care of Gov. Clark. |
Finally L did gofto my room, remained
there ten seconds, and returned to the |
office, but TIE governor was gone
Gov. Clark said he did not care to |
discuss the trouble through the pub |
lie prints further than that he did not |
go to the hotel with a view of making |
trouble, but to tell Mr.. Jones that he |
must desist from Juggling his name into |
controversies existing between men, |
bers of the house. The trouble which |
followed was not of his making.