Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-04-12
F7om he Norfolk Herald, cfrddGy.

Fatal Occurrtncc.-A Wasical affair
vas witnessed al the ferry wharf yesler-
day that caused a degree Of excitement
and interest which we have seldom secu
equa!ied in cur quiet community. and
which resulted in the death Of Mir. Mclzar
Gardner. EI:.orufthe Portsmouth "Ciiron-
icle and Old Dominion" "a Democratic
Journal, Of which he had become the con-
ducior some six, moaths ago. in 4 rcncon-
IRE with Mordccai Cooke, Jr. Esq. of this
Borough.
The circumstances OF The case as We
have heard them stated byscveral persons
who saw The affair, were as follows:
Mr. Cooke was returning from Ports
mouth ia the ferry boat; Mr.. Gardner was
On the wharf, leaning nsains, 4 post, wait.
ing for the boat, intending TO return 10 her
to Portsmouth. As Mr.. Cooke stepped
ashore he entered into conversation with
hr. Gnrduer, which continued only a few
seconds, mot above the usua! pitch OF
their %voices) when Mir. G. vas seen to
raise 4 walking core which he carried; but
before any hostile demonstrations could be
made With il Mr.. Ga.dncr stepped back
aud drew 2 pistol ii, wasa revolving one,3
from his pantaIoous pocket, upon which
Dir. Cooke dropped his cane and seized
hold on the pistol, when a struggle ensucd,
in which Mr.. C.succceded in wrcnching
the pistol from Mr.. G's. hand, and 10 The
scunle tho pistol 'was supposed 10 have
been ircdol' by Nir. Cooke and Mr. Gard
ner feii-tlic charge in the pistol having
passed through, his bodyt He was i'm
media,ely taken into Capt. Dramnoud's
store, f3r surgical attention, but The ball
had struck the heart, aud in less than ff
teen miuu,es life was extinct.
This uafotuna:c IE:i-: grew ou, Of a
ieud o ffecent origin between the parties,
VITO were personally unknown TO each
other Until mus, unfortunately made &c.
quainted through the ncdiuntof an Attack
in the columns Of rho Chronicle on the
feelings Of Mr.. Cooke, ic relation 70 some
reflections which he was reported 10 have
INDUCED in al Tic editors expense. while
addressing a Drnocrutic meeting 10 Ports
mouth about ! week
MIR. Cooke went Immediately TO the
Mayor, appraised him Of the OCCURRENCE
aud said that he had called to surrender
himself. Afie' the finding of,he Inquest,
a warrant was issued hy John p. Leigh,
Esq. and as snoa as Mr.. Couke heard tia,
the warran, was in the hands OF Mr.. Guy,
Constable, lIo delivered himself to that
officer, aud is now in Jail, awaiting his
examination before Tho Mayor, to be held
this morning al the Court House ar 10
o'clock.
Postscript-Sincc wiring tho above,
the Inquest, which vas engaged ill four
o'c!ock in The afternoon in examiuiug.wit:
nes,es, having adjourned. We have bccu
favored with a copy oftheir verdict which
wos, Tia, The said Mclzar Gau,nercame
10 his death on the Both day of March
1915, in n scufle win Mordccai Cooke,
IT.. Of said Borough, uenr The ferry house
in said Borough, 10y the discharge of pis-
tol which the said Gardner drew from bis
brecches pocket, and which was taken
from him by said Cooke aud fred off by
said Cooke in the suif1s, the ball from
whi:l pistol cntt rcd The left side cf said
Gardner, near bis heart.