The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-27 00:00:00

LATE DUEL AT BOULOGNE.

LIEUT. CROWTHER AND CAPTAIN GEOR

,GE

HELS HAM.
A statement of the transactions that led to the
duel in which the late Lieutenant Crowther, of. the,'
Royals, was killed by Captain George Helsham,
the Irish Militia, at Boulogne, on the Ist of AP',
has been published by Mr. Molony, Lieutenant C• 44!
second. Mr. Molony states, that Lieut. Crowther
had been proposed as a member of a Society 4s.
Pigeon Shooters, at Boulogne. Some days beat!
the ballot, he called on Mr. Molony, and inforel
him that Captain Slegg had been with him to ten
him that Colonel Conway had objected to his being
admitted into the billiard-room, in consequence di"
having been reported by Captain- Helsham that he
had been horsewhipped at Cheltenham, and had rat.,
resented the insult, and that he (Captain Sleggi
had, in consequence, taken down his name to Erie"
vent his being black-balled, and he asked Mr. mr
lony's advice how to proceed. Mr. Molony au:
vised him to write immediately to Colonel Conway
to know whether he had made the objection to 11!'
being admitted to the billiard-room ; and to Car°
Helsham, to know whether he had asserted that
he had been horsewhipped and had not resettle'
it. Shortly after the delivery of these letters,
Captain Helsham and Captain Slegg called
Lieutenant Crowther, when the former admitted thi:
facts stated by Colonel Conway and kirese4?,
and added, that Mr. Crowther must not expect e„111,'
satisfaction from him in the way of apology or int •
field, unless he disproved the whole of the aectl:
Lion. Mr. Crowther maintained that the onwlP'".
bandi rested with the accuser, and wrote Whit
Mr. Molony's advice, to Colonel Conway and, Olgr:
Helsham, requiring a written answer' to his fool
letters. Both gentlemen replied, that they had
given their answer in the verbal communicatieth
and declined any further correspondence. 14.jetir.
Crowther immediately wrote to Captain Heletkl;
requesting him to appoint a gentleman to meer-P
friend Mr. Molony, to make the necessary.ormat
ments for what must follow, and the Captain or
pointed Mr. Grady. Mr. Molony, in tonsequeoce'
called on Mr. Grady at Holt's Hotel ; when,_ol"-:4
tering, he was taken into a private room by Colon r
Conway, who proposed to him that Lieut. Crowd*,
should write to his friends in England, and prooti l
evidence to disprove what Captain Helsham
said, and then the Captain would make him an
te
logy. This Mr. Molony refused, saying, it res
on Captain Helsham to prove what he had asserted
Colonel Conway and Captain Helsham then nise
every argument to induce Mr. Molony to aholl
the cause of his friend, and finding him detertriini..
not to do so, Colonel Conway proposed that tie
should fight for Mr. Crowther. Mr. Molontra.
plied, that he should not fight the battles °Lel
man, but if Capt. Helsham wished to fight bil":4
other grounds he might do it. Mr. Molony sta,t.eb
that he came as the messenger of peace, vi'll.
lie was most anxious to establish betwee4 tto
parties ; but finding that no apology would
made, lie at length delivered a hostile message,.
eleven o'clock the next morning was fixed for
meeting, Captain Helsham having previously. fairi
;to him, in a loud voice, " Then I warn you, 47)
that if
.1 should be forced to meet him, it shalt
an affair of business." Before Mr. Molony Jetta
hotel, he proposed to Mr. Grady, that Captain
sham should express his regret for having wolt!!..0!.'•
the feelings of Mr. Crowther, without any ill!apjg
to the truth 'or falsehood of what he had advaln:
leaving that for cooler deliberation. Mr. ,Yl;lic
thought the proposal reasonable; but said Cape:n a
sham would not hear of it. Mr. Molony receifel:u t
letter from Mr. Grady the same evening, stating.if;
it was to avoid the alternative stated by Mr. ga,,,,;l°"t„,
of Mr. Crowther either assaulting or posting: "wt
Helsham, that Capt. Helsham *condescended' to w' to
Mr. Crowther, and requiring a written docurient `,„
that effect from Mr. •Molotty. To this Mr. IVlnit
replied, that he did not understand what ,iss rtliej!
nature of the document wished for. that be
not stated any alternative; but only what he thought.
likely to take place, if Captain Helshamt
meet Mr. Crowther. The meeting took place
the time appointed, Mr. Crowther and Mr. Molony
were first on the ground. Mr. Grady said tbo,
Captain Helsham would 'not agree to any mode 11
firing, but allowing each gentleman to fire in
turn. Mr. Molony objected to . firing in that
liberate manner; and it was resolved that the el:,
ties should take the ground at twelve paces
the pistol arm down by their side; till
pronounced the words—" Now, Gentlemen." V
'''
.:
they should then present and fire as nearly togeta.7
as possible—no second aim to be taken: MI:
fired first, and Captain Helsham's fire didnot-w-hod
till after an interval of four or five second/1;0cl.!
lie fired, Mr. Crowther fell dead, and CAPta""
sham went off as fast as he could. During a
liminary discussion that took place about the pist°
Mr. Molony observed that it was contrary. to'
rules
1i.,,
rules to have the principals interfere. Captain r'
sham answered with great rudeness, " Sir, 1;14,
care a for your rules." Mr. Molony:
" Sir, you appear to wish to quarrel with IL**
" I do, Sir," returned Captain Helsham;
Molony only replied by a nod.

