The Nevada County picayune., 1912-08-02

with money furnished by the govern ment, has over-hauled and re-deco- rated the old hall of the house of rep resentatives and will use that room as an exhibit hall. He is at work now. through his agents, gathering an ek- hibit of agricultural products rom every county in the state and hopes to have the exhibit complete by HeA' fall.
 The State Museum Association, at it's own expense, has fitted up three rooms. which are used as headquarters for the association and for the various chapters of the United Daughters ol the Confederacy and other organiza- tions of that character. These rooms are occupied subject to the will of the next legislature.
 The history of the old statehouse IS closely interwoyen with that or the state since Arkansas was admitted 10 the union as a state in 1886. The con- struction of the capitol was begun three years before that time, during the administra of Gov. Pope, the last territorial governor. The site chosen for the statehouse was deciar ed at that time by Gov. Pope to be one of the most attractive that could be found on the banks of the Arkansas river. The grounds, upon which the capitol stands, now worth many thous- ands of dollars, were secured by GOV. Pope in 1893 at nominal cost. DOT ton of the site was donated by Col. Chester Ashley, Joseph Anderson, k. C. Byrd, William [. Woodruff and A. II. Seyier and the remainder was pur- chased by Gov. Pope for $500.
 The plans for the capitol were pre- pared by Gideon ShyroeH of LeXing- ton, Ky who had drawn the plans for the Kentucky state capitol. The arehi- tect followed closely the lines adopt ed in the plans for the Kentucky structure When the plaEs were re- cciyed they were found to call for building much more costly than the territory of Arkansas could afford and 1t Was Fecess sarH 0 revise the plans 10 bring the cost of the building with in the amount that E.as available. Work on the 6aflding Was begun i'll 1883 and continued until 1S36, when he exterior Was finished hut 1T was not until 1Sfo that the building was entirely completed.
 During the session of the first legis- lature that convened after Arkansas became state. the new capitol, then still in an uneompleted condition, re ceived a baptism Of blood and on the floor of the room which has been used in recent years as the senate chamber there still remains a stain which, il
 is declared, vas made there by the
 ife-bood of ]. J. Anthony, represea- tatiYe from Randolph county, when he was slain in a knife duel by John Wilson, speaker of the house of rep .resentatiyes, during an open session of the house in 1887. During a debate
 in the house on trivial matter, An thony offered q resolution, which was construed as q thrust at Speaker Will son. The speaker became enraged and ordered Anthony to take his seat. An thonv refused 10 do so. This enraged Wilson still more and leaving the chair he advanced down the aisle to- wand Anthony. drawing a knife as he did SO Anthony stated he has acted in jest, but Wilson refused to be pacitied. Anthony then also drew a knife and stepped from behind his desk co await Wilson's onslaught. Grandson D. Royston, who sat nearby thrust a chair between the combatants but the latter struck at each other over the obstacle. Suddenly Anthony's knife was struck from his hand and he was left defenseless. Wilson rais- ed the chair and plunged his knife into Anthonys body, Anthony expired almost instantly.
 Speaker Wilson was immediately expelled from the house and Grandson D. Royston was elected speaker in his place. Wilson was indicted but when tried in Saline county on a change of venue, he was acquitted on the ground of excusatle homicide The killing and the subsequent acquittal of Wilson, caused a tremendous sen sation throughout the state. The story of the blood-stain on the floor of tho senate chamber is still told to visitors to the statehouse.
 Many other stirring scenes have been enacted within the walls of the old capitol. During the Brooks-Bax- ter War, especially, there were excit. ing days about the old building. The statehouse was the fortress of the Brooks forces. after Gov. Baxter had been elected from the executive off ces. A memento of these strenuous times still stands in the old state house grounds in the form of the Lady Baxter" an old cannon which was abandoned by the Confederate forces in Little Rock during the Civil war and which was ressurrected by the PaXtcr forces The "Tadv PaYtar''