Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-23
From tho American Times.
Trial of Robert Swami. 49,.
HAGERSTowS, september IS' 1000

rest in the ttial. Besides the numerous persons
summoned here in the case, there are many OEneIs
present from various parts OF tie State
The Court met; when
Mr.. Price proceeded to read the papers which
had passed between Sprigg and swami, these
papers consist ofthe challenge from swami WIN
the note appended--the statement oil Sprlgg, inc
letters of DR.. Scolley, Dr. poIgaerty an" M. ntr
Semmes, The examination oil the testimony was
then resumed, by the recalling OF -,
DIR. ScolIeV-Who testified that his first knowl- |
edge of the affair after the ball, was on Saturday,
the "a of January; Swami and BaTrelI dinea WIZ
me at Cowton'sj MI. Swami ana oaite'l hau nn-
isnsd dinner and walked out; Ijoined them short
Iy after, when Swami said TO me, 'Spngg mas SPIT
n my facet turned to Barreh Tor exp!anatlon'
who said he had asked Sprgg what It meant wnen
Swami answered that 1t was inteIded LOT hhli
Swami then said if he could get friend TO carry
a challenge, he would challenge him TO fight him
with rifles at 10 PAGES; didn't see Swami again
for is minutes; Swami asked him to go with HIM
into Mr. 'rriberpS store, toget revolver; saw no
thing more of him till late in the evening OF mat
day; was at Belts store, Swami came III anu ~
took a seat, he said he had just seem VIM. y.
Sprigg, had an interview with him; when ne spoke
to S6TIge that as he called on him, Sprlgg drew
revolver; Swami said thatthiS was mol Inc proper
place 10 settle the difficulty Swami then invited
him to 90 either to the stable or No. D; Sprgg oO
iected to going mp stairs before him. lor lear
Swami would take advantage OF him; Swami as
ayowed cny such intention, and Offered 10 precede
him, which he did; he then stated that aitet they
got up stairs Sprigg began protestations o. inene
ship for his brother John Swami; that SPrigg ulu
this with tears in his eyes; that lie expressed re-
gret at splitting in Swann's face, aud that he De-
lieved Swami did not intent 10 insult him; thai
Sprigg had offered to give him written APP logy II
Swami would say verbally, that he du not lntenu
TO insult him. Swami then asked WITNESS II ne
did not think Sprigg had acted cowaGdly; didn't
see Swami until next day, at late hour oil Inc
night; he then informed me that he had challenged
Spripg 10 meet at the meadows, in Virginia, at IL
| O'Clock, and he asked me 10 lend nm my plSoS;
Swami said that he intended TO go 10 the GROUND
armed with double banelled gun and plstolSj II
Sprigg came with pistols only, he would throw A.
side his that he would endeavOr to draw SpTIgg'S
| fire, and if hesucceeded, would discharge his IN
| the air; that he would do so, not so much OIL ac-
count of Sprigg, as on account OF his regard Tor
Sprigg's sister and the family. He took the pis-
tolls and left my office-they were the od-taShloneu
lduelling pistols. Next him on the day oil pro-
posed meeting; came into my office about III o.
clock wrote a letter to Capt. Archer, requesting
him to have it mailed in case of accident 10 HIM
self, left his WATCH seals, &C., with request as
to their disposition in case OF his death; he lelt
shortly before IL o'clock, About o. clock hau
my horse sadded, Iode down opposite PerFy'S
meadows; saw Swami sitting ON the fence near
the orchard; Swami hailed him; about O'Clock
Swami came TO my office, | told him thought
there some misunderstanding; Swami thought
so too; he remarked that he didn't know how 10
proceed; that Sprgg had failed 10 give him salts
faction, &C., and that he Lad no lrend 10 give Nun
| advice. 49,
Witness said he wanted friend, he was willing
10 make an effort 10 bring the niatter 10 some Set
Element; asked him what he wanted trendto do;
said he wanted some one to go Sprgg and aSceE-
tain what he was willing to dos Swami sad that
he would be satisfied with full and unequEocal
apology. Having learned this, went IN search OF
Sprigg; went to DR. DoughertyS Office, and got him
to go in search of him; found him, and left DR..
