Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-03-29

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,remely uneasy for the result. The word was
given: Mr. Graycs's rife went of quickly,
and. as he told me afterwards. accidentally, II
and into the ground. MIR Cilley drew upl
very deliberately, aimed, feared, deadly
shot, and fired. ! thought he had hit mi
Graves. / went to him, and inquired why he
shot so quick? lie said that he must have
another shot that mr. Menefce had told him
not to put his finger upon the guard, but the
trigger was too easy, and that he would next
time shoot his own way. Ills rifle had gone
off accidentally, owing to his taking his nm
ger off the guard, and he insisted upon an
other shot. -
/ Il was very apparent to me that mr. Cilley
had shot at the life Of mr. Graves. II, when
mr. Grayes's rife went of, without harm to
him, he had discharged in the air, or reserved
his FIRE, the 6ght would have been at an END
no would not again have Jeopardcd nr
Grayes's life. and would have saved his own
Mr. Graves was not, however, touched by ms
ball, and again withdrew the challenge, as
before, for explanation.
II Ii was between the second and third ex.
change of shots, and after the rifles were or
dered to be again loaded for the third fra,the
challenge having been renewed, that pro
posed TO mr. Jones that mr. Cilley should say
that, sin declining 10 receive Col. Webbs
note, he meant no disrespect 10 mr. Graves,
either directly or Indirectly" IN making this
| proposition ] went beyond my instructions
llbut. as I understood mr Jones, mr. Cilleyl
would not say these words alone, nor without
adding words which did away tho effect oi
the word "indirectiy" and which left the par
| ties exactly where they were when the!
came upon the ground.
II The statement Of mr. jones and myself con
tains substantially all the propositions which
| | remember to have been made on the field
for settling the difference. But here 1t is
| proper to remark that when first the frlends
assembled at my instance, much was said Dy
II them upon both sides. A debate was likeiy
| to ensue, aud lest dispute or difference
should arise among ourselves, 1t was sng-
| gested that the friends should consult apart,
II With the respective seconds, and that the Sc
| conds should be the organs OF announcing
! propositions for settling the difference, in lh
| hearing of all. This seemed to be acceded
to by oil parties. NOTED nothing, therefors,a ,as
AUTHORISED, trcept ,ohai proceeded from VI,
Jones himself and consequently do not, and
7 cannot, attempt to report what was said by
llotbers. do not remember 10 have heard
mr. Cilley speak after he went on the ground
Il lie and mr. Graves were ordered to their po'
sitions, alter being instructed as to the word,
/ and they kept their positions, eighty yards
apart, until the fight ended. The conieren.
ces of seconds and friends were held exactly
| eGni. distant from them, of course forty yards
of.
VI made no proposition on the ground, and
Il rejected none. without consulting mr. Crltten-
den and mr. Mencfee and believe that eve
ry act of mine there and throughout the
whole affair, met with their appreciation, and
that Of mr. Graves.
II 1t was at the instance Of mr. Graves him
self, that remarked to mr. Jones, immediate
! ly previous to the last exchange OF shots: III
this matter is not terminated this shot, and Is
not settled, will propose to shorten the DIS
tance." MIR Graves had no confidence in his
own shooting at so long distance, and di-
rectcd me positively, if they missed repeat
edly, to prevent prolongation OF the ahan
by proposing closer quarters.
/ The reason why mr. Graves insisted upon
mr. Cilleyt saying either "that he declined
to receive the note OF Col. Webb, because he
was not accountable for words spoken in de-
bate" or shat in declining to receive the
, note, he did not do so upon the ground OF
personal objection to Col. Webb as gentle.
man." was, because mr. Cilley had made both
these declarations, as mr. Graves alleged to
his friend. to him verbally. lie would not be
satisfied with the declarations announced On
the ground and his friends could not advise
him to accept them as satisfactory, for the
reason that hty admitted nothing which Mr.
4 Ciiiey did not a,imii IN his priHtn corrtspon
dence, and nothing Which he did admit IN his
conversation ,cih .Nr Grdres. Mr. Graves
could not be satisfied on the field, whilst his
adversary was before him with rifle in hs
\ hand, with what he YVES not satisfied with be-
fore, whilst looking at pen merely III his
own hand.
II have now stated the facts, and the world
can make its own deduction Of the causes
which led to the death Of the honorable mr.
Cilley. If nm q proper Judge OF those eau
ses, and am expected TO say what they were,
will sum them up in order.
First Mr. Ciley, as Mr. Graves affirmed, and
still aiiiTms, denied, in irriting, a sdh factory
anstDer ,rhich he had made to Mfr Grarts
verbally
Second. He made this ,critten denial in an
stcsr to letter of Mfr Grares, rhieh he had
himself requested 10 be addressed to him With
a rie,c TO form a prttert far a u,iikn ad-
mission af the pery facts which he denied.
Third lie inpeached the honor Of one whom,
as a gentleman, Mr. Graves undertook, by the
very act Of bearing his note, 10 vouch.
II For those causes, Mr. Graves challenged him
10 mortal combat and,
II Fourth. When Mr. Graves called on him for
"thai satisfaction which is recognised among gen
tlemen," he prescribed borjmous and sapdge
terms; an unusual ,ceapon, the most deddiy,
II ut the distaice selected, in the hands o. good
| shot.
Fifth. lie preeipitatd the time Of meeting
,rhen the second Of Mr. Graves pas aroUing
a rant Of preparation and a desire for delay
Sixth. A peapon, not one cf a PAR, Wns
rendered for the use Of Mr. Grdres, in man
ner that tpas considered faunting.
Seventh. Ia the second exchange Of shots, Mr.
Cilley fred deliberately at Mr. Graves's life, after
the riao Of Mr. Graves had gone off accidentally,
: and without effect.
VI Eighth. Mr. Graves called Mr. Ciley out upon
point OF sufficient importance, ss he thought, to
cause challenge; he did not get the satisfaction
he demanded, and he tcas not the man to ieare
HI the field Uithout gaining the point, after any
number Of Intellectual fires.
] And for reason Of all these causes the combat
proved mortal. MIR Cilley was killed death
might have been the fate Of Mr. Graves. Certain
, II it is that .Mr Grares did not hold MIR CiHey
ae countdbie far the exercise Of any pririiegt
; Of a member of the House Of Representatives.
Ill - N = a