Arkansas Supreme Court Taken Hostage by Warring Governors -- Historical.

Arkansas Encyclopedia ^ | Richard Owings

[festus]

The coup d'etat was executed with the precision of a military drill. At 11 o'clock on the morning of April 15, 1874, Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Whytock took Brooks' petition filed in protest of the 1872 election, knocked off the dust and without notice to either Baxter or his lawyers, ruled that Brooks was the legal governor. Chief Justice Poker Jack McClure swore Brooks in on the spot, presumably with the same sincerity with which he had performed, the service for Baxter the year before. Within minutes, Brooks, backed by Gen. R.F. Catterson, former commander of the state militia, and a score of armed men, burst into Baxter's office at the State Capitol (the old state Capitol at Markham and Center Streets) and told him to surrender the office. Baxter replied that he would "neither resign nor surrender the office unless compelled by force." Catterson obliged him, and Baxter was literally dragged from the office. Simultaneously, a second armed party seized the state militia arsenal on the grounds of the Capitol.

By mid-afternoon, while 300 armed men occupied the State Capitol, three of the five Arkansas Supreme Court Justices wired President Ulysses S. Grant that Brooks was legally the governor of the state. Another telegram, signed by nearly every constitutional officer in the state government was also sent to Grant avowing support of Brooks, and Brooks himself telegraphed Grant requesting his support and access to weapons at the U.S. Arsenal housed at what is now known as MacArthur Park.

[festus]

Found an allusion to this in an article about the current Oregon governors race so googled and found this which some of you might enjoy.

The whole story of this tale of Arkansas politics in the time after the end of the civil war is strangely relevant today.

It shows that even in the midst of mayhem democracy can still rise and flourish.

It also shows that Willheilm der Schleikmeister (aka Bill Clinton) was actually a pretty law-abiding politician by historical Arkansas standards......

[Larry Lucido]

"access to weapons at the U.S. Arsenal housed at what is now known as MacArthur Park."

Did they ever get that cake out of the rain?

[Arkinsaw]

The old Brooks-Baxter War. Yep, a weird episode centered on the Old Statehouse. The building where Clinton did his election night dog and pony.

[Arkinsaw]

That old arsenal is the spot where Douglas MacArthur was born. Though he claimed Virginia as his birthplace.

[Larry Lucido]

It would appear that you are correct.

Yes, THE General Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock in 1880 while his parents were billetted in the northwest upper floor of this building, the only remaining of the twenty-seven buildings which then comprised the Little Rock Arsenal commanded by Captain Arthur MacArthur.

[HAL9000]

Yep, a weird episode centered on the Old Statehouse. The building where Clinton did his election night dog and pony.

Yeah, and he literally trashed the place with his campaign events. It's amazing that it didn't collapse.

[GeronL]

fascinating