EX-GOVERNOR KILLED IN ARKANSAS MISHAP

X.O. Pindall Stumbles Off Railroad Embankment Onto Rocks in River. 

“Little Rock, Ark., Jan 2 (AP) – A man who lost his life here this afternoon when he fell over an embankment into the Arkansas River, was identified some time later by Coroner Laswon C. Aday as X.O. Pindall, former Governor of Arkansas. Dr. Aday said he had established identification through papers found on the body. The body was recovered from the river after two wood cutters saw a man who was walking across a railroad track atop the embankment stumble and fall over the edge. The man’s head was crushed on stones jutting out from the bank and the body tumbled into a pool of boiling water at the foot created by a power company’s drain pipe emptying into the river.

Mr. Pindall acted as Governor of Arkansas from May 14, 1907 until Jan 11, 1909, when he was succeeded by George W. Donaghey. He became the State’s acting Chief Executive by reason of his election as President of the Senate in the year in which Governor John Sebastian Little became physically incapacitated to perform the duties of the office. In those days, there was no office of Lieutenant Governor.” 

Source: New York Times (1857-Current); Jan 3, 1935

Xenophon Overton Pindall was born on August 21, 1873, in Monroe County, Missouri, near Middle Grove. He attended Central College in Missouri and earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas in 1896. Pindall entered politics in 1902 when he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving until 1906. He was an unsuccessful candidate for attorney general in 1906, but was successful that same year when he ran for the Arkansas Senate. At the close of the legislative session in May 1907, Pindall was chosen president pro tempore. On February 11, 1907, Governor John S. Little resigned from office due to an emotional breakdown. John I. Moore, who was president of the Senate at the time, served as acting governor until May 15, 1907, when Pindall, the newly chosen president of the Senate, became acting governor. Pindall served in this capacity until his term as president of the Senate expired on January 11, 1909. Pindall's successor was Jesse M. Martin, who served as acting governor for three days. During Pindall's term, the Ozark National Forest was founded, and a pure food and drug law was passed and a measure aimed at preventing price discrimination was enacted. After leaving office, Pindall returned to his law practice, earning a renowned reputation as a criminal lawyer. Xenophon Pindall died on January 2, 1935, and is buried in Arkansas City.