The story thus far: In last week’s episode, we introduced the two main characters, Representative Taulbee and Charles Kincaid, reporter. Even after Kincaid wrote the the news story which halted Taulbee’s career in Congress, they both continued to work in the Capitol, Taulbee as a lobbyist, Kincaid as a reporter.
With both Taulbee and Kincaid working on Capitol Hill, it is no surprise that the two had frequent run-ins. Invariably the slight Kincaid got the worse of these encounters, as the altercations went from verbal to physical, and the tall, fit Taulbee would humiliate the slight and sickly Kincaid.
Matters came to a head on February 28, 1890. Taulbee and Kincaid bumped into each other at the door of the House chamber, and exchanged words. Whether or not Taulbee tweaked Kincaid’s nose or ear, as some claim, is irrelevant. What everyone agreed on was that the conversation ended with Kincaid saying, “I am not armed.,” to which the ex-Representative replied, “Then you had better be.”
Kincaid took these words to heart, and the result was described in the Washington Post the next day thus:
Taulbee, after spending some time in the House, had come out and was descending the eastern marble stairway leading from the main to the lower floor of the building. He passed Kincaid on his way, and the latter came after him. This stairway is lighted only by one small window, and it is dark and gloomy. At the time the affair occurred there were many people passing up and down. Taulbee had nearly reached the bottom when he and Kincaid came together, but just in what manner there are conflicted stories, some claiming that Taulbee grabbed Kincaid by the ear and giving it a wrenching, while others say that Kincaid made the assault and fired as Taulbee turned his head.
At the distance that separated the two, Kincaid could hardly have missed, and the bullet hit Taulbee in the face and lodged in his brain. Bleeding profusely, he staggered the few steps down to the landing. Assisted by a couple doctors who were on hand, he was taken to a committee room, and thereafter to Providence hospital.
The location of the fatal stairs (LOC)
Kincaid was arrested, but had no trouble raising bail from his many friends who rallied to his defense. As it at first appeared that Taulbee would survive his injury, Kincaid looked to be in the clear, but as days passed, and Taulbee’s condition worsened, Kincaid’s position began to look more grim, as well.
One of the doctors at his bedside was his younger brother, Dr. James B. Taulbee, but in spite of his managing to survive for a remarkable 11 days, there was nothing medical science could do for the injured man. On March 11, 1890, at around 5:00 AM, William Taulbee succumbed to his wounds.
Next week: Part 3.
Not to quibble Robert, but I have to say if someone flicked my ear, it’d hardly be irrelevant, especially in those circumstances!