In 1841, Cone was elected judge of the superior court of the Ocmulgee district. Four years later, he was elected to the position once again.[2][1] This was the highest court in Georgia until 1845, when its supreme court was established.
Stephens assaultedit
Alexander Stephens
Like many other Democrats, in 1848, Cone became furious at the Whig politician Alexander Stephens for tabling the Clayton Compromise, and publicly denounced Stephens as a traitor to the South. When Stephens confronted Cone over this charge in August 1848, Cone discounted the rumors. However, Cone immediately regretted retracting his statements about Stephens. On August 26, Cone wrote a letter to Stephens demanding that Stephens apologize for the confrontation.[3]
In September, Cone encountered Stephens on the piazza of the Thompson's Hotel in Atlanta. Cone approached Stephens and again demanded that he apologize, to which Stephens responded coldly. Cone proceeded to verbally insult Stephens, and in response, Stephens struck Cone in the face with his walking cane. The enraged Cone drew a knife and started slashing at Stephens. As Stephens was extremely small in stature, Cone immediately gained the advantage in the fight. Cone was eventually pulled away from Stephens' body by a crowd of bystanders, but not before he had stabbed Stephens six times.[3][4]
Stephens was seriously wounded in the fight, and had to be immediately treated in the hotel. He was forced to stay in bed for several weeks, and never regained full use of his right hand.[4] Despite these injuries, however, Stephens opted not to press charges against Cone, who later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of stabbing and was fined eight hundred dollars.[5]
Later lifeedit
In 1856, Cone was elected State Senator of Georgia. He served three years before his death on May 18, 1859.[1] In the years prior to his death, Cone managed to reconcile with Stephens, and the two resumed their cordial relationship of earlier years.[6]
Cone, William (1903). Some Account of the Cone Family in America: Principally of the Descendants of Daniel Cone, who Settled in Haddam, Connecticut, in 1662. Crane & company.
francis, cone, francis, hiram, cone, september, 1797, 1859, judge, georgia, superior, courts, georgia, state, senator, primarily, remembered, fighting, severely, wounding, representative, future, confederate, vice, president, alexander, stephens, atlanta, hote. Francis Hiram Cone September 5 1797 May 18 1859 was a judge of the Georgia Superior Courts and a Georgia State Senator who is primarily remembered for fighting and severely wounding U S Representative and future Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at the Atlanta Hotel in 1848 Contents 1 Early life and career 1 1 Stephens assault 2 Later life 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career editFrancis H Cone was born on September 5 1797 to Joshua Cone and Chloe Chapman in East Haddam Connecticut He graduated from Yale University in 1818 and subsequently moved to Greene County Georgia to practice law During this time Cone came to know Alexander Stephens who practiced law in nearby Taliaferro County On January 8 1829 Cone married Jane Williams Cook a ward of US Senator William Crosby Dawson 1 In 1841 Cone was elected judge of the superior court of the Ocmulgee district Four years later he was elected to the position once again 2 1 This was the highest court in Georgia until 1845 when its supreme court was established Stephens assault edit nbsp Alexander Stephens Like many other Democrats in 1848 Cone became furious at the Whig politician Alexander Stephens for tabling the Clayton Compromise and publicly denounced Stephens as a traitor to the South When Stephens confronted Cone over this charge in August 1848 Cone discounted the rumors However Cone immediately regretted retracting his statements about Stephens On August 26 Cone wrote a letter to Stephens demanding that Stephens apologize for the confrontation 3 In September Cone encountered Stephens on the piazza of the Thompson s Hotel in Atlanta Cone approached Stephens and again demanded that he apologize to which Stephens responded coldly Cone proceeded to verbally insult Stephens and in response Stephens struck Cone in the face with his walking cane The enraged Cone drew a knife and started slashing at Stephens As Stephens was extremely small in stature Cone immediately gained the advantage in the fight Cone was eventually pulled away from Stephens body by a crowd of bystanders but not before he had stabbed Stephens six times 3 4 Stephens was seriously wounded in the fight and had to be immediately treated in the hotel He was forced to stay in bed for several weeks and never regained full use of his right hand 4 Despite these injuries however Stephens opted not to press charges against Cone who later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of stabbing and was fined eight hundred dollars 5 Later life editIn 1856 Cone was elected State Senator of Georgia He served three years before his death on May 18 1859 1 In the years prior to his death Cone managed to reconcile with Stephens and the two resumed their cordial relationship of earlier years 6 See also edit nbsp History portal nbsp American Civil War portal nbsp Georgia U S state portal Alexander StephensNotes edit a b c Cone p 110 From Milledgeville The Weekly Telegraph November 16 1841 a b Schott pp 87 92 a b Knight pp 38 39 Schott p 93 Knight p 39References editCone William 1903 Some Account of the Cone Family in America Principally of the Descendants of Daniel Cone who Settled in Haddam Connecticut in 1662 Crane amp company Knight Lucian 2006 Georgia s Landmarks Memorials and Legends Pelican Publishing ISBN 9781589800007 Schott Thomas 1996 Alexander H Stephens of Georgia A Biography LSU Press ISBN 9780807140963 External links editFrancis H Cone at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis H Cone amp oldid 1201697598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
