Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-09-30
Mr.. WatterStOM's Attack ON
Saml. Matthews.

Below we give the statement Of Mr.. Matt
thews relative to the assault made upon him
by Mr.. G. w. Watterston, on Monday night
last, and which naturally created considerable
excitement in this community unfavorabIe to
the asSailant:
PLAQUEMINE, Sept. 90, 1859.
Mr.. Editor: Ii is we'll that the public should
be informed of the cowardIy attack made upon
me last night by Geo. w. Watterston.
Whilst was sitting at my supper table af-
ter dark, with my family, heard a rap at my
door. | Immediately arose, took the candle
from The table, carried it into the parIor, and
walked out on my front gallery. there saw
three men. One Of them advanced so that the
light from the door fell upon him, and | recog-
Missed Mr.. Thomas Barker, Of Baton Rouge,
who called me by name and said Judge Watts
terston Mr. Matthews" | invited them in the
house. Judge Watterston said, ! have come
for a personal explanation and cannot enter
your house. | have been informed by my
friend there, (pointing to the third man, whom
| lid not then recognise,) that you have been
making remarks derogatory to my character as
a judicial officer. ! told him | had heard things
prejudicial TO his character as a Judge, coming
from his'neighbor, Joseph K. Davidson Of LiV'
ingston Parish, and had repeated them. He
asked what they were? | replied that | had
some business before him as Judge, concern
ing the settlement Of Geo. McMichaeIs success
sion, and had occasion to petition for an %injunc~
ton TO stay the sale Of some property-that he
refused the injunction on my petition, and that
| had written second one for the same pur-
pose and sent it to Jos. K. Davidson to present
| to him, and that he refused the injunction a
second time-and that Davidson had said that
he, WatterstOn, made this proposition to him
"if you will employ Henry Duncan in this bu-
%siness, ! will grant that injunction" Henry
| Duncan was Watierston's brother-inalaW.--
He said, Davidson is a id liar, and your
clients purjured themselves in that business
| asked him if he meant to say that VIM. Sharp
puriured himself. He said yes!-and | told
him she was a God id liar" He then
struck me with his stick over the eye, and | res
turned the blow with my fist and foored him
then wrenehed the stick from his hands and
think struck him only one blow with ii, when
| was violently pulled away by some persons
| unknown 10 me, as there were four or five per-
sons besides the combatants OIL the gallery by
this time.
The valiant Judge then told me to get my
pistol. Remarked had none ard could not ea.
silly get one at that hour Of the night. He
then went into the street and bawled out,
'now | am out Of your house, come out"
then thought Of my gun,--and ran up stairs
and loaded it as quick as Tcould, and ran down
again, but the Judge was nowhere visible.
This morning ] called at BisselI's tavern and
told the Judge if he wished 10 renew his attack
that / was there ready for him. He said he did
not, but wanted to express his regret for ats
lacking me at my house III the manner he did
and also to retract the offensive language used
in reference to Sharp; that he knew him to be
a man ofhonor, and that what he had said was
not so. ] replied--"It told you you were add
liar when you said so--and will tell any.
body so who uses such language in reference
to him."
He said he intended sending me a note by
his friend containing these regrets and re-
fractions, and intended to instruct him to say to
me that if / was not satisfied he would give
me a private meeting in any manner / might
choose.
said ! cannot accept a challenge from you
until you clear up this chargeof Davidson's--
for until that is done, / can never look upon
you as q gentleman.
SAMUEL MATTHEW'S.