Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-03-15
Frn,,, the Me,r. York AmericaR.

MIGHT he the laSt-We are aDouI 10 On0I !"
o,lr readers some remarks on TINS aHect'S
tragedy. ood with
some opportunities OF knowing the Iuc'S' We
begin nv saving that all the letters we have
seen in the New York and Albany papers,
Including those of the correspondent of.thls
paper, written before the publication OF the
statement signed by the two seconds are
more or less inaccurate; and that those OF
the Journal of Commerce and Albany Argus
the former especially-appear to us u1c.ifV-
client, as we'll as inaccurate. Soag&in, siGcG
the publication of that statement, pretehce"
facts are given in some letters i'll direct con
tradiction with that record signed IN Dehalf
of both parties.
Public opinion, therefore, when Is prone
to leap to rapid conclusions IN such t1iattefs'
has to great extent been mlsled' or al least lea;
BIASED, by these erroneous statements. ne
narrative we subioin-correct, we believe, as
far as it goes-may possibly d,sabuse some
minds.
on Wednesday 21st ult. Mr.. Graves car
ried to Mr.. Cilley a note from Mr.. Webb,
asking if he, Mr.. c., had been correctly re-
ported by the Globe in the debate of the 18th
February. On learning the purport Of the
note, and that it was from Mr.. W., Mr.. Gil
ley, after some conversation as to the effect
This refusal to receive the note, declined do
ing so on the general ground that he could not
conSe71 10 hold himself responsible to edaors OF
public Journals for aoIat he might sag in debate,
protesting at the same time entire respect tor
Mr.. Graves, and an unwillingness to do any
thing offensive towards him. Mr.. Graves de-
clared himself satisfied with this answer, as
one that Mr. c., standing on his privilege,
had an undoubted right to make, without Of
fence to him, Mfr. G.; and then, for the sake
of avoiding any misunderstanding, proposed
that Mr.. C. should, in reply to note from
him recapitulating the conversation, put his
answer in writing. To this proposition Mr..
C. is understood to have assented, and the
parties separated without any ill-will or un-
kind feeling.
Unhappily, as is believed, before answer
ing Mr.. Graves note, Mr.. Cilley took advice,
which induced him to shift, or in some mate
rial degree depart from, the broad and gen.
eral ground first taken, and in his reply to
limit his objection to the particular case
thus, in fact, raising question of veracity
between himself and Mr.. Graves-and re-
fecting indirectly at least upon the individ-
ual for whom Mr.. G. was acting.
This was the fatal cause of all that follow
ed, and if-as has, upon no light ground, been
surmised--Mr. Cilley was advised by others
to this course, upon their heads rest the res
possibility of the fearful tragedy that en-
sued. NJ ~ GI
Mr.. G. Immediately accepted the issue ten
dered to him by Mr.. Cilley, and required
that Mr.. C. should now disclaim any disres-
pect to his, Mr.. Graves principal. Mr.. C.
declined, and the challenge from Mr.. G. fol.
lowed.
And here word as to dates and persons
Mr.. Cilley's refusal to answer categorically
was written on Thursday, 22d, before the ad
journment of the House of Representatives
Mr.. Graves instantly determined to chal
lenge Mr.. c., and for that purpose applied tc
Mr.. Wise This gentleman, hot and hasty
as he is represented, postponed acting till he
should have considered and slept upon the
matter. Hence the challenge was not deliv
cred till Friday, 23d, about IL o'clock. The
acceptance was announced about five o'clock
and in the acceptance all the forms and de-
tails ofthe meeting were vigorously prescrib
ed; the time, IL o'clock of next day. AT
O'Clock the acquiescence of Mr.. Graves, il
the terms proposed, Notwithstanding thei
being unusual and Objectionable" was com
municated by Mr.. Wise to Mr. Jones, with
an intimation that, at II o'clock of the mex
day, Mr. J. should be informed whether Mr.
Graves would, if he should not procure a ri.
file, ask postponement of the time for the
meeting. At 8 o'clock next morning, Mr..
Jones wrote note to Mr.. Wise, fixing q
place where he might address Mr. J. at or
before IL o'clock.
At 10 o'clock Mr.. Wise called at the place
indicated, and left note saying Mr.. Graves
had not been able to procure rifle and put it
in order, and could not be ready at the ap-
pointed hour, but as he was DESTROYS not 10
postpone the meeting beyond the day, notice
should be given to Mr.. Jones at 12 20 o'clock
what further time would be required by Mr..
Graves
In half an hour! after this notice to Mr..
Jones, that gentleman sends note to Mr..
Wise, saying, ~ have The pleasure to inform
you that have in my possession an excel
lent rife. in good order, which is at the ser
vice OF Mr.. Graves" and at the expiration of
another half hour, namely, at Ill o'clock
!" through the politeness" of his friend, DR.
Duncan, Mr. Jones actually sent to Mr.
Wise's lodgings the rife in question, with
powder and ball
Thus goaded on, as it seemed, by the an
tagonist party, Mr.. Graves and Mr.. Wise
had no alternative but to fix the meeting a.
soon as possible. Yet at eleven o'clock, or
Saturday morning, the only rife Mr.. Grave.
had been able to procure-the use of that SC
politely rendered to him being, of course, GU
of the question--was in the hands of the ar
norer, unfit for use. II had been borrowed
at III O'clock on tho previous night, and wa.
in such neglected state, that, although on,
ofthe friends of Mr.. Graves, skilled in the us,
and construction of the weapon, was up the
greater part of the night to put in order, i
wasstill unfit for service, and, as is said above
it was actually, at about II o'clock on Satur.
day, in the hands of the armorer, the lock Ia,
ken off and altered, the breech of the barrel
unscrewed, and undergoing thorough over.
hauling. Nevertheless, after the receipt Of
MIR. Jones second note with the rife, Mr.. w.