It is related of the celebrated BoErtoit7:
that whenever be saw a criminal ,led out to exeaut,l'';.ll
would say, 4, May not this man be better than .1 i
,
otherwise the praise is due not to me, but to the grace
ACCl''
FURIOUS DRIVING, AND SERIOUS od • a,'
DENT.-011 Saturday, betueen eleven and twelve o 0
a serious accident occurred in TOttenhazir-court.rortae,-
JAMES JENNINGS, Esq., an elderly and very infirrogen
man, who resides at Hampstead, from his gig being irregit
turned. A butcher, who was driving a horse and cot'
a most furious rate, endeavoured to pass Mr. Jaturit
gig, and struck the,wheel with such violence as to
turn it. The unfortunate gentleman with his se":4,
were thrown out with violence. The servant est...er.*:,
with some slight bruises, but Mr. J. received
contusion on the head, and his left arm was brokenstnii,
above the elboiv. The butcher escaped by turning-It
Goode-street, driving at a most furious rate. It 1. •
constant practice of these fellows to ride and driv Oro
the most crowded streets of the metropolis in. this'

S.
Tale of W 1
On the 18th inst., at ShaBIRT nkliHn parsonage,
the lady of the Rev. Archdeacon Hill, of a daughter me
Mrs. Rogers, of Horton-hall, near Leek, of .1450
daughters ; one is since dead, the other two, Iv'

mother, arc doing well. 4"
On the 22d inst., the lady of John Gamma Morrigt r 4
of the Madras civil service, of a son. 06
t"
On the 25th inst., in Bedford-place, the lady of r
F. Rougt moo, Esq., of a daughter. de
On the 24th inst., in Chesterfield-street, the 1$
John W. Bowden, Esq., of a son. of
On the 24th inst., the lady of William Wild, PrO
Martin's-lane, of a son.

MARRIED.
On the 23d inst., at Shenley, George Anderson, of
to Susan Anne, eldest daughter of P. Hadow, EAT'
Colney-house, Ilerts. 140
On the 21st inst., at Edinburgh, Lieut.-General
tof
Deputy-Governor of the Castle, to Mary Elizabeth, le
daughter of the late Dr. Guthrie, of St. Petersburgh•
On the 21st inst., at Edge-bill, near Liverpool, .11, %,
second son of Richard Willis, Esq., of Clapton,
to Betty, eldest daughter of the late J. T. Swainsoa,
formerly Secretary of his Majesty'S Customs.
DIED. oef
On the 25th inst., at his house in Bedford-sqnsre,
a severe illness, James Carden, Esq., in the '7oth lei
his age. • Rohr°
On the 21st inst., at his house in Edinburgh, -
Keith, E-q., formerly of the island of Grenada.
_rieficl4
On the 23d inst., Sarah, the wife of Mr. Fr
Duerr, of Bermondsey, Surrey.
On the 24th inst., Mary, widow of the late laft,el.
Maze, Esq., of Dovegate=whari and Aldborotigh Gri"t-te
On the 24th inst., at her father's house, 39, Chat s 4
street, Portland-place, Fanny, wife of H. N. Noble, 'wet,
On the 23(1 inst., at her residence, the Salisburt I.°
'indsor Castle, Miss Roberts, aged
da
PRINTED and PUBLISHED by MURDO ,

GIME, 112, STRAND, LOP D 01216