June 5, 1856 – Arkansas Gazette
An attack was made upon the lives of Patrick R. Cleburne and Thomas C. Hindman by William D. Rice and his brothers, F.H. and J.W. Rice. William D. Rice, as the principal head of the Know Nothings, had taken exceptions to things which Hindman said in his campaign for the office of congressman. Cleburne’s part in the affair apparently circumstantial. He and Hindman were political friends and associates in the practice of law. They were, at the moment of the attack, on their way to dine together at the Commercial hotel of Helena. Just before they reached the hotel and as they passed the door of the mercantile house of Myrtle & Moore, they heard a voice say: “Are you the author?” Both turned and saw William D. Rice and James T. Merriott standing in the door of Myrtle & Moore, each with a pistol. Rice fired on Hindman and wounded him in the right breast. Hindman, as soon as he recovered a little from the shock of his would, drew a Colt’s revolver and fired on Rice, who, with Merriott, was then retreating into the store. As Cleburne and Hindman entered Myrtle & Moore’s in pursuit, another shot was fired and Cleburne exclaimed: “I am shot, but not killed.” F.H. and J.W. were both inside the store. As friends of Hindman and Cleburne began to arrive on the scene, W.D. Rice fled out of a back door with a pistol in one hand and a Bowie knife in the other and pursued by Hindman until Hindman fell from exhaustion and the loss of blood. The other Rices fled by the front door and Cleburne and Hindman were taken by friends to the house of L.P. McVey for treatment.
(Patrick R. Cleburne was a native of County Cork, Ireland, born March 17, 1928; had migrated to America in 1849, and settled in Helena in 1850, where he was first employed as a drug clerk. While thus engaged, he began the study of law and was soon afterwards admitted to the bar. He was already distinguished by his gift of eloquence.)
You can read more on Cleburne here: http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=339 and Hindman here: http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1672
