A Historic Killing in the Capitol Building [audio 4min]

In 1887, William Preston Taulbee's congressional career ended with this headline:"Kentucky's Silver-Tongued Taulbee Caught in Flagrante, or Thereabouts, with Brown-Haired Miss Dodge." The story was written by another Kentuckian, Charles Kincaid, who was the Washington correspondent for The Louisville Times. The facts of the scandal are still debated. But Taulbee did not seek re-election. Instead, he did what lawmakers often do: He became a lobbyist. Over the next two years, Taulbee and Kincaid ran into each other at the U.S. Capitol. Each considered the other a low-life, not a gentleman. Taulbee would deliberately insult Kincaid, says Kentucky state historian James Klotter. As they passed each other the congressman would pull on the reporter's nose or ear. Webpage includes extended report by Peter Overby, photos, links to 19th-century newspapers.