The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-10-09
Fatal Duel.

On the 10Th ult. the editor Of the Charles
ton Mercury, WILLIAM X. TABEn, jr., was
killed in duel, in the third Gre, with Epw ARD
MAoRAru. Esq The Mercury Of n late date
contains the following notice Of the event
1T e our duty to announce the death o.
William r. Taber, jr., one Of the editors Of
this paper. who fell yesterday afternoon, at the
thirl fire, in a duel with Edward Magrath
Esq, in consequence Of the peremptory chal
lengc OF the latter for the publication OF al
legged offensive matter in this paper, the author
OF which was not called for The commun
cations complained OF had reference TO the can
didacy for Congress Of Hon. A. q. MAGRAru
1t is not now that we are called upon to pur
sue the merits OF the question involved. In
the presence Of death. the death Of one who
has been intimately associated with US Tor year:
and who breathed as true heart as ever beat
on the soil OF Carolina, We bow our heads in
sorrow and in suffering, and pass by all corsid
erations Of party conflict, in the sense that VT
have lost friend, true aud tried, and brother
in the hard duties that make up our connection
with the public life. 1t will not be easy to
find drawer and more sefsacrtcing spirit
il will not be often that the community will he
called upon TO mourn over the extinction OF d
more brillian, and generous intellect"
II seems that these parties had no cause o
complaint against each other, and no quarr
between them, hut they fought as proxies fol
relatives.
Some communications rejecting on the char
acter Of Junge MaGRArH appeared in Ia,
Mrcurg OF which Mr. TaBER was e,litor, sup
posed TO have been written by Ex-senator
RnErr who is an uncle Of the latter A
brother Of Judge M,GR,rh, therefore. took
up the quarrel and sent Mr.. TssgR p-remp
tory challenge to mortal combat il being in
consistent with Mr.. RHETrs christian prnc
pies he is member of the church 10 fight a
duel SO. neither Of the main parties engaged
in the quarrel were conecr, Ell in the duel rs
Judges are not permitted by the laws Of the
State to fight duels in dcieuce OF their own
honnr.
The meeting took place the editor fell but
the accusatlons against the character OF the
Judge do not appear to I've in any degree d.
ninished by the bloody sacrifice which the code
Of honor demanded.
Mr.. T,sTR was gentleman OF remarkable
personal Accomplishments, extremely agreeable
lu bis manners, tall, wellproportoneJ aud gen
tlemanly looking. lie was about thirty years
OF age, and leavesa widow and family Of young
children lie was born aud educated in South
Carolina but his father was u native Of Con.
necticut. lie had been spoken of as candi,
date for Congress. to ill the vacancy caused by
the resignation Of Mr.. AIKEN.
The articles deemed offensive reflected on
the fitness Of Hon. a. G.. MAGRArH a. a can
didate for Congress. lie has since withdrawn
his name since the duel EpwN RHrrr, IT,,
has challenged MAGRAru. In regard to the
challenge, the latter replies tina, he viii follow
the dictates Of his own sense OF prOpriety. I,
is to be hop,d that he viii decline IT, One
victim Should b. enough to satisfy the demands
OF the bloody code. In our opinion. ii is oue
too many.