Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1881 — Barred by the Statute. [ARTICLE]

Barred by the Statute.

Madison Courier. , Jesse D. Bright has a candid and out-spoken, but at the same time,faithful and honest biographer, in the person of HoiE\W. W. Woollen. The referenceyto Mr. Bright’s physicial prowess has recalled to the memory of numerous “oldest inhabitants” his encounter with the venerable and widely known Methodtst clergyman, Rev. S. E. Gillette, D. D. In the early day at which this incident occured Mr. Gillette was a young naval officer, at home in Madison on a leave of absence. Somehow he was present with Bright and others of the elite of the town, at a cock fight in the neighborhood of the present Star mills. The young officer and the rising young politician got into an altercation in the course of the fray between the game cocks, and without ado clenched and were at it in a second. Bright was large and burly, Gillette slender, but quick, wiry and tough. The combatants seemed unexually matched—and we beg our venerable friend’s pardon for publishing it but the navy soon got the embryontic Vice President down in a muddy gmter, and administered to him a most unmerciful pounding before he was dragged off. This was the only time, as we are informed,that Mr. Bright was ever whipped after growing to man’s estate, which causes us to think that a genial trilobite within a stone’s throw of our sanctum, was not far wrong when he remarked this morning with emphasis: “Oh, little Trum Gillette was lightning, I tell you.”