Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-10


"Bacmau then fired in his turn, his ball passing |
through Kilgobbin's shirt sleeve without touching |
his arm.
"'Comc tharsnot bad said the knight.
Some confusion seemed here to arise amongst
the crowd and Il horscman appeared ut a distance,
galOping towards the grOund:a cry was heard that
the high sheriff of the county coming.
"'8y Jupitcr!' exclaimed his brother, who was
present, that is Impossible, for left him IN his
bed yesterday, having been wounded himself in Il
duel, the day before, with the clerk of the peace.
II was now discovered that the horscman XIII
gobbin's groom, with his masters favortc pistols
which had been sent for 20 j considerable distance,
and had not arrived i'll time The knight seemed
much pleased to get them, and requested to have
them loaded instead ofthosc he had used.
"Batcman's second objected to any change of
pistols unless his principal allowed to take his
choice ofthcm.
"kilgobbn agreed TO this but Batcman refused,
saying, galiy, lie was too good carpenter to find
fault with his tools. They resumed their sta
tons, and the knight having received of his
tivoritc weapons, called to fire, which he
did, with more dclibcraion and effect than before.
Bateman seen to staggcr back few PAGES and
drop knee; his pistol in the effort to rocov-
or himself fell from his hand, and exploded, but
without doing any mischief. He was however, i'm.
mcdiatcly on his ground again, declaring he
but slightly wounded, and calling for another pis-
toll.
"'Thc seconds now ntcrfcrcd, asserting that O.
nough had been done to satisfy the honor of both
parties; and the spectators eagerly joined E their
opinion, crying out, NO more, no more, gentle
men,
"Kilgobbin, observing the general sentiment,
said, 'Ils had no objection to accept proper
apology"
"'What do you say, Mr.. Batcmanr said young
French, who seemed particularly anxious to put an
end 10 the affair.
"'I say, SIR steadily replied Batcman, that am
not man to make an apology at the muzzlc of 4
pistol, on any OCCASION; but in the present instance,
TO offer an apology would be to sanction intcmper-
ancc and acknowledge accident to be offence.
am here to satisfy the Knight of kigobbin, not
| to humor him.
At this moment, up comes the King of the Cur
rah, as he was called, old Sir Toby Tuitc, whose
word for half century, considered in that
part of the country, the law and the gospel in all
matters Of duclling, horsc-racng and cock fight
ing. As he acquainted with the case, the sc
conds appealed TO him, and general silence took
place Immediately, to hear the Veterans decision,
which he delivered with great solcmnity.
Gentlemen, said he, a blow is the greatest in
| dignity which can be put upon man of honor
and feeling My friend Kilgobbin has received
one In public, under circumstances which might
reasonably make man of high spirit very rcluc-
ant to admit the excuse of accident, even when
he had himself no doubt on the subject We
must not allow personal dignity Ia be tainted
| by conlectural violation.-( Herr him, hear
| him. said the knight.) 'kilgObbin is justified,
therefore, in the course which he has adopted
As blood has been drawn in the field, he is also
at liberty to receive apology if he chooses to
do; but as apology has been refused by my friend
Batcman, kilgobbin is authorized by the ST riot law
! OF honor to proceed
"'Whoevcr questioned it?' intcrposcd Kilgobbn
polishing with his shirt sleeve the barrel of his PTS
/ toll.
90 Il say, gentlemen, he has right to proceed as
| long as his antagonist stands beit re hm-untii
one or the other is disabled.
90 "A second Daneln exclaimed the knight exult.
! ingly; a second Danien
"'1cs, gentlemen continued Sir Toby, though
the offence must be considered have been origin
! ally mprobable-though it was, in the first in
stance disclamcd, and has been sufficiently atoned
for, yet strictly speaking, Kigobbin may insist up
on proceeding to the last extremity He has a
right to demand the pound offlesh-t is in the bond
| but, by the of st. Patrick continued the
old man, raising his cenchcd hand, 'hc is Jew,
if in this he cxacts it,
"While the seconds retired to their posts, Kill
goblin, who felt confidence in his own powers res
torcd by getting his avoritc pistols cried out Now
Bateman, mind VIII qNksu about have got
my own tools, and by Cd FL bring you down
the next shot,
'Bateman, bowling slightly, replied, Il thank
you, sir, for the warning
1.-The word then given Dateman fired,
and his antagonist dropped if he had been struck
by thunderbot.
'Bateman exclaimed, Good God! / have killed.
him.
eve al ran UP TO Kilgobbin-hs second raised
him a little from the grOund--he opened his eyes,
looked around him, and seeing his adversary near
him, family said, Give me your hand, Bateman-
you not to blame for ths-God bless you!' he
never spoke again.
''He had been hit under the right breast, and the
ball lodged in the spine.
'Poor Bateman, drcadfuy shocked, fell TO the
earth, through weakness from loss cf blood and
was obliged to be carried off the ground. He was
afterwards tried, and honorably acquitted"