The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-12
Lively Times at the Close of a
Legislature
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Republicans Bar the Doors and Fight the
Secretary
Women In the Gallery Of the Assembly Scream
and Falnt-.A Scene Of Widest
Alarm In indianapolis

Indianapolis, March 1.-THE Leglsla-
ture broke up in riot tonight in which
almost everybody participated. Revol-
vers were drawn and many persons were
seriously injured, Adams OF Parke
county perhaps fatally.
For fully twenty minutes the State
House was filled with bowling surglng
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
Matthews private secretary, was locked in
the elevator and burly man guarded the
door and refused to allow him to leave.
The police finally drove the man away
and the secreary was released. When
he arrived at the door of the House at
IL :55 he found it locked. He had an i'm
portant message from the Governor and
great deal depended upon its delivery to
the Speaker Of the House before II 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 number OF DEM
ocrats who were in the corridors and they
ran to his assistance.
An attempt was made to force open the
doors, but the crowd of Republicans who
were bent upon the Governors Secretary
being kept out with his message, resisted
with all the force they could command.
The heavy oak doors were unable to stand
the pressure brought to bear upon them
and they were forced open.
King was forced right into the crowd of
Republicans who were bent upon keeping
him from reaching the Speaker. With
one accord the men began striking at
each other and the secretary was in great
danger of being killed.
kill him." cried hundred voices.
The women who were in the gallery
screamed and one or two OF them tainted.
In moment everything was confusion,
and friends and enemies alike were fight
ing. The sole aim of the Democrats was
to get King through the crowd to the
Speakers desk with the Governors veto
and the Republicans were determined to
time the House would adjourn sine die:
Inch, by inch the Democrats gained
ground. Many persons were knocked
down and tramped under foot. Revolvers
were hourished in the air, but as fast as
they were drawn the men holding them
wers 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 effect
an entrance to the chamber. The police
were powerlcss to check the mob, which
seemed bent on destroying everything
in the rooom.
At 1:57 the excitement was intense,
men were fighting. in every part of the
room and several Of them were bleeding
from numerous wounds. The Democrats
were gradually forcing King toward the
Speaker desk and the Republicans were
growing weaker on account OF some OF
them being injured. A few minutes later
King, with his clothing torn almost
from his body, and his back bleeding,
was pushed by main strength through the
crowd and thrown heavily against the
Speakers desk. He held Governor
Matthews veto in his hands, but it never
about to place it in Speaker Adams hands
that official kicked and beat back the
crowd, and in a voice which could be
heard above the horrible din, cried:
1.-The House has adjourned; the House
has adjourned.
This raised cry from the crowd, and
everybody made a rush toward the
Speaker. The veto was torn from Kings
hand py 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 finally
succeeded in driving them from the cor
ridor.. No less than two dozen persons
were hurt. No arrests were made. The
trouble originated over the attempt this
morning to supplant Custodian Griffin, a
Democrat, with Republican. The Gov
ernor has three days in which to consider
all measurs. The bill was delivered 'tc>jtI,e
Governor three nights ago. 1t was his
scheme to hold it until the last minute
and then the Legislature could not pass
it over his veto, and adjournment would
take place at IL o'clock. The Governors
secretary started with the bill with only
ten minutes time to spare.
Adams, who was injured is the repre-
sentative Of Porka county Ha waa
kicked in the PIT of the stomach and had
to be carried from the house.