The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-17
"wmo srnucK rArrNasoN !.
Origin of the Oft-Repcntcd md I'm
answered INTERPRETATIONS.

| Mr. George NJ. SaEsmnn writes In th'
puncsutawney tpa.) News During the hal
| cyon days OF the democratic pariy IN ole
! York county. Pa. some time IN The iotties
| when TO get the nomination for The count,
Office was the main thing to insure an cleo
| ton, the party leaders had much TO do
| many consultations among themselves and
| with prominent men in several townships.
| ASprants we're many. all OF whom had theii
| friends, Every effort was ,iade 10 secure
| the delegateg to the nomination oOnVen-
lion by the several candidates. The county
| officers were u potent factor in making IN
the slate. To this end they held meetings
in the several townships and Ia central To-
calitios 10 learn the Views 81 the Droiilnent
men, and thus make up the DELEGATIONS
TO tho county convention md insulc the
nomination they had decided to have made
At this period tho commissioners VIZ
tied the townships to hold appeals IN the
matter of assessments Tor sax hege APP
pcals afforded opportunities Tor cc1sulia-
ton and were used In preparing the way
for the nominations al the county tpnvfn-
lion.
Al one OF these appeals. held a. the Blue
Ball Tavern In Chnnecford township, the
Incident occurred which led - Tie OF ~.
peated question 80 frequently In pciitical
journals all over our Stato and Sniiop I:
who struck Billy Patterson" Al least
two OF the county commissioners were
present. Peter All. very active and IN
fiuential democrat. aud the very able Billy
Patterson. who was said 20 hays been
struck. billy Patterson was also ~ tctiye
and Influential democrat. 'cter IN! WAS
subsequently associate Judge OF the fo.rt.
Besides these commissioners there were
others present. among whom was an irish
man named John Maffet, who was +, warm
friend of Patterson, Maffet hayiag left the
room for short time. II was proposed 70
have little sport with him when he re-
turned. When no came IN Patterson com
piaincd OF having been struck yicient
blow. This aroused the freshmen. who de-,
termincd TO aycnge the violent bow his.
friend had received, crying Dut In fis rage.
WHO struck Billy Patterson?" Wien II
was limited that Peter Ali raB The man
who had done the striking. flourlshlng his
sbilieIah. which he always carried with
him. Mafici approached Ali. Swing. Dom
YOU. did you strike Billy fatterspnY Mt.
Ali Legged off. denying the charge: others.
interfering. quoted the Irish,nan with the
assurance that II was loke. AID all
passed off without further ,lem1nht alton,
But that was not the end OF u, Some
one reported the matter aud the opposing
pigty began 10 use Lnat ftufbiivu IN Wbf
annoying TO the democrats. intimatiD2 thar
the democratic leaders mad been in q ter.
ribie fight among themselves. 10 ibeir
great injury. and 30 in he progress OF
time when there was loss In the Como
cratic vote. or a partial victory. and .p--
claI!y when the cause af this charge -.as
moi fully understood. the Irjshinan Z 4ss5f T
who struck Billy Pattt,son?" became o.
sort OF byword all over the State and Ma
ton.
The facts as given above ! rot from the
Hon, Adam Ebaugh. late OF stewartstoynr
York county. Mr.. Ebaugh, who die last
May Of the age Of 30, ex-Slate sonastr,
and ex-associate Judge OF the court. IA
formed me that ne received the hiftoyy
froaI Billy Parlusa,u dufing his lifetime
] was well acquainted with 'iath rho ZONE
,nIssionsrf and Sir. Patterson durjpx by
last iIiness and officiated at his funeral =
had several conversations wl.h Nr Ekaush
about the matter. and <ew naopths hef0ts
sis death At my request. ~ wr0le me ~
history OF the incident ~ styrn abovo.