The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-24

have to do the setting up. and when
/ left the Legislature 1 was eight dol
lars to the bad on cigars alone. When
/ went home, | would tell the boys
about everybody treating me on CT
CARS. They concluded, they being my
constituents, that | ought TO be
equally sociable to them and when /
came to my senses | was eighty more
dollars to the bad on cigars. 1t did
not stop though until l. in desperation
, told them how the lobbyists always
got back about four to one. | had
omitted this in my original report. "
The laugh had hardly subsidized and
ex-senator Wilson had scarcely quit
blushing, when Solicitor Brooks, who
always has an eye to business, as a
prosecuting officer, and CONSERVATION
OF the laws of his county, left the
docket, walked over to the groupe
and greeted Mr.. Koonce with warm
grasp of warm RECOGNITION. But Mr..
Brooks, when this was over had the
assurance while Judge Shaw WAS sit
ting up there on the bench looking
for all the world like judgement day
to the negroes and stern justice to
better educated white people, to en-
quire of the legislator, if he was not
carrying q concealed weapon upon his
Onslow blushed, or turned as much
redder as was possible. then recov
cred himself and said, no, STREE, but
/ will make you q present Of a dead
ly weapon if you will use it on Scales
or Robertson here who told you about
the pistol" As was to be expected,
both Senator Scales and Representa-
tive Robertson denied the self-impeach-
ment, with the result that Joyner, the
newspaper man, of course had to stand
the brunt. Several who did not un-
derstand why the solicitor should thus
accost and demoralize if not intemniate
a distinguished visitor. it fell upon the
legislative correspondent to explain
matters. Joyner said that during the
last session of the Legislature Mr..
Koonce was one of the most impress
sive, useful and popular members of
the House, but that on one bin he
always fell down. Mr.. Koonce was not
accustomed to losing out in legislation,
and every time his bill to make the
carrying of concealed weapons q peni-
tertiary offence, was defeated he
would get up another with a change
of phraseology, but always with the
State prison staring other people in
the face. On the last night before the
close of the Legislature Mr.. Koonce
point of his eloquent and witty tongue.
if not at the pistols point SO he had
the House laughing and applauding
and hanging on his words of vivid por-
trayal of the crimes and horrors fol-
lowing in the wake of the pistol toter.
Prevent the toting and you lessen sor-
row, tragedy and deVilment, was his
slogan. He was just turning the curve
of a grand period rushing round the
curve N a home stretch climax. when
Peter Murphy. of Rowan,
one of the Irish brigade, with great
arose and addressing the
speaker who motioned the orator to
stop. said, 81 arise to question of
personal privilege" ''State your ques-
tion," announced Speaker Guion, While
Mr. Koonce stood wondering like some
pent up Utica. what had stopped him.
Mr.. Speaker" said the Honorable
Pete. II have been informed that the
honorable gentleman has pistol in
his pocket this minute Search me,
me! roared Mr.. Koonce, while
the House was breathless with indig
nant excitement AS Mr.. Koonce made
his terrific challenge of search, he
mechanically clapped his hands on his