The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-03
HEFLIN AND WALKER FIGHT Candidates Have an En- counter at Opelika. SOME BLOOD WAS SHED Captain Walker Sustained
 Several Bruises. Congressman HeAin Received go Inju- Ries--statements of Participants
 Differ as to petails of
 ths Dimcuity.

The heated and personal campaign of the Fifth Congressional District cul- minated yesterday afternoon in an ex- citing fight in Opelika between Con- gressman J. Tom Hefiin and Captain B. w. Walker. respectively the Demo- cratic and the Republican candidates for Congress. bruises and abrasions on the right side nose for 8 few minutes after the en- counter. Congressman Hefiin was rot injured.
 Captain Walker claims that the at- tack was made with such suddenness and in such a way that he could not defend himself. The encounter was brought about by charges made by Captain Walker of Mir, Hsdin's course in Fifth District politics and In ths la cobi case.
 The fight took place at an eating house in the railroad yarde near the depot at Opeiika. Congressman Hefiin was on his way to Tuskegee where he will speak today. Captain Walker. who had been campaigning in Cham bers County was also on his way to Tuskegee to attend the Hefiin speak, ing. They had come to Opeiika on the same train from Lafayette, Mr. Hehin's home. and were waiting to take Wes- tern train for Tuskegee. After the difaculty Captain Walker came to Montgomery. fearing. as he said, his family might become alarmed at re- ports which might reach them of the difnculty.
 ConKressnaan Hefiin, accompanied by Sheriff Walton and MT. Hollingsworth. friends of his from Chambers County. stopped at Tuskegee. Their Statements DiMeR. Statements made by Congressman FIefiin and Captain Walker differ wids~ ly as to the details of the difnculty. Captain Walker asserts that ME. lief lin was accompanied hy armed friends who stood by and who were SO close to him that he was not able to detcnd himself. Congressman Heflin sGid that he was accompanied at the time of the dificulty by no one and that he gave Captain Walker fair warning of the coming of the difficulty by asking him to retract charges he had made m the campaign and designating such state" ments as lies.
 The main features of the difficulty are, however. without dispute. Cap- | tain Walker was on the porch of the eating house when he was approacheo by MT, Hefiin, who told him that state-
  lies and that he would have to retrace them Captain Walker refused to re- | tract and Congressman Hefiin attacked him.
 CaptaIn Walker was knocked over on | tan of the bench on which he had been l sitting and he was struck several times hefore outsiders interfered and pulled Mir. Hefiin awey.
 Cnptain Walker claims that he was | struck with end of knife which was clinched in Mir. Hefiin's hand but Con-
 gressman Hehin says he hit him with nothing harder than his fist. Con- | rressman Hehin in his statement says that when he asked Captain Walker | for A. retraction Captain Walker threw his hand behind him as if reaching for
 The difaculty, 1t is said, was wit
 messed by Judge N. D. Denson. Sher- Ii1 Walton of Chambers county. MT. EIollingsworth of the same county Sheriff Hodges of Lee county, Joe Montgomery, a well known Republican of Birmingham and a number of citi- zena of Opellka- After the fight Cap tain walker went into the depot res- taurant and washed his face.
 What Captain walker Says.
 Tn reference to the trouble in ope- i,La with Congressman Henin Captain walker who came to Montgomery last night made the following state' ment:
 T travelled from Lafayette to ope- Ilika on the same train with Mfr. lief" lin and some of his Chambers county friends. He came to the door of the car in which was sitting talking to