Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-30
,Ill,a I.rin1 "a Rohalk Errann.

HAdERsrowN, Sept %, 1898
Re6uttfng Testimony -. he State then proceed
ed 18th Febutting testimony. M
samuel NJ. lSemnies c1lled, bout the "a O
Jaaiiary, 1852, Or. Scoliey called at witne OF
fice and showed u Letter Of apology, dated The day
pre- vious, and hesra Dt Dougherty concluded @
leave itwith mes It wa drafted by Swami lor the
purpose ofproeuring SpUgg' signature, and SPugg
had refused 10 sign L. Dr. Scolley said he had Ia
ken up Swann's case from motives OF compassion,
and had engpgedin mission OF peaeei that swami
for some days had been pas ing from one person 70
another could find no trtends--he had taken nola
of the matter hoping to bring it toa end; witness
thefe1pon took hold OF the matter under similar
motives 10 settle the quarrel between them; wit
ness read the letter, and said he did moi think Il
was suited 10 the occasions didl' think 1t Wassuch
a letter as Swami ought to receive; could not see
any reason why Sprigg should refuse TO gn 1t; III
did not regard IL SD Efficiently strong enougllto salts
fy Swami Dr. Scolley had said the first para
graph, SYaHniha had insisted upon inserting and to
that very paragraph Sprigg objecLed. fne para
graph was as follows:
"Haying conceived myself insulted by YOU,
which / now say, upon information which came
tony ears after the insult was Offered BY me, lam
fully confident was not intended as an inSult-by
YOU ], in return, offered you the gross insult for
which have since felt the deepest regre, 1t being
not only gross outage 10 you, for which no suit
able apology can be made, but an actunworthy OF
myself as gentleman A!A a sAf5'
Witness said it flashed upon his mind, upon see
ing the statement, that Sprgg ought 10 be satisfied
as Swan had favored il, and at once concluded u
should stand, ade some alterations init, at sub
seqnent period, and before aware that SPrigg had
signed the apology met Sprgg in the streeti tolu
him what had transpiTed, and thinking some expla-
nation necessary to get HIM to sign u; ! toia hn
that instead of refusing he ought TO be glad 70 40
So 10 secure the opinion that hen you Offered Inc
insult you did it under provocatlon.
Witness expressed himself in the very strongest
terms as to the character of the insult, us pelpg
one of which gentlemen could mol settle ny mere
apology; and that he would be luslhed IN the eyes
OF the men of honor in giving his hand and ma
king any atonelneRt for what he hail done, even II
were to allow Swami 10 spit his lace; that such
an oeEsace never was heard Of, and rule in the
code Of honor could settle it. Whilst talking, ne
thought tear cauIe TO Sprigg' eye; thought ne
had touched him very emarkably. SPrlgg Inca
SAID, sNIr. Semmes. Ihave signed the apology you
have drafted Witness took him by the hand and
Expressed his great qualification to hear 1t. Splgg
was quiet and attentive while witness was talking
creating the impression that he had acted sincerely
Heard no more of the matter between these young
men until the Stho 9th February, when SprgG
called my attention TO Swanns circular, When he
seemed much excited upon reading the note ap-
pended to the bottom of the published apology III
the following words: 'fFhe above letter OF apollo
gy was written in answer to a written invitation
| from Robert Swami to meet him on Charles Fer
rys meadows, armed as each of the parties mig ut
think proper, without inends, on either side, the
survivor TO take care Of the Slain' The mole con-
yeyiup the idea that Sprgg had signed it fIom fear,
witness expressed great surprise and indignation
that such circular should have been put out. L
told Snrigg il that was inconsistent with the terms
of settlement; that Swami was not authorised u
publish other than the simple apology. Told MN
was sure Swami had been led TO 40 SO from Tue
advice of some indiScreet trlendi that thougnl
Swami man of too much honor to publish SUCH
CIRCULAR Sprigg said, Il think SO too, and that
know who the id scoundrel isY Srrigg was
much excited, and used words of peace, insist
ling that he should not suffer passion to lead him
astray-to place the matter in the hands of some
q discreet FRIEND bespoke about making Puoiiea
tim, and asked me to give him letter.
wanted TO know whether it was not possible
to settle it by explanation; Sprgg said Swami had
called to explain, but he had repealed him. and de-
nounced him as liar and coward. de was We
Inv much excited when witness left him. The NOR
ming before the publication Swami came INTO my
Office, and without saying 'Low do you do SAID
'Mr. Semmes, a,n afraid shall be driven 10 eH-
ltremitieS YETI Without waiting TO hear another
word pointed him to be seated, and called his al
ltention 10 the circular or postscript aud expressed
great surprise at his publishing 1t; told him wheth'
eE true false, whether Spgg gave the apology IN
fear or not, the circular would do hm more INJURY
among honorable men than it would Sprigg; that
the note made the whole affair peurIle matter;
lSwaun then left, calm and collected, TO seek u
friendly interview with Sprieg. The morning al
ter signing of the apology Swami came 10 my office
anu renamed tneI6 TWO nOuHSs ESApLGSSSa
highly eratifed at the amcable settlement-seem
ed as though a load had been Ia ken of his mind.
Spokeo of his previous anguish; said he had iell
like person cast upon the waters doat1lg ABOUT
| as chance might carry him. had sought tlght-
friends had declined aiding, and was ueep.y dis
tressed up 10 the time of apology That he could
not see how Sprigg could sign it, ratherthan do So
under the circumsts noes, he would have descend
ed to his grave alive. Talked in a more reasona-
BILE manner than had ever heard himbetore, about
erty to publish the apology, but advised him not to
do So as he could show the written one to any oil
his friends who wished to see it. From Sprigg'S
character and temper, advised him to avoid him,
but treat him courteously. Didn't think them suit
liable companions. In the settlement of the affair,
thought he had acted with more good sense than
| many OF his friends had done. In telling Swami
that he had dlshonored himself by the publication
| of the note, Swami rematked: mi. SemmeS, you
| would be SurnEiSed to know who advised me TO do
IT. Told him didn't want to know his adviser.
Swami said, at strikes me in that view now, but
Inever saw it in that light before. Didnt attribute
to Spriggs fears; merely to lei his friends know
that he had sought 10 settle it by fight. Swami
was devoid of oil passion; seemed mortified about
the transaction.
| observation-disclosures remarks Throughout
never manifested hostile feeling towards Sprigg,
but made the conviction that he was under sense
of what was due me in terminating an ugly quar-
| rel. He did not reveal the name OF his ADVISER
He didn't assign reasons for publishing the apollo
ey, other tina it was done blythe advice of fnend
| II he had told me that sprgg had Violated the un-
Outstanding when the apology settling the matter
was given, should have advised HIM to destroy the
apology and treat Spiigg as lilackguard.1 AS to
Sprigg's character, he was quick and violent, and
| coyetous OF that proves which gives men eclat
from conquest in fghting. Adjourned.
| stsa $50. ss,,. 8 O'CLOCK, P. N.
| The Court met. p'
| Rev Mr. Seiss calletl-Day after the killing was
sent for by Swami; went to see him at jail; be;
1 seemed under some excitement; nothing remarka-
Bile about his mind; DR.. Scolley aud AlT. Kennedy
had Just lett HIM; asked him if he had any hesita-
ton in conversiug about his difficulties; he said
| he had none; appeared conscious of the nature OF
the act; said he didn't think he could realize it as
fully as he ought; he exhibited paper containing
Spnggs publications, and commented thereon;
said he KNEW Iwould not justify him from the ma,
tpre of the principles preached. Don't know