The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-14

and stated 10 him that he had come TO understand
the circumstances of the case. Peasants said he
had sent Richie verbal message. Witness saw
written communication from Richie; could not
say it was signed by Richie. The note was
merely replying to the verbal message stating
terms, that they should meet with side arms, but
not with muskes. rifles guns; complained of
| the terms being barbaTous. Peasants said if he
had seen him yesterday, he would have attacked
| him. The next morning, which was Wednes-
day, the 23ih day of the present month. went
over Mayo's Bridge to place near the Cotton Fac
| tory, in Manchester, in Chesterfield County
Peasants and Mr. Peter jefferson Archer were
walking together To the spot, and the witness and
Mr. Deane followed on to the field. When they
arrived there they saw Greenhow, Richie and
person whom he told was WIN. Scott Mr.
Deane left him to speak with Mr.. Archer Ar
cher was friend of Peasants. Peasants insist
ed upon changing the ground as it gathered
crowd where they were and the range of the shot
was where they would strike some one Pleas
ants proposed To 90 up highe: aud the witness
/ told him not to 90 near Richie as he might shoot
hlm. Witness said this, as there was nn particu.
lar terms of the fight Peasants said he would
go; he crossed the mill race and selected spot
at that time witness walked up where Deane was
In conversation with GreenhOw. Heard Green
how say this was an assault, and that he had
Kept his friend there for fifteen minutes past the
time, and if he was not assaulted in fifteen min
utes he would move him from the field Mr.
Archer addressed himself to Peasants, and said
come on and arm yourself Peasants then un-
locked his case, took out revolving pistol which
he put in his coat pocket took a bowie knife and
put 1t into his bosom, put his sword cane under
his arm. and took two duelling pistols, in each
hand, and advanced toward where Richie was
standing. Rlchie had four pistols in belt a
round him, cutlass and revolving pistol
Greenhow had two pistols in his belt his impress
sion was, that the pistols Richie had were duel
ling pistols. Richie took his position in the
middle of the ground, between the canal and riy-
er-left of large oak-Wm. Scott took his posi-
ton behind the tree opposite Ritchie-Greenhow
stood off along with Archer. Peasants turned a
round and said something to Greenhow Pleas
ants then advanced and had reached twenty or
| twenty five yards of Richie, when Greenhow
and Archer called out to stop. Peasants still an
preached and Richie fired twice and at Ritchie's
third fire Pleasants fired--a ball from Ritchie's
pistol struck Peasants near the shoulder, which
threw him around, and he seemed about falling
but Pleasants still pressed on towards Ritchie and
theresucceeded succession of shots very rapidly
witness thinks eight OF nine Witness then saw
Peasacts in close quarters with Richie Richie
IN the act OF thTustlng with his cutlass and the
hand of Peasants raised seeming to strike i'm
medatey Pleasants seemed staggering, and wit
ness thought Richie also. Archer and Deane ran
and called out to stop. Peasants walked off sup
ported to the dollhouse Of Siayo's Bridge by Deane
and Archer. Richie was helped to his carriage
And from the dollhouse Peasants was brought to
his residence in this city. Deane said to Greenhow
| could not this matter be adjusted to which
Greenhow said. he had brought his friend there
and he had waited fifteen minutes, and if he was
not assaulted In fifteen minutes he would take him
of the field At the dollhouse witness thought
Pleasants MORALLY wounded The sword
cane which PleasanIs had, had 4 long blade two
or three feet long with curved handle; before
deceased died he was asked by witness why he
did not stop when called upon; he replied " it
was too late" Asked if he heard any one giving
directions, he replied he heard Scott tell Richie
when to shoot, to shoot low now, to shoot high to
draw his sword. Asked why he put his revolver
in his coat pocket? replied he did not wish TO use
it. Asked why he did not shoot Richie re-
Piled before he went out he had drawn the load
| from Of his pistols. Asked why he did this
replied he did not wish to kill him, that he in
tended to rely upon his sword cane. Asked how he
got the load out of his pistol? replied in the usual
| way. Asked if he said any thing TO Richie
! replied, you see am coward" Peasants
| said he recolected beating Richie over the head
| with the cane; he thought he ran him through
! twice-he said Richie was brave fellow On
I Sunday evening. Peasants stated to witness that
( he determined to have Ritchie's ife or he
! should have his. That they were determined to
drive him to it, or hold him up as a coward, and
! he determined the thing should 90 no further,
| it must be settled, and he should have his (Rtch-
| ie's) life, or Richie should have his. No one
| aided Peasants in arming himself Witness
| thinks Archer handed him the bowie knife
Deane did not aid him in any way. The witness
testified. one wound was upon the left side of the
chest just in front oflhe shoulder; another wound
was through the left arm, just above the elbow,
making two wounds; another wound passed
through the left hand Featuring some of the met
acarpa bones; another wound entered the scro-
tum, passing out at the anus, and another wound
in the mates of the left side, where the ball passed
out; in regard TO this wound, there was no ap-
pearance where it entered There was no stab
/ in the body.
DIR. John Cullen being duly sworn testified
that he attended a short time on the deceased be-
fore he died the deceased frequently said he
! would not recover; the deceased said his object
| was not TO kill Richie. but to prove he was no
coward the deceased said he had drawn the load
from one Of his pistols the preceding night, that a
Mr.. Scott was behind tree, and told when
! Richie was to shoot, and directed him when to
draw his sword that the deceased was asked il
he had drawn his sword from his cane, he replied