The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-18

req 20, and witness was asked ii he did not
ahucipate hostile meeting. He declared
ne anticipated no serious difficulty. Did not
propose to accompany B., because he appre-
nended difficulty Il difficulty was be-
tween B. and e. only, B. could take care ct
himself The intention of witness, In case
anything serious should occur, was to sepa-
rate the parties. He supposed. however
words OF explanation would ensue, and the
matter end there. By counsel: If that event
did not happen. did you not conclude that it
was prudent for Mr.. Blackburn to have
Iriendsf Witness preferred not to answer,
ana the interrogatory was not pressed
Witness remained at the hotel, awaiting
the interview between the parties as the
friend of Blackburn, but not the enemy
OF Christian. Being asked If it was not
his intention, in leaving the Institute, to at.
tend b. in any emergency? he responded
that he expected, as soon as Black burn in
formed Christian that he was the calumnia.
tor, an alteration would ensue, when he
meant to prevent injury to either Counsel
protesting not to doubt this, asked if the re-
lations between witness and Black burn were
not more intimate than between him and
Christian? To this question, witness except
ed; but finally answered in the affirmative.
Witness considered the act of Black burn
that of brave and honest man. Christian
had asked of Miss Anderson the name of the
calumniator and B. was bound to present
himself, in Justice to both himself and Chris
tian, and in duty to his relation.
Witness stated that he had informed Black
burn, on the way to Lexington, that Christian
would fight, and he admitted that he said on
the trial before the Examining Court, that
the only draw back to fight between b. and
c. at the meeting, would be the difficulty of
convincing G. that he was insulted. Counsel
desired to know how the idea of C.s courage
could be reconciled with that of the necessi-
ty of convincing him that he was insulted!-
Was his intellect so obtuse as not to enable
him to discern insults as other gentlemen?-
Witness answered that that was his opinion.
The following passages in the testimony of
Cadet HoRNER, given in at the Examining
Court, were read to him and adopted by
him TAr fEasTYfE7 N3p e 4tkSfHlI
81 knew that Blackburn intended to tell Mr..
Christian that he was the caumniator complained
OF in the note to the lady. He came to Lexington
for that purpose knew that if Christian resent
the communication made by Blackburn. he would
strike him; it was my belief that c. would strike
him as soon as he told him he was the calumnia-
tor, that he would resent it in some other way
either that he would have struck him or sent him
challenge. believe that Mr.. B. expected that
MIR. c.. in reply to his communication as above
would eth er strike or challenge him.
81 believe that Blackburn came to Lexington
with the expectation and purpose to put to Chris
tian, by his communication, either to act the CO.
ward or the man OF courage. He knew that as
soon as he avowed himself the caumniator, c.
would feel himself insulted and be obliged to DO
one or the other. do not know whether B. anti
cipated the course G. would take. If he had chal.
ienged B. he would certainly from what know of
his character have accepted ii. From all that
passed before we got to Lexington on the 18th,
know that Mr.. B. cameto Lexington with hostile
purpose. sfs.b c.-jrH
Before Blackburn's communication to me after
the interview with c. Ibid not know what course
he thought c. would pursue. knew then from the
own words, that B. had expected him TO cover
before him and showthe white feather. When B.
came back and said what he had done had SEN
timent of reyulsion towards Christian as of dis
graced man, and that would have been the estimate
Of all honorable gentlemen about the place. In my
opinion. ~
.sBefore BIS communication to after the IN.
terview, had really believed Mr.. c. man of
courage, from circumstances had Witnessed
After his communication regarded him disgrac.
ed man." aa s3.i I.s=i8 s-z-1f'>i
The cross examination was further continued:
Witness was informed that at the Examin-
ing Court in stating the substance of B. re-
port of the conversation between him and
Christian, he had added to what he had re.
peated here to-day, Hthat he Black kburn)
"took pity on him, and said no more" He
did not remember; but as the Court was held
soon after the tragedy, If he said it then, he
adhered to it now.
When witness said he knew if Christian
resented the insult, B. would strike he meant
not with a weapon; but with blows.
Had never befriended B. in difficulty; but
had seen him in three difficulties-ence in q
fight with man one third larger than him
self He fought fair; did not resort to rocks
or weapons of any kind, and got the worst of
it. One Iof the three difficulties was not a
fight with COW droyer. B. was not impe-
rious and naughty; he was very popular
among tbs cadets, and liked by every one. =
Witness confessed that he considered the
failure of Christian to resent the insult as
degrading to his reputation for courage and
calculated to blast it forever.
Witness had never been asked to contri
butte money towards this prosecution. This
subject brought out Col. Smith, whose testi
mony will be found below. .,9t HI
BIZ the PrOsecutioR.-Never heard Black
burn say anything about the difficulty after
Saturday night BIS purpose was to assume
the responsibility for the communication to
Miss Anderson. Witness went with him not
with any hostile intentions himself for he
left to Black burn to act as he thought proper
in that matter. He had no idea that b. doubt
ed the courage of c.. until after the meeting
The honor OF both B. and e. required that B.
should make the communication to G. that
he did, b. could not have acquitted himself
honorably by remaining in the dark, after he
knew LlaL his uAluc udu Occu ucilauucu
During the examination of Cadet Horner,
the letters were brought out. One from Miss
Anderson simply declining to go with Chris
tian to church, and the letter of c., which
has been SO much referred to in the testimo-
ny. We give this letter because it is SO in
terwoven withthe testimony that it cannot be
well omitted: IT, = es sisa3s- 81
LEXINGTON, December 30th.
Being induced by my exalted opinion Of your re-
ined feelings, TO believe chat you would not wan.
tonly, wound the feelings Of any gentleman and
being the unhsppy victim of your maltreatment l
must conclude that you had an apparent cause
And failing in my attempted interview with you on
that evening, deemed II necessary in justice my
reputation gentleman to find out the mysteries
Of the matter, and to clear my skirts Of all mputa-
tons Incompatible with the character OF gentle
man, and the strict rules of courtesy. Then l ask
Il of you as last favor to tell If any there be- the
causes that actuated You to do so Iiberal act
And If there be calumniator, 20 base, 30 envious
a. (with bis own vile fabrications) to break the
friendship heretofore existing between N, do tell
me, and viii bring the culprit to justice aud prove
to you and the world that aw inaocsnf and that
such deed Is beneath the dignity of those princi.
pies of honor that it was the care of my aged pa.