Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-07-28

DR.. THOMAS HAMMOND.
No. 5.
FRIDAY, June IL.
Dear Doctor: Ii may be necessar,
for me to ask your friendly assistance
professionally al short notice, o
which you shall be duly appraised. b.
MS little from homie for a few days a:
your convenience will justify. The
report will reach your town to-day, il
il has not already. Be pleased to keep
dark, as coming from me. | dislike to
break laws, but dislike more to have
an officer step in between me, and my
purpose. Your friend,
THO. HAMMOND.
To On. Dorsey.
N. b. This note, which was written
early Saturday morning, is dated by
mistake, Friday. 1t explains the ne
cessty for my second letter to doctor
Dorsey, written on Monday.
No. @.
MONDAY, June 90.
Dear Doctor: | wrote you hasty
note on Saturday-haSty, as the bear
er was just starting, when | learned
the opportunity. had not time to
mention particulars. They are brief.
ly these: DR.. Parran was attending
a drowned child, near the ferry land.
ing, on Sunday, 1.-TWO weeks yester-
day.) | was about crossing to Mary
land, end seeing n crowd, rode TO the
spot, and was requested to see the
child, by doctor Magruder, ! think, or
some other person; | am not positive.
|, however, got off my horse, aud
stepped TO the spot. The child was
stretched upon some boards, perfectly
naked, and with nothing save the
boards under It, exposed to the atmos-
phere. Two persons were standing
over it, one pouring whiskey, or some
kind Of spirits upon its abdomen and
breast, the other with both hands rub.
bing with all his power up and down
its body. DIR. Porran was sitting down
upon his launches, near by, but not
in my sight; and really | did not know
that he was there. My opinion was us.
ked as to the propriety Of rubbing with
spirits. observed that it was well if
properly done, but that the manner
and the situation in which it was then
being performed, was, to say the least,
worse than useless. | was asked by
the owner of the child what would be
requisite. observed that ifa stomach
pump were applied, and the child
wrapped in blankets, and efforts made
to retain the animal heat, and the other
usual measures generally adopted by
would be the most correct
course. DIR. Magruder asked for my
horse and rode up to his office, for
stomach pump, and whilst he was gone,
| discovered Parran, and made another
discovery, which was, that he had per-
formed an operation upon the wlndpipe.
got on my horse, went TO Maryland,
and did not get home till night, and
heard nothing more of the affair till
Tuesday, when was informed that
Parran had taken umbrage at my re.
marks, and intended attacking me. ]
put myself upon my guard, and re-
manned ready for an attack during that
week. | saw Parran frequently, pass
ed him on the street, without any show
Of fight, and the thing went out Of my
mind. threw aside the cane | had
carried, and on l thursday night last,
about 10, or near that hour, was on
my way to see a sick lady, and pass.
ing, Mr.. Turner's Store, on the pave
ment of which there were several per-
sons, the only one | recognized was
DR.. Bedinger, to whom spoke, and
had not passed him six feet before ]
received blow from an unseen hand,
and before | could turn, for il came on
the right side and rather behind, j re-
ceiyed a second: still saw no one
When | got around | found who had
attacked me, and we had set TO. My
spurs caught against the sill of the
stone door and threw me fiat on my
back on the floor. Before could raise
he attempted to kick me, but without
doing me any hurt got to my feet,
and we were then parte6.-l received
no injury two or three little pieces Of
skin scratched from my face with his
nails. Friday, had the papers put
into his hands ; he kept the note till
Saturday, when his friend stepped up,
and through him, ! had such an apollo
gy made, as my friend thought ! ought
to accept. TIE challenge was with
drawn so closed the play.
Yours, &C., sincerely,
THO. HAMMOND.
DR.. DORSEY.
mo.
HAGERsTowN, July 6, SO.
Dear Doctor ! have enclosed CO.
Nv ofthe letters YOU wrote for. When