Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-01

The case OF SPRINGER for the murder of his wife at Jer.
sey City, which has been in progress at Jersey City for
fourteen days, was given TO the Jury on Saturday after
noon after an able and impartial charge from Chief Justice
Hornblower. As we inhmaied at the commencement of
the trial. the defence set up was insanity, and in proof of
TINS 4 great variety OF circumstances were brought for
ward. IL was very clearly established that this disease
was hereditary in his family. and at the present time one
Of his nearest relatives is in the Asylum at Utica. There
was no attempt TO deny the fact Ct the killing, but il was
urged in his behalf that he was goaded to madness by the
conduct OF his wife aud her mother aud brother, added 10
which, he was rseked by jealousy.
The Jury stood seven for acquittal and five for conviction
when they first went out. After celebrating about three
hours, they came into court Tor further Instructions, which
given, they again retired, and yesterday afternoon nj 2 o.
clock, alter being out about twenty -four hours, they return
ed into court and rendered 4 verdict OF Not Gully.
The prisoner was very deeply affected on the rendition
OF the verdict, and received the congrarulaton of his eoun.
sci. friends and the Court, with deep emotion. lie was 10
pass the night at the residence Of Mr.. HARRISON, near the
Cour, House, and Is To proceed to Utica this morning in
the care OF his uncle, Hon. j. A. SFEScER, where he will
be placed ih charge Of DR.. BRIsnAN, at the State Asylum.
His health, however, Is very delicate, his appearance indi-
eating deep seated consumption, and there is scarcely a
possibility OF his living long.
In tho early part OF the day, u melancholy occurrence
took place in the Court room, and which interrupted for n
time the progress of the case. The Attorney General, Mr..
Browning. was in the midst Of his argument, when Smith
Scudder, Esq father Of the District Attorney. and n dis
tinguished member Of the New Jersey Bar, fell back in an
aPPoPlectic ht and almost instantly expired. To heighten
the distressing scene. his son was seated by his side At the
time, and had the melancholy satisfaction Of receiving the
last Sigh OF his departed parent. The Chief Justice adj
JOurned the court al once until halt-pAst one O'clock when
II was sgain assembled aud the trial concluded.
DUELLrNo IN GEKNANT.-A letter from Munster, West.
phalia, published in the Journal ds Debats, contains the
following The day before yesterday we were witnesses
OF a duel under sanction Of justice. The following il an
account Of the strange affair: Two young officers, the
Baron dc Deukhaus a Lieutenant in the Ilth Hussars. and
VI de BOunhsrt, a Lieuuensnt in the 18th Infantry, had
while playing IT billiards in a coffee house Of Munster. A
violent dispute. IN which M.de Deukhsus made use Of sew.
srsl offensive expressions towards his adversary. These
words having been uttered in aPhblic place, and before a
great number OF witnessed, VI. d. Bounhau felt himself un-
der the necessity OF demanding public satisfaction, and TO
this effect cited NJ. de Deukhaus to appear before the TN
bunal Of honor sitting at Munster. This tribunal, eonfor-
mably 10 tho law, used all efforts 10 induce the offending
party TO retraet the offensive expressions, and not being
able to succeed, came TO a decision that, consid-
ering the words in question attacked the honor Of VI. dc
Bounhart, the latter could no longer continue in the army
withoat having obtained public satisfaction. Accordingly
a platform was erected in a plain at the north part Of the ci-
~, upon which was seated the tribunal. the Judges Of tho
combat. Before the tribune, a large space, surrounded by
ropes supported By slaves. was reserved for the combat.
ants. Some deiachments Of infantry and cavalry were
placed around the enclosed ground aud tribune of the iud-
ges. Atan early hour an immense crowd filed the vast
plain. At precisely 3 7. VI. the appointed hour, the judi
gs wearing their uniforms, took their places in the TIL
buno.
They again attempted to effect a reconciliation, and this
attempt also failing, authorized the combat TO take place.
II was 'grsed upon by The two advcrsafies, with the sane
ton Of the tribunal, that the combat should take place with
cavalry swords, and be continued until one ofthe adversariss
became hoTs du combat, ond that both should fight with
their heads uncovered, and IN their shirt sleeves. A Ger.
tain number Of sabres wero then brought forward, and the
two advorsafies, after having bound their eyes, took by
chance their weapons. Then taking of tho handkerchief
from their eyes. as we'll as their coats and hats, they put
themselves in an attitude Of defence, and at n signal Civ.
en- by tho President Of the Tribunal, the eombnt began
NJ. de Deokhaus and De Bounhart fought with tho greatest
obstnacy. Tho latter successfully received two slight
wounds in the arm, but soon afterwards wounded bs nd
versay so severely in the thigh as render IL impossible
for the latter to continue Tho combat When the surgeons
had dressed tho wounds 81 the officers. the President Of
the Tribunal again attempted TO reconcile them, this time
- -. .a.vagNauNZHn .f.grI uI a.. fn.
bnccd each other.
The public, which bad throughout the combat observed
The profoundest silence, hailed tho reconciliation with loud
and continued applause. Two coaches took away the late
opponents, and VI. de Bounhnrt assisted IN carrying W. de
Doukhaus to his. The tribunal ihon separated, and the
crowd quietly dispened. IL IL the first time that a tribunal
Of honor IN Prussia ever authorized a duel. All the dis
putos which had been hitherto brought before the tribunal,
had invariably terminated by a reconciliation.