Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-07
From The Frankfort Commentator.
WICKLIFFE'S CASE.
ESfraGt Of a letter to the Editor, dated

a NtbtA ~ lIC ILullOE udItl
Lexington, 1871 Of -Harch, 1929.
~ grand jury II sen'emen of high standing and character,
iIent preferred against Charles Wicklrfc. Tor killing MIR Ron.
pjng-as 10 tie list count, 70. murder nor a true bill, and as tn
''HoRRrn aurhtr and assasSiaati1nr spoken of in the las, Ar"e
anu Public Advertiser, with such hrnd-lke pleasure. The
accuSeu VIII u !" doubt stand his trial at tue return of The capias."
This IS precisely what we eXpectcd.-Dur infor-
raatlon Induced Us to believe. Is we minated last
week, that such would be the conclusion of the en-
pGrte enquiry by the Grand Jury.
Young Mr.. Wickiie, as we further understand.
failed to appear according to the stipulation Of his
rccognizance; having been advised by some friends
TO absent himself until the excitement of the time
and place should subside. His father, who was boiI
for him, petitioned the court tina, the rscocni2anoe
might be ~respited, or stand without forfeiture, until
the 7th day OF the next term; declaring in bis petition.
that il was his wish and firm belief, that his son wouid
then appear, and answer to any charge which might
be presented against hun. We do not know that
there has been any decision OH the petition.
We have taken some pains to enquire into the &C
cnrrence, and having, as we believe, rot ut the truth.
notwithstanding some variations in the accounts re-
ceived through different channels, shall now endca-
vour to give a satisfactory account of the case,-
without stopping TO enquire into the general fitness
OF publications touching causes pending il court;
for in this particular case, the publications ofa mss
of misrepresentation will fully Justify the profnulga-
ton OF tina truth, even if l. would be improper in
other cases; (Which. by the way, we DO not admit.
Charles Wicklide called at the office fthe Ken
lucky Gazette, about 3 o'clock on Monday, the 9th
OF this month, to demand the author of the abusive
and scurrilons pieces, which had appeared n that pa
per, against his father--thc same which SIC copied
from it last week.
He found Mr.. Benning Mt the Office. and made
tho demand. BenHjng %profcsscl to wish to have an
interview with the author Of Dentctus before men
tioning his name; and appointed five o'clock the
same day for Wickliife to call again at the Office.
GJGen. NcCalla, the avowcd author of Dentatus
was then IN the Gazette o8icc.
At the appointed time q o'clcck) Wickhirc called
again Benning pretended not to have seen tho au-
thor OF Dentatus, and proposed n furthcs delay until
eight the next morning, chat he might have an on
Ilnrtunity to see him before giving up his name.--
WicklifTc nsscntcd TO this further po~stponcment. II
afterwards appeared that Mr.. Bcnning was to lc1rc
the p'dfe by that time.
Il bong settled that Wicklihe should call main Of
eight the next morning, Bcnning addressed him in
sarcastic and sneerins teruis; approaching him for
having written the piece, Coriolanus, in reply to the
attack upon his father, and telling him, tc,tt d 81 eer.
that the author of DCntatus was the last man he
(Such was tic substance of the rcmarks-y.o do not
profess TO give the words.) Wickli6e replied in
irlrsli language, applying the cPithct "rascqF' to Ben
ming.
Bcning tLcn SGT upon WickliGe with n cnnn.
Wickiiiic pot hold OF the cane with ono hand, whiic
with the other be- drew Il littio pistol from his pocket
with which he Instantly fired at Benning. The la,-
ter, rs soon as hc saw the pistol, let 20 the cane 10
furn and rtG. But Wicklile's motions were too
Quick for him; the bail struck his hack, ohiiquclv.
from the pistol pointed downward ut M angle Off -
degrees, and while he was yet within three feet Of
NVicklinc.
Bonning did nos fll, but continued his retreat into
another room. Wicklifs went out into tho street
hnd remained some time near tho door without being
aware ofthe effect of his shot, and expecting q re-
newal ofthe attack, in some other form. Finding
this was not intopdcd, he retired.
Now whether this homicide was trcvSqblc Nv the
Jaw ofthe land, or whether by the strict rules of the
common law OF England, " would amount to nan
datghtcr, may, perhaps, depend upon the size of the
stick. and the degree of danger in which lWicklifc
might suppose himself 90 bp placed in by The attack.
OF these we say nothing-not being infinitely inform
cd.-But This we may euy, that whatever m EngLst
fudge and an English igry might mako Of the case.
ia jury can be found hire, who will find Young
NyickIiTe guilty ofany crime, under these eifcnm
stances, it viii be by sucli a verdict as we have nov
or yet heard ofm Kcatucby.
Public DeS.-Thr Secretary Of The Treasury has
notified the proprietors of the unredeemed xix per
cent stock Of 9Th MarclI, 1919, amount ing tr Sc, 78o,-
- - 90