The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-03-07

Il IN saving oil credlt.
The RICHMOND TRAGEDY. The account of
bloody rencontre between two editors of
Richmond, Va. which was received on Friday
evening, is fully authenticated by the follow
ing additional particulars of the affair, by the
Washington correspondent of the Baltimore
American ofFrday: "The parties to it were
Mr. John ii. Peasants, late ofthe Richmond
Wing, and recently ofthe new paper estab-
lished at Richmond, and Mr. Thomas Richie,
Jr., son ofthe editor of the Union. The par
ties went to the field by agreement, armed
with several pistols each, and with swords
| They took their distance and commenced
firing-the one firing four and the other
six shots, each nearing the other as they fired.
The parties soon came in close contact, one
ofthe pistol shots taking effect upon Mr. =.
The swords were now used. Mr. Peasants
struck blow which injured Mr. Richie
slightly, as is said and which is probably true
as he was in the Rotunda ofthe Capitol this
morning, during the session ofthe Honsc.
Mr. Richie inflicted heavy blow with
small sword, which made deep cash upon
the abdomen ofhis antagonist. IL is thought
he will not recover Mr. Richie came to the
cir last night, and is now the guest of his IA
Their Mr. Peasants, it is said, was able to
leave the scene OF lIis bloody s;t;!te i'll his own
carriage. The immediate cause ofthis fight,
it is said, was u card in the Richmond En-
quirer, pronouncing Peasants a Coward"
The fight took place in the presence of
several Of the friends of each party. Mr.
Peasants is fifty five years of age, and Mr.
Richie not half as old"
p. 8. Peasants died of his wound two
days after receiving it. Richie, the murderer,
is the son of the editor of tho Union, Mr.
Folks Organ at Washington.
0F@A Richmond correspondence the Tri-
bune gives the following account of the cause
and particulars of this horrible butchery:
"The parties were John H. Peasants, late
Editor of the Wing (now one of the Editors
of the Richmond Starr and Thomas Richie,
Jr,one ofthe Editors the Enquirer. The diff
ference arose from casual remark ofa Wash
ington correspondent ofthe Enquirer, rea-
tive to Mr. Peasants Abolition sentiments,
which Mr. p. took offence AT and published n
reply to, in the Star. This brought out the
junior Editor of the Enquircr-the senior
Editor (Wm. F. Ritchie) being absent at the
time on n visit TO Philadelphia.
On the morning ofthc publication of the
latter article, Peasants himselfleft the city
for the North--the paper however was sent
to him by one ofthe Editors of the Star, and
a reply was orwarded-which reply, how
ever, Il beleve) was withheld from publica-
ton till the arrival of Mr. p, and indeed for
several days after nc had returned to the city.
Meanwhile, the matter, it was thought, had
been suffered TO die away. 1t was at length
published however, and being rather severe
on the Junior Editor, he replied with some
warmth in last Saturdays paper. The chal-
lenge was sent on Tuesday following, and
the parties met the next morning, as before
stated.
Thirty feet was the distance-each to arm
himselfas he thought proper, and 10 advance
or not, after the first fire. After the first fire
the parties advanced towards each other, fir
ing as they advanced. When they met, Pleas
ants threw his pistol into the face of Richie
knocking out one ofhis teeth, and somewhat
bruising his face-meanwhile four shots from
Ritchie's pistols had struck Peasants, viz:
one in the groin, one just above, one near the
breast, and one on the arm
As soon as =. threw his pistol, he drew a
sword from cane which he carried under
his arm, and was about to pierce it through
Richie, but the latter parted the blow with
sabre, SCATTERING the sword cane and cut
ting away three fingers from Peasants right
hand. In the act of raising the sabre with
which again to strike Peasants who was then
perhaps, at his mercy, Peasants fell. The
seconds then intcrferred, and the parties left
the ground.