The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-16
ARMED MEN
IN FRANKFORT.
Fire Alarm Bell Sounds Out at
' Nearly Midnight.
Troops Hurried to the Kentucky
State House.
Gov. Bradley Calls Out Militia
From Other Points.
TWO SPECIAL TRAINS
Bring Rangers and Guards to
State Capital.
Scenes of the Kansas Lewelling
War Repeated.
STATE HOUSE BESET
By Long Lines of Troops in
Martial Array.
Blackburn Men Call 1t Repub-
lican UsurpatiOn.
STATE HOUSE BESET
By Long Lines of Troops in
Martial Array.
Blackburn Men Call 1t Repub-
lican UsurpatiOn.

FRANKFORT, KY, March 16.-The
riot bell rang from the fire engine
house at II o'clock last night. and at
the same moment Governor Bradley
ordered out the militia, Ten minutes
later the McCreary Guards, fifty-two
strong, Captain Noel Gaines, were in
possession of the State house and mar
tial law was proclaimed.
Until yesterday, Governor Bradley
had persistently refused to call out
the militia, though urged to do SO by
citizens, irrespective of party.
The Black burn leaders, he was in
formed, had been preparing all day to
take forcible possession of the State
house. Threats were made that the
Senate would arrest the Governor for
usurpation of authority in giving the
instructions he gave to the sheriff of
Franklin county to clear the corridors
and cloak rooms.
All trains brought in reinforce
ments for the men bent on mischief
1t was only at the last moment, when
the presence of these crowds presaged
serious danger, that the governor
yielded to repeated requests of orderly
citizens of both parties and called out
the militia.
The ergeant-at-arms, Mr.. Somers,
had sworn in Jack Chinn, Jim Will
Jams, Eph Lillard and other desperate
men as his deputies. 1t was also re-
ported to the govern or by numerous
.affidavits that armed men had been
collecting in the capital for two or
three days, with view to take charge
of the joint assembly on Monday.
Guards surround the State house
and permit no one but State officers,
senators, representatives and others
having a constitutional right, to pass.
The excitement in the city is great
and the streets are full of people. No
little apprehension is felt.
b. Democrats are threatening to i'm
peach Governor Bradley for his orders
to the sheriff to keep the lobbies clear.
Sergeant-at-Arms Somers says he will
have as his assistants in the joint as
sembly to-day Chinn, Williams and
Lillard.
Excitement is very high. Poor, the
Populist, has pledged the Republicans
to vote for Boyle to-day and, if he
does, Boyle is likely to be elected.
Atths State Capitol THIS Morning.
The state capitol bristles with bayonets
this morning. The news that Governor
Bradley had called upon the military
arm of the state was early spread about
and caused great deal of excitement
What promises to be the most sensation al
day of the senatorial fight was begun
with a proclamation from Governor Brad
ley issued at o'clock this morning. 1t
Ia as follows:
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
FRANKFORT, KY, March 16, 1896 }
Whereas, It has been made known to
ne by the affidavits of the president of
the Kentucky senate the speaker
of the Kentucky house of repre-
ssntatives aud others that for several
days past, an armed body of desperate
men have by their threats aud demon
strations intimidated and over-awed the
members of the general assembly and
that a portion of said persons assaulted
Senator G. J. Walton and prevented him
from going out of the senate cham ber;
that q party of said persons in a like
manner took possession of the door of
the house while the joint assembly was
in session and assumed to decide who
shonld enter the chamber of the house
when said session was being held and
that on the 18th day of March, 1896, a
portion of the persons were attempted
10 De sworn in as officsrs by the clerk of
the senate, to-wit: As dsputies of the ser
Esant- arms of the senate, and there
upon forcibly seized the doorkeeper
OF the house OF representatives, while
the general assembly was in Joint session
and prevented, him from exercising the
duty of his office, and allowed persons
who were not entitled to a placs on the
floor; that the presence of these men pre-
vented members from voting in the Joint
. session; that the civil authorities who are
claiming to act, to wit: the sheriff and his
posse and the policemen of the city.
have at no time arrested any of these
rioters, or armed persons, but have stood
by and permitted them to continue their
work of Intimidation, permitting
armed persons to occupy the
senate chamber and cloak rooms.
While the general assembly was in
joint session, that said authorities are
either powerless, over-awed, or unwill-
>lng to act and that unless the chief ex-
ecutive interferes and protects the gen
eraI assembly, legislative action will be
prevented and riot and bleodshed will
sollOV and that the security of the lives