Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-28
From the American TEmss.
Trial of Robert Swami.
u.aERsrowN. Sent. 81. 1855.
rIrrEENTH DAY.

meet IS that Inc leSluO0y Will occupy Tue
week, and the argument be commenced on Mon
day, The evidence on the part Of the defense
was continued
James hand called.-on the 9th of January,
after tea, at Heffelfnger's hotel, Sprigg, and
asked Lin about the difficulty between him and
Swami; he said he was dancing with his sister,
aunt and two strange ladies'; Swami Ill dancing,
turned one of the ladies; Sprigg told him he
was wrong; Swami said, tNo Will, am all right
and turned another lady; Sprigg told him II he
made another step he would knock him down.
Swami then stopped; after.the dance, Swann was
going around the room laughing and talking TO the
ladies; Sprigg told witness that Swami said he
could not apologize to Sprigg, but could TO the la
dies; said he had given Swami time to apologize,
and was determined 10 insult him; that he had
walked down street, used sumo insulting language
and then spit IN his face; said he had understood
Swami had armed himself, and was waiting i'll the
barber shop below, to see him pass, asto shoot
him through the window? that he wasn't afraid OF
him Tor he was too did coward to shoot any
body; Sprigg said the report was correct that
Swami he'd met his sister on the street, and told
her he was IN search oil Ler brother WILL 10 XIII
HIM, as he had spit in his face.
She said lift had been anybody but Swami, she
would have hau him arrested; Sprigg said Swami
had called OH him ut one of the hotels; and SAID
to him, will, want this matter Settled;' Sprigg
put his hal in his breast pocket and either drew
a weapon, or was about to do so, aud said, Il am
prepared 10 do so any minute and said draw
Swami threw up both arms and SAID Not in that
way, wish it settled amIcabfy.' Witness then
asked him how the matter stoodt Sprgg SAID lie
had apolugized TO Swami, and said Il am all right,
and Swami may wipe the spit out of his face the
best he cam The next conversation WINS be-
tween witness and Swami, on the 4tlI of Februa-
~, the day Swami came IN the cars on rs way 10
HagerStOwn; saw him in mail car, when Stoddard
said to him, show J im one of those apologies
Swami did so; had often spoke of Swami in Baltl-
more and elsewhere as coward, and wished an
apology 10 show his friends, and correct himself
N,1l ,tokN
had to d HIM, and that from his story he had SAID
he was q coward; Swami told him another story;
that the matter settled and he was glad oil 1t:
that Sprgg had said many hard Things against him
but he forgave him; that if Sprigg had met him
when he called him out, he would have rather
had Sprigg kill him than he should kill SprIgg; that
Ae had eaten at his fathers table, slept III his bed
and had great respect for the family; that ls SIS
ter was his friend and conhdant; lie respected her
rs sister, and how could he do OtLerwiSe?-
Sprigs's story had induced me not TO speak 10
Swami pr, vious TO this conversation, because
supposed him TO be coward. Sprlsg was consul
cred very hot headed and quarreSome; as man
who would, in quarrel, use anything lie got III
his hand. He was quick TO receive an injury, and
quick to resent it, and took offence at trtlng eau
Ses often before he gave himself time to reflect
whether he had cause or not.
], P. Roman, recalled-Wasin Cumberland at
the. Assembly; next Wednesday night l saw Mr..
Wood on the corner. Next Wednesday was on
way to New York. Swami told me- 10 act as his
! IF end, told him could not, that mans own ma
ture ought to suggest the remedy; that he did not
want any friends, and suggested 10 him the case OF
Ritcnie an. PleaSantSj told HIM lie couldn't COM
mel Sprigg 10 fight him duel-that he had spit i'll
| his face and degraded him, and would refuse to
fight him, compelling his friend to fight for him.
Swami thanked me for the suggestion and left
Thought il would be better 10 20 out and fight as
proposed, than to have street broil; would have
acted as Swann's friend in bringing about the set
| Element, but thought there could be no atOnement
| for the indignity.
| Henry H. Ainsworth recalled-Heard OF the chal-
lenge; went 10 the Mayor Office, who said ought
10 arrest them; told him cOudM't do il, unleSSaf-
hdavit were made; Saw Sprigg, spoke TO him about
the challenge, and that was going to have them
both taken up; he said, don't do that, I'm about
TO settle it, said he wouldn't have spit in Swunn'S
face, but lie was advised to do by friend; il he
had it 10 do over, he would not do it, but would
kick his id a; said it WINS id dirty trick to
spit in a mans faces had heard nothing for day
| or two. Sprgg came down street and said to wit
ness: Il have settled that natter Some one saw
a button hole of his Overcoat torn, and asked him
| il Swami had shot that! Sprigg flushed up and
said, 'No. he is too Id q coward TO shoot al any
thing Sprigg said he had received KIND oil chal-
lrnge, left for him in bar-room; spoke OF going 10
Perry's meadows; said he wasn't id fool enough
t. do that; that Swami might shoot him before he
got on the meadows; SAID he didn't fight duelS i'll
that way; il he had sent friend 10 him, he could
choose his own weapons, said he wished he had
Seit ' nc ~ ' I;a ~, ~ e;,, -, 49, r., 10
renu. lot ne oeheVeo leIluS iau nlotI ~ . So
with 1t than Swami. oP'lgg sa1e ne 'H"uen! t"e
insult at the oeil was an oia atiaiL. saw nm
lew evenings aiet; was IN Inc oyster mouse, Wnc"
opfSs came IN: All N.lne IaiH 10 'I ',Um
ey, youu Si' III NY 'ucG' ~ IaSS ,. you
you would do, but Bob swami is TOO ID cow
ara 10 oti1s anyooay 10 tne scLa ;c a. ~; was al
TEL ne SAID sne mater was Se.eu. I'm G 15 HMns
gay before oPLIss ueh'h' saw H', ~ III Eowto
Motel; ne was very angry anu s''u en1l 1t1
nuT %S 10 oe o,n IT, 70 DS% TiD ~,
ar anu co"a,u' u'iu ~" n eot'is ~ nun "
the world saw MN Afterwards on .ie same eve
mug, MEsm SPIES uSeu tue sumo
oT %I , oMaHn t1o-,,c Iu,r.L;r,., ,,,,,
ne - ,aT, ~ a,aI;n ~"
n S "a' @ - 49,
oilS WIN opIEg, a"I ~
language anu tnte"lS' aS ue'"'le" W MI wines