Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-10
DREW A PISTOL.
A WHITE LEGISLATORS
HAD A CONCEALED
WEAPON.
Outrageous Language Be-
fore q Committee.
Kicked Visitor-Disgrace-
full Proceedings.


There has been much talk about the
bad conduct of some of the colored
people. What else is to be expected,
when white men set the example2
The most disgrscsful scene ever
enacted in the legislative halls OF Vir-
ginis is thus described in the Rich
mond Dispatch, Saturday, March Sd,
1880:
One of the most exciting meetings
which have been held at the Capitol
during the present se ssion OF the Gen
ersl Assembly was that OF the. House
COMMITTEE on Privileges aud Elec.
tioDs yesterday. The lie was passed
between two gentlemen, one OF them a
member of the House; blows were
passed, and pistols were drawn. though
esee-nskeIs interviewed before any
shots could be fred.
The principals in the fight were Hon.
John Whitehead, the delegate fro m
Esrfolt ord Mr. 8 8 Lambeth, Jr..
y - h~,s' iiolk. and Mr. w
J. dsUu. OF the came easy, was drawn
into the fracas.
The question before the committee
was the bill to provide q new registra-
tion for the city of Norfolk, and a del
egaticn from that city Was here in the
interest of the bill. The delegation
bad a conference with Mr.. White head
at hotel Thursdsy night, and there
exhibited to him resolutions which
rather seriously reflected upon him
for not pressing the bill. This meet
ing was rather q heated one, and re-
10 in he 10
ed between Mr.. Whitehead and Rev.
@. 1. Stengle, member of the delega-
tion.
WARNED OF TROUBLE.
1t was sgreed that Mr.. Whitehead
should accompany the delegation TO
the com mittee. room yesterday morn
ing, and he was, according to his story
advised by n friend til sc ne had better
be pi repaired for trouble. At any rate,
he borrowed n pistol and teok it to the
Capitol with him yesterday. The com
mittee meeting Was held in the room
adjoining the Office OF the Secretary OF
the Commonwealth, and there was a
rather iuii attendance OF members.
The question was gone into at some
length, when Mr.. Lambeth took the
hoor, ard was frequently inter- upted
by Mr. Whitehead Becoming irritst-
ed at these interruptions, Mr.. lambeth
asserted that in the ward in which Mr..
Whitehead had acted as judge the
grossest frauds had been perpetrated.
This brought MIR. Whitehead to his
feet, with the denunciation, You are
the biggest liar that has appeared be
fore this committee in six months"
Mr.. LAMBETH RRroRrs.
Mr.. Lambeth received the epithst in
. cool manner, and continuing his
speech, said: II will submit the facts
and evidence from the last congress
sional election, and the committee can
judge who is the liar
After touching on several points To
which he had originally addressed him.
self Mr.. Lambeth seemed 10 smart un-
der the insult that had been given him.
and be coming incensed, SAID: "rhe
epithet Of liar 10 more than can stand |
from the member from Norfolk. NV
whole life Is open TO the publis, and / |
can look The world in the face without |
fear of having the finger Of kcorn |
pointed at me-"
AT this juncture Mr.. Lambeth grew
violently excited, ard, shaking his fla |
ger st mr. Whitehe ad, continued LAS
PERSONS from Your hps, cir. whose |
public life Is SO Notorious in Norfolk /
lie"
Ere the gentleman could conclude
the sentence Mr. Whitehead, with Iiv-
nj face sna blood in his eye, wss on bis |
feet. You are dirty lisr" he ex.
claimed Is he spraDg upon the table IN
an eDoeavor to impose bodily injury |
upon Mr.. Lambeth. Delegate Price.
who was seated by Mr.. Whitehead en-
oeaVored 10 restrain him, but he broke J
awsy and rushed across the table and /
kicked mr. Lambeth In the breast. He
'hen spiApg to the floor and resumed |
tne attack. He got Mr.. Lambs
mead under his arm, and the two were
set fling when Mr.. Dodson came to the
rescue and began to rain blows upon
the head OF Mr.. Whitehead.
PisToLs ARE DRAWN.
Then it was that the affair took a Sc
rious turn. Mr.. Whitehead released
his hold upon Mr.. Lambeth and turned
upon Mr.. Dodson, drawing q pistol as
he did also. Delegate Alex. King, see.
ing the gleam OF the weapon as it
emerged from Mr.. Whitehead's pocket.
sprspg upon the member from Norfolk
grasped his wriat, and "broke" the
pistol. Mr.. Whitehead shook Mr. King
loose and closed the chamber of his
pistol in another effort 10 shoot Mr.
Dodsor. Delegate Jordan, of Freder.
ick, however, intervened. and he
wrestled the pistol from Mr.. White
head, ct The same time opening the
chamber and throwing the cartridges
about the room.
Over in the other corner of the room
was being enacted q somewhat similar
scene. A man, whose name was not
learned, but who 10 thought to have
been q Lambeth sympathizer, also had
o pistol, and drew it in an effort to
shoot Mr.. Whitehead. but he, too, was
disarmed. IL
CREATED. GREAT KxcIrRMES~.