The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-08
JENNINGS AND
BEARD FIGHT
ON PALAFOX
POLITICAL DISCUSSION CAUSED
HARSH WORDS, FOLLOWED BY
BLOWS - COMBATANTS SEPA-
RATED BEFORE EITHER WAS IN
JURED.

4 personal alteration that is re-
GREETED by the friends of both partici-
pants alike occurred between John S.
Beard and T. A. Jennings on Palafox
street yesterday afternoon. 1t seems
that the gentlemen met and shook
hands and Mr.. Jennings, who is can
didate for the Legislature, referred TO
Mr.. Boards opposition with the re-
mark that he thought Mir. Beard
ought not to fight him and that if he
were elected he should try TO repre-
sent the whole people Of Escambia
county, Mr.. Beard included.
Mr.. Beard is said 10 have replied:
You fought NE for United States sen
ator and brought VIII BRYAN cut
against both Mallory ana me-"
Mr.. Jennings replied that Mr.. Beard
was entirely mistaken as to his in
ducing Mr. Bryan to FUN. Mr.. Beard
then chal'a cteliZed Mr. Jennings as a
liar and that brought Gil blows. Mr.
Beard using a heavy walking stick and
Mr.. Jennings using his fists. They
were quickly separated, however,
neither one suffering any special ill.,
jury. though Mr.. Jennings received a
slight bruise on his face. Mr.. Beard
made the following statement:
Mr.. Boards Statement
Il was walking down PalafOx street
near Lannon's store with my head
down. Here l met Mr.. Jennings who
spoke to me, and proffered his hand. |
shook hands with him. Mr.. Jennings
said. in substance: Beard, you are
mistaken in saying that | will not
make a good representative from this
county, | will make good representa-
tive / then said: I don't know
where we could find worse one and
| intend to fight YOU until the primary.
MIR. Jennings then replied: I did not
fight you when you were a candidate
Tor the United States senate i then
said: My gracious, Jennings, you were
supporting Will Bryan when Senator
Mallory and ! were both candidates,
and when Will Bryan and Senator
Mallory both died you then supported
Fletcher. Anyone whose affections are
so centered upon Jacksonville should
not represent Escambia county in the
legislature Mr.. Jennings replied:
You are mistaken, | said: You GER
tainly did. Mr.. Jennings then said in
a very aggressive way: I did nothing
of the kind, sir | then said: You
are d liar Mr.. Jennings then
made a hostile demonstration towards
me and | threw up my hands and
struck Mr.. Jennings with my open
hand. | can't say whether l struck
Mr.. Jennings with my walking cane or
not. About that time two gentlemen
came between us, and Mr.. Jennings
said: Beard, you are a d scoun-
drel.' | pushed the gentlemen aside
and handed my cane to one of them
and struck Mr., Jennings with my fist
hrno
separated both of u.s.
! Mr.. Jenninos's Statement.
Mr.. Jennings's statement was as fol-
lows:
Il met Mr.. Beard and shook hands
with him, at the same time saying
that | thought he ought not to fight
me as he was doing. | told him | eX-
pected, If elected, to make E,scambia
county good representative and that
| should represent all of the people.
himself included. He then replied
that he was fighting me and that |
had fought him in his race for the
United States senate, saying that
had induced VIII Bryan TO run against
both him and Senator Mallory. I re-
piled that he was mistaken in refer
ence to Mr.. Bryan and that I had had
nothing to do with the Jacksonville
mans entry into the race. With that
Mr.. Beard replied: You are a d
liar and struck me with his walking
stick. I was taken completely by sur
prise, but ! warded off the blows and
defended myself from the assault.
Il will say further" concluded Mr.,
Jennings. that I was a supporter of
the late Senator Mallory for the SEN
ate until he withdrew from the race. I
afterward supported Senator Bryan
and after his death I supported Mr.