The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-08-05
For the Minnesotian.
PersonaY, Card.


"PersonaP' Card.
1t becomes my duty. owing to continued mis-
representations thrown daily before the public
to state, in brief, the facts of a personal alter
cation which took place between Mr.. Alexander
Wilkin and myself on Friday last l feel the
more compelled to do this, owing to the fact
that friend has informed me that Mr.. Wilkn
himself has stated about town, that he found
me sitting in chair and coming up, he struck
me ten or fifteen times-several times across
the face-and that never attempted to resent
his blows.
The facts are these: On Friday Of last week,
| was seated in q chair inside the drug store on
Third street, nearly opposite the Minnesotian
Office. The chair was placed some four or five
| feet within the line OF front entrance to the
store: was engaged in conversation with Dr..
David Day, who was in the back part of the es
tablishment, and my right shoulder was turned
quartering toward the side of the door nearest
the corner of Cedar street ! did not observe
from what direction Mr. Wilkin approached me,
but the first salutation with which he greeted
me, and caused me to recognize his presence
was "Mr. Owens Cd d--n you, you have
been abusing me in your paper" and with the
words he struck me across the shoulder with a
light rattan. l sprang at him, carrying the
heavy chair with met having attached itself
to the outside pocket of my coat-and confront
ing him, caught his right arm with my left
| hand, from beneath, about midway between the
\ r;cf nd olbou hn in tho Of nf
striking me second time. Grasping him by
| the left shoulder with my right hand. and con-
tinuing my hold upon his right arm, in this po-
sition | backed him across Third street, lie all
the while fiourishng his stick about my head
with all the muscular motion that was left in
the arm held. He was prevented from giving
further blows. and certainly never struck me
| in the face. Finally, held him firmly, SO that
he was unable to move an inch. do not, of
course, boast of this as feat of strength, but
state it as belonging to the history of the affair.
After we became stationary, DR.. Day ran out,
and declared that violence on either side should
progress no farther. My first thought was TO
slap the face of my assailant, and leave the
marks of disgrace upon his countenance which
he had in vain endeavored to impart to mine !;
but looking down upon hts diminutive figure,
(Which is no disgrace to him, so long as he de-
ports himself as man. said to him, Go.
would think it more honorable to strike wo-
man than you" He remarked that he was en-
tircly satisfied, and left.
! Having made this candid statement l leave
the public to judge as to which of us has suffer-
ed the most disgrace by the affair. l am will
ling that public opinion shall decide as to who
Their it would have been more honorable for a
man weighing one hundred and sixty pounds to
have mauled and disfgurcd his opponent of
only ninety five, avoirdupois, even under the
aggravated circumstances that existed, than to
have pursued the course did.
! 1t may not be improper to state, that Mr..
Wilkin has informed friend of mine, since the
assault, that he had a pistol in his pocket.
W hch he would have used if necessary, and
that he expected TO find me also thus armed.
Mr.. Wilkin is mistaken in his man. AT my mo.
Their S knee was taught that to carry murder
Gus weapons about my person was not only
wrong in the sight of morality and religion, but
was also an act of mcanncss, baseness and cow
ardice. Through life, l have endeavored to
practice upon this counsel and have yet to
deviate from it, save upon one or two occa-
sions, when the presence of knorn danger to
life demanded different course. l am aware
that Mr.. Wilkin thinks and acts differently from
me on this subject, which he has perfect right
to do but it is not probable at this time oflife,
that will change my course to accommodate
him or any one else. shall ccrtuinly never
carry murderous weapon with view of she'd
ding his blood under any contingency that can
possibly arise. Whenever he chooses to attack
me with any weapon whatever, be will find me
without knife, pistol, sword. gun or spear.
Iregret that have felt it my duty to trouble
my readers and the public With this statement ;
! but the torturing Of that which my friends and
myself considered an act of magnanimity into
an act of cowardice, seemed to render this
course necessary duty. I have now done
with the matter, trust forever.
j. z. OWENS.
St Paul, August l, 1854.