Washington telegraph., 1846-03-25
THe Death of AL Pl,o,nD,s-Tbs c,rror.;,

IAcnRHHIS.@lhe tOIlQwln~
from the Baltimore Patriots Washington letter
OF th- 9th ut rs the fullest account we have seer,
of the bloody fight at Richmond and the crcurn
stances leading 10 IT, The writer, however omi,s
to state the fact that Mr.. Peasans was melted 10
send the challenge to yo ng Richie by a card of
the latter denOuncing him az ian orTGnt coirqrdp
In our view Of the matter, this card was an ont.
rage and an atrocity- IL was of course intended
to force the result which followed Mr. Pleasants
was a gentleman fifty-fve years Of age, III fathar
Of family, and proverbially chvalric, i'm petuou,
irritable. and quick to resent even the appearance
or personal Insult. The forcing Of such an olJ
man, by the lying OF the term Coward iD,o
unequal conflict with an athletic and vgurons
young man Of less ;han half his own age, was in
deed atrocty, which the law should punish IL
there is any law to punish il, and to which pub6c
opinion, If The law canot reach the case, should
mete out a terrible retIibution. Lou Jolrr.
/ learn the facts 10 be substantially as follows
the quarrel had gone in their newspapers to such
an extent that Mr. Peasants thought himself called
upon to bring the matter 10 "A crisis. He tberefors
sent q request TO Mr. Richie to meet him AZ Il sna
cited place and hour across the river from Rich
mond with side-arrns Mr. Richie sent back wora
that he could not consent 10 settle the affair in tb,,
way. Mr.. Pleasants then sent him word that tbs
mattel niust be settled in that way.
Mr.. Richie then prepared himself with a revol.
yer of six barrels, two dueng pistols, and horse.
mans short sword, and repaired TO the place de-
signaied at the time named.
Mr.. Peasants, who had not arrived, with two
(o- fnur-there is doubt Of this common pistols
ana sword cane A friend Of Mr. Peasants AIT
preached Mr.. Richie, and said TO him that III
thought the difficulty might be settled if the latter
would do one thing, and that was, to ACKNOWLEDGE
that he believed Mr.. peasants to Be brave man
Mr. Richie replied that once he could have done
this: but now Mr.. Peasants having called him
there, and not appearing himself. he could NOT
make such an acknowledgment Mr. Pleasau,s
aad taaf bs
would Lave TO fight. Mr.. Richie replied very
well. he had come there 10 meet Mr. Peasants
The friend Of the latter left the spot and went ~
his principal, who was not far off Soon after fhs
Mr.. Pleasants appeared approaching Mr. Rtchir
considerably I'D advance Of The two friends who
had accompanied him 10 The spot a. be approach.
ia at a rapid pace, Mr.. Richie fired successivelv
his dnelling pistols, resting each on his left
arm drawn mp in angle for that purpose. lie
then presented his revolver and fred either four or
FIVE Of ms barrels After he had fired first upon Mr.
Pleasan,s the latter drew and fired thrice witbon,
effect, all The time rushing up to Mr.. Ritche, and
when near enough he struck him with his sword
cane when the scabbord flew off. and Mr Ritehie
struck M the blade spear with his short sword
in doing which he received the point Of Mr. Pleas.
ants spear I'D the of lii mouth cutting up-
ward a slight cash
Mr.. Peasants then fell. having received five
wounds from Tile pisipl-shots or liz Antagonist, Il
not one from bis short sword. One ball raked
across the back Of his le1 hand carrying away an
the muscles and iendous leading 10 the fingers;
another passed through the fieshy part Of his left
arrn half way up from the eibow to the slold+rs.
another entered tire left breast and ranged round
Under the arm; forth enteied the lefi groin and
proved mortal Tie fith wound ia the rirtt
tiEh. either hy q hali thrust from the slort
sword l51vr al.Edrd tu. IL j. thought have Been
irotn fr lattc-
20 has ended ihe earthly carer Or tie rified liz
fgErrtr-r afruri Aaft 2E=tr
HAHPnEN PLEsssN. :, His loss 10 The communiiy
in which he mvred, to the editorial fraternity Of
which lie was ever sparkling, brilliant member,
and the thousands OF his eyer-de.igited and in.
stTncied readers. viii b. most deeply felt, has
sanguiuary exit VIII be sa Y Il ourlleol For mafy
years he isas been one Of the most vigorous, ori-
giral ana brilliant political writers in the county,
IL W. Of strong impulses. and III t!- rK-
element M hr moment s1HnnfiIr=s committed rG-
iL1rai errnr5- nr Xiii hls opponent, injustice. Hat
th-- Hlu liv=d n-t Thn wu'i!d r. -i.y or am-
py AZ inr fr iu-srreion ur Injuries oF rhis narlr!
Tic was tie soui " honor. | can scar-e.y nak-
inys-lf believe tiiai he : dead-ih4t / snail no
more have the pleasure and snjoyn-nt Of pcTusiug
TIE bright scin;iiiafioEs Of LIS genius sparkling
through the editorial columns Of a Richmond pa
per-
The following is the yerlict or tie iurv or faust
held over the body Of the deceased a. gwen ID the
Richmond 1imrs:
An infnest VS. holien yesterday mon the
hodF of JofFN IL PLEAsANrs deceased brtUrr C7r-
oner R55erf T' Wicker, the examination before
ihe jury occupying nearly the whole day. Their
verdict was that THoNAs RIrcHIE Jr, was griry
Of the murder Of Peasants in i mliual combat had
between them the 25th inst and that Peter
jefferson Arener, " asbngtoE Greenhow and VIII
!iar1 Scott were present aiding and abettn in said
combat and in SAID murder. The Coroner has
issued his warrants 10 said parties found gull
y b. the inquisit.ons-"