Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1890 — MR. TAULBER IS DEAD. [ARTICLE]

MR. TAULBER IS DEAD.

CORRESPONDENT KINCAID'S VICTIM EXPIRES IN WASHINGTON. 0 Arre«t of the Murtlere • An Old Grudge the Causa of the Deed The Immediate Circumstances Leading to the Shooting Detailed Taulbee’s Record. Washington dispatch: Ex-Congress-man Taulbee, who was shot by Correspondent Kincaid, died on the 11th inst. He had been unconsc ous several hours before death and did not regain consciousness passing quietly away. As soon as his death was announced at police headquarters an officer was scßt to Kincaid’s room and he was rearrested. Ex-Congressman Taulbee received the bullet in his head that caused his death Feb. 28 last. The shooting took place in one of the corridors of the Capitol near the southeast entrance, and was the result of an old quarrel which originated about a year and a half ago by the publication in the Louisville Times' Washington correspondence of matter reflecting on Mr. Taulbee in his relations with a certain female clerk in the patent office. A call of the House had just been ordered shortly after noon. Kincaid had sent in his eard'to sec a Kentucky member of Congress and was waiting at the east door leading in to the floor of the Homo. It js from this door that the cards of all ladies arc sent in to the Home, the ladies’ reception room being acre as the corridor. There is always a large crowd of people about the corridor. Taulbee. who had a business engagement with Congressman McCreary of Kentucky and several others, canto out of the House while Kincaid was standing in the outer doorway, and walking up to him said a few words in an undertone, indistinguishable to the doorkeeper, only two or three feet away. It is said that the lie was passed. Tito doorkeeper, who was in the act of closing the doors, as is customary on a call of the House, then noticed Taulbee, who was large-framed and muscular, grab Kincaid by the lapel of the coat and with a strong grasp held him while lie said: “Kincaid, come out into the corridor witli me.” The reports which flew about the Capitol were to the effect that the exCongressman had pulled the correspondent’s nose or ear; but the doorkeeper standing there disputes this. Kincaid is small, slightly built man, suffering from illness and some nervous ailment. His reply to Taulbee’s invitation to come 1 out into the corridor was: “I am in no condition for a physical contest with you. lam unarmed.” Taulbee responded that he was also unarmed, and the men were separated by friends, Kincaid calling upon an ac-, quaintance from Kentucky named Sam Walton to bear witness to what had occurred. Walton evidently did not desire to become involved in the troub’o between the two men, and he replied that lie coulcl be a witness to nothing. He only knew that some words had been exchanged. All this time the doorkeeper was vainly endeavoring to get the men out of the way so that the doors might be closed, but was prevented by Taulbee, who declared that lie bad a right *o enter. Taulbee and Kincaid went their ways,the former into the House and the latter, it is supposed, after a pistol. The quarrel was not generally known even to the intimate friends of the two men when at about 1:30 o’clock members and friends dining in the restaurant were startled by the sharp report of a pistol fired very near the private room adjoining the restaurant. They rushed out breathlessly, while other persons came tumbling down the stairway, and soon there was an excited crowd surrounding a man holding his head, from which the blood was gushing in a steady stream, while another man was exclaiming: “I did the shooting.” The bullet was fired at a range not the length of a man’s arm. William Preston Taulbee represented the Tenth district of his State in the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses. He was eminent in debate for his fluency and vocal power, gifts which were aided in their effect by his superior stature. Mr. Taulbce l s home was at Saylersville, Ky. He was born in Morgan county, that State, Oct. 22, 1851, and was educated in private country schools. The three years between 1875 and 1878 were spent by him in preparation for the ministry; during the next three years he read law. lie was elected clerk to Maguffln county court in 1873 and reelected in 1882. His first election to Congress was in 1884.