The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-02-01
When Vest Threw an Ink Bottle.

hitting to senator Vests career recalls
to my mind little incident which
took place many years ago in a little
red brick court house, then standing
in Clinton, Mo, which illustrates Col.
Vests impulsive nature and fiery
temperament.
A trial was in PROCESS in the Henry
county circuit court, with Judge
Foster p. Wright on the bench. The
parties involved were all ofprominent
families of Henry county. John Will
hanson had been shot and killed. Jno.
Clark was accused. Clark died in Jail
while awaiting for trial. Joe Means
Perk Steele, the latter brother of
VIVA. ID. Steele, the present prosecut-
Hfg attorney of Pettis cOunty-were
arrested as accessories to the crime.
Steel was exOnerated by the courts
and Means was on trial as principal
accessory. Eminent counsel had be en-
engaged for the prosecution and for
she defence.
As was usual on such occasions the
SQUIRT house was crowded to overflow
ing with spectators. |, then boy, was
among them. Among the lawyers
engaged in the case upon one side
were Colonel George G. Vest, the
little giant of Missouri" his law
partner, John f. Philips, now Judge
Of the United States court for the
western district of Missouri, and
James G. CAN'T, the present chief
justice of Missouri supreme court.
On the other side were Waldo 2.
Johnson. ex-United States senator;
BantOn G. Boone, afterward attorney
general and Colonel Josh LaDue
Who was a candidate for state senator
and was elected few months later |
The examination of witnesses was
conducted upon one side by Colonel |
Philips and upon the other by Judge
Johnson. Senator LaDue, however.
would occasionally question witness
and frequently objected to questions
propounded by Colonel Philips, who
xaaon the opnosite side of the case.
This caused Colonel Philips to make
some very pointed remarks regarding
what he called Mr.. LaDue's interior
ence. and he informed the latter sar-
eastically that Judge Johnson who
Was conducting the examination, was
hufly competent to do SO, without Mr..
La Dues assistance. LaDue was not
daunted by this, however, but con-
tinued in his objections as before.
Finally Colonel Vest, who had been
sitting quietly by arose and address
ing the bench, protested strongly
against LaDue's frequent Interrupt
tions, and closed by saying that it
would be well for LaDue to save his
stump speeches for the next campaign
LaDue arose angrily, and, address
sing Vest, said: |,
THAT sir, is just as unprofessional
and ungentlemanly as yourpartner's
kColOnei Phlhps) speech
In those days the ink bottles used ,
IN the court house at Clinton were .
Of heavy crockeryware, set in large
blocks of wood. Selling one of these.
Colonel Vest, exclaiming. Don't tell ,
me that | am not a gentleman fired ,
it at LaDue's head
The future senator's aim was bad.
LaDue lodged behind table and the ,
bottle struck Judge Johnson on the
back of the head, knocking him out Of
his chair, while it's contents were re-
eeived by the immaculate shirt bosom
OF General Boone. Great consterna-
lion ensued in the court room. The
injury received by Judge johnson
put an end TO any further trouble be-
tween the lawyers for the time being,
and the Judge was conveyed to his
hotel for repairs. Judge Johnson,
who was chief counsel on his case,
was unable to proceed with the trial
at the pending term of court, owing
to the wound in the head. so the case
was laid over until the next term
of court In the meantime Means.
the prisoner, escaped from Jail and
was heard of no more definitely. 1t
was rumored that he died number
Of years later in the mountains OF
the far west
Cononel Vest was fined by Judge
Wright for his attack on LaDue, but
the fine was RENTED.
OF those who were connected in this
turbulent scene Judge Wright, Judge
Johnson and Colonel LaDue are now
numbered with the dead, and the ,