DougheTty with him, 10 explain what wanted;
preceded them TO DR.. DougheTtyS Office. where he
was soon Joined by them. Told SprIgg wanted
10 see if The matter could moi be amlcaby settled
and if so, to report TO SWAIN. Then spoke oil The
insult offered to Swami OF the groSSeSt and most
degrading character; Sprgg replied that t e was
well aware of it, and was sorry for IT. that he had
been advised by :. ]. Ogle, of Pa, TO box hlsJaw
or spit in his face; regretted Swann's conduct al
ball, as he thought he had acted Ill childish man
ner. Sprigg said that on the evening previous lie
had met Swami; seeing him advance be drew his
revolver 10 meet him. informed swami that he bad
received his note, ard told him that any man who
would write such mole was no better than amid
night robber or assassin; Sprlgg SAID Swami want
ed to withdraw the challenge, and settle the mat
| ter between themselves amcably; parted soon al
ter with no understanding that there was to be
meeting on the meadows; he then turned to DR..
Dougherty, and SAID he would trust the matter IN
! his hands; he then left the Office, saying that he
reserved the tight Of signing rejecting such apol
right for Swami; DR.. D. drafted an apology, when
we proceeded 10 my Office where we found Swami
| and told him we had brought an apology, which l
wished him to examine and modify as he thought
| fit; Swami said it was not such an apology as he
would rece i've; he then drew up an apology hlm-
SELF which copied and handed 10 Dr. ID. 10 take
to Sprigg; DR.. d. returned it TO me on Tuesday
morning unsigned; took the paper and about
noon went 10 the offices of Mr.. Van Lear and MIR.
Simmes showed Mr.. SHINES the apologyi lie era
sed portion, and substituted another; met DR.. d.
afterwards, handed HIM the apology, and told him
it was modified by Mr.. SHINES; desired him 10 CO.
py il off and get Sprigg 10 sign II; DR.. ID. entered
my Office shortly alter with The apology unsigned,
sayin Sprigg objected to a certain clauSej Swami
was present; the clause was put i'll by Mr. Swami,
who objected TO having it struck out. DR. Dough
erty then wished me ocopy off as modified by Alr.
SHINES; that he thought he had influence enough
with Sprigg to get him 10 sign it. Swami remark
ed in presence Of DR.. D. that that apology must be
signed and no other; that unless signed within an
hour, he would walk up street, and Spngg must
defend himself. DR.. d took tine apology 10 Sprigs
and returned with it in less than an hour, signed,
without any alteration. handed the apology 10
Swami, and told him to remain as quiet as posi-
BILE, and bring 1t out in case of necessity. Swami
appeared pleased to receive tue apology Some
| one came in while This occurred, and said Spugs
was out on the corner, when Swami went out 10
him, and extended his hand to him. He after
wards commenced writing TO Sprigg, saying that
after receiving the apology he could explain mat
tiers with reference to the offence offered at thelas-
sembly, which he could not do before. Alter
wards Swami came to my Office, accompanied by
Judge Perry; Swami approached me and whisper
ed that Judge P. had accused him of acting COW
ardy. turned 10 the Judge and asked wherein
the cowardice was manifested. He took the apol-
ogy and pointed out the clause which had been OBJ
jected to by Mr.. Srrigg, but which Swami had IN
sisted on retaining. Judge P. expressed hunself|
satisfied. About week after, Swami told me he
thought of publishing the apology; advised him
not to do so. While Swami was absent at Hagers-
town, was advised by Mr. Sprgg that the apology
had been published, with note appended; Sprigg
was very angry, and used violent threats towerdS
Swami. On Sunday the Sth February saw Swami
in front of Cowton's hotel; afterwards learned OIL
difficulty in the bar-room, and asked why he had
not resented such language? his reply was, tina;
seeing Sprgg was angry, he had turned upon his
heel anu walked in TO dinner; next morning re-
ceived letter from Sprigg, asking me for state
of In. loo. Of