Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-06-11
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TIE FRACAS Al WASHINGTON
The following is MIR. Montgomery account o.
the affair:

the affair:
WAsHigoros, DC, May 80, 1910.
Messys Blair and Riufs / must ask that yeu
will publish the whole of the letters OF X. RAYSER
and myself IN your paper this evening with State
ment of what occurred in the CAPITOL this dav.-
" hen the House took recess, but while still in
session, | left my seat, passed through the Hall TO
the post office, deposited papers, to be sent
20 my lodgings, and was going through the passage
to JOIN my company in The Rotunda-A man who
was standing meeting me, in the passage, seized
me BIZ ms vi ia, arm, and at the moment struck
blow with large cane, without my knowing
who inflicted it. | turned round and discovered
that it was my colleague, X. Rayner with a large
cane, which afterwards turned out to be a sword
cane ! struck him with a small cane had in my
hand, not 5 large my finger, which broke into
several pieces the FIRST blow struck. A fig hit
sued between us tor some time, until we were sep
arated he with his sword cane, and with small
piece of my cane have doubt my colleague
had placed himself there for the purpose Of attack
ng me. had no sword cane, or arms of any kind
mol surprising my colleague would be guilty OF the
cowardy attempt at assassination, in which fear
from, ms condaer, | was mistaken. Had | an,ic-
paled this attack, 1 might have been prepared
l1ls conduct has been that OF mean cowardiy
.coundfeii hfst, in attacking through the CO.
umns Of the Gl0be aud when his conduct Is there
exposed his only WAS, not that of an honOra
biz man. but that of assassin, wayaIing and
without the slightest notice, with a weapon pre-
pared for the purpose, seeking TO take his revenge
cut throat like.
F.om his cowardice or some other name. he
unable To hum me. lie lost his sword from ms cane
ia the fight which he loudly called lor several times
after we were separated and broke my cane into
many pieces over his head. tie has acted the pant
Of base coward and unpt+no red scoundrel -
nroyed the facts upon him. he has therefore,
failed, as yet, to injue me, while he has by ms
oW n conduct dseiaced himself by waslsylng and
attat king me with o deadly weapon ana have
iua,cied chastisement upon him by breaking my
cane over his head. He is, therefore, welcome TO
all he has gotten so far, and TO ell he in any
way gain hereafter, Yours,
". MONTGOMERY.
To the above Mr.. Rayner briefly replied as fol-
lows: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, !
Jane /, l840
To tie Editor Of The Gto5ei
wish TO make, simply, the following statement
through the columns Of Your paper: The lerler,
over The signature OF w. Montgomery in the Gl0b
OF May 30,-pretending to give an account Of the
difficult, between inm aud myself, Is false, IN the
main; both as to facts and insnuatlons. The fol-
owing, - true statement Of the Case. met hiai
purely by accident, is the door, my way 30 the
post Office. | walked up 10 tim directly in front
and deliberately staPped his jars. Whereupon, he
struck me over the shoulder with a cane which he
held in his hand, and which brooks shout of at the
irst blow. | then turned my caue--wh-h was b
sword cane OF ordinary size-hoidiug II by the low
er end and gave him blow over The head, striking
him with the handle or sword eud. In striking
this blow, the sword flew out some dstance Then
repeated my blow, three or four times, with the
lower barrel end Of The cane, until we were sep
araled-he retreating backwards all the time. He
struck me 6ut once, and that was when be broke
bis cane. did not draw the sword from my cane,
or attempt to draw it. / had him entirely in my
power, but did not wish 10 nAict any material in.
jury on him, and should have desis,ed, after slap.
ping his jaws, had he not struck me with MS cane.
nave nothing turiher 70 say. 1ouisrespecttui-
y. X RkYNER.