Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-02-17
Tas Corrs.Pondsaee bsn0sln hs PaFtie'
Ranfmor. San ofEfaau.

we pnoltSneu nudef our UeleSH
terday an account of the terrible murder PerPe-
trated at Cumberland, Md. on Wednesday even
ing, ON the person of Mr.: VIM. o. SPrigg. ofJo
sepb, by Mr. Robert Swan, and have since re
ceived a portion of Ae correspondence which
passed between the parties previous 70 the unfoe-
tunale affair. The following letter. from Mr.
Sprigg, accompaDied.by letters from DIS. Seol-
lay and DougheTty, aud S. U. Ssmmes, Esq lis
published in the Cumberland Unionist
To rHE PuBL1c-The public is aware Ofa DIFF
ieulty that has recently occurred between Mr.
Robt. Swan and myself, and which thought had
been settled honorably TO both parties TbeIe
has appeareda card, however, with my apology,
and a nois GgpeadeIRy Nr- Scan. which conveys
the idea that 1 had given the apology because of
his challenge. Mr.. Swan knew when he pub.
lished the note that he was Publishing a f0tSehO0d.
l shall give a full, candid and impartial state
ment of the whole affair. On Thursday, Janua.
~ 22d. Mr.. Swan and myself bad a difficulty at
one of the assemblies, and l thought from his
conduct, and from what ! heard, that 1t was his
intention to offer me an insult ] gave SIR Swan
a chance TO explain bis conduct to me about the
matter. but he did not. j tbeEefoTe took The bTst
opportunity TO offer him an insult, which - Idby
soitIfng in his face; (Lhis was on Saturday 24th }
He went off and armed bimseIf, as he told a friend
of mine, with two pistols, and said that I've wOuia
give one to. me andtake the other himself The
gentleman to whom he communicated this fold
him that was already armed. Then II was that
he (NIr. Swami senta gentleman TO me 10 say that
ne had put the matter into the hands of a friend
That evening, however, Mr. Swan came TO Mr.
CowtOn'S hotel, where l was in conversation with
Arthur johnson, and asked me out. Armed as
| was ! instantly told him in Mr.. Johnson's pre-
sence. that / was ready for him in any way he
Thought proper. Still he asked me TO walk with
him. | refused, and told him he had sent me
word that he had put the matter in the bands Ot
a friend. lie asked me If he was to retract what
I deemed was an INSULT TO me, what would be my
course: and added that he did not intend TO in
suit me-, that our family relations had been init
mate. and that he would reduce it to writing l
said TO him promptly, any apology that conld be
giyen BY me would he given ; aud IN that way
we parted on Saturday night.
On Sunday morning ] went into the county,
and did not get back until aboutI o'clOek,P NJ ,
when. a letter was handed TO me by the barkeeP-
err. which, on opening, | found TO be from air.
Swan. and which was told Mr. Swan had hin.
seIs left at The bar-abOHt 4 o'clock an Sunday
the letter which pHbisfEbeiow; Immediately
went in search of my friend in tie affair, H. r.
Atkinson, and coutd NOT find him. About 10
O'Clock, however, Isgainstarted in pursuitot him,
and, in front of Mr.. CowtOn's hotel, met Mr.
Swaziland told him that ] had received his note
and that he had better say six ocIOrk- His ex-
cIamation was" Well, i have come over TO see
YOU and wish to Withdraw that note and have the
IallE BSANtC0 AAE - SAS AhGN So
should not have his note and that j would take
no further notice of him; he then asked me to
go over to the Mineral Bank steps and talk the
matter over, which I'VE did. He then told me
that be could get no friend to act for him in Cum
berland. My reply was, he could 20 a distance
and get a friend aud l would follow him. / say
most unequivocaliy that so far as it regards n
meeting between Mr.. Swan and myself, the next
morning, no such thing ever was contemplated
by either of US when we parted on Sunday night.
- -. 49, -
night of the 9th, when DIR. Seollay and DIR
Dougherty called on me TO hare the affair AMIGA
bly, settled, and what took place will appear by
reference to their letters, which publish below.
| made the apology voluhtsrily-nay, ~cheehully,
not because | supposed there was a challenge
hanging over me, bat becaase Mr.. Swan bad said
TO me IN he presence of Mr.. Johnson that be in
tended me no insult. When Mr.. Swan publish
ed the note TO my apology he knew he was pub
fishing a falsehooi. Robert Swan knows also
that l know him-he is a coward First, he
would havefpistolszwould give me one-(gene
rous fellow0 but when he found I was armed,
then he would put il into the hands of a friend;
next morning he screwed his courage up, and
wrote me the note published below. When /
suggested TO change the hour from IL o'clock
an hour when we would certainly be detected
TO six O'Clock in the morning, then il was thathe
had just come to withdraw the note and insist
ed on talking 1t over awieabiy; and now il ap-
pears, from his statement TO DIR. ScoIIay, thai. he
was on the ground precisely at II o'cInck!-
Courageous man, this afr. Robt. Swan! In this
whole affair SIR. Swan has shown himself total
ly devoid OF courage principle or truth My ad-
vice to him would be q. go back 10 air. Perry's
meadows-and stay there
WM. o. srRIse ofJos-
The CHGlenge-LH at Bb. c's Bar.
GU%MBERLAND, Jan. "a, 1852.
w. o. sPrigg, Es9g2744Dear Sfr:l have well
looked over our relative positions since saw you
and have come to the conclusion that our affair
cannot otherwise be adjusted shan by an unquaIi-
fled. unequivocal apology there fore, ] now pro.
pose that we meet on Charles PeTry's Meadows
tomorrow at IL O'Clock, armed as both think pro-
per, without friends on-either side. / propose
tlts merely because lido not wish others to be
enyolEed- IN so serious a quarrel-and to prevent
publicity.
the deep stain OF having my face spit upon, de-
mands something besidesa simple apology, based
on a retIaction by me ofsomethirg which had
gone, before.
Meet me. then. as 1 propose, and The survivor
will take care of The slain.
am wilh the highest respect. &C.
The Apology. aVlk de Neie appended, as publish
ed and Appended
C~UMBEELAxD, Jan. %, 1850
Mr.. Robt. Swan4SI Having e-oaceired nv
self Insulted by You which L now say upon infor-
nation which came 10 my ears after the insult
was offered by me- am fully eonYiDeedswas not
intendedas Al insult by you, 1 IN return offered
You the gross insult, for which / have since feI
me deepest tegref3 u bei1g not only a gross out
rage TO you Tor which no suitable apology can
be made but an act entirely nnworthy Of myself
as a gentleman.
it's due 70 myself, sfFs a well as 10 Won, that
4 should make Observation-Disclosures aud Iassute
you itgiyes me pleasure To do so and ask that
my offence may be oyeriooked.
Very tespeetfpIly,
w. o. SpEIGGs of Hos.