Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-01
Distressing Affair in Baltimore.

An unfortunate occurrence transplred last
evening at the Old City Hall The facts, AZ
we learn them from Mr. Hanna, reporter
on the sun, who is a party to the affair, are
10 this effect That he entered the station
house, and found assembled there some tif
teen or twenty persons, among whom was
VIM McPhail. esq, acting mayor, and ap'
preaching Mr.. llarcourt, the telegraph ope.
rator at the station, he asked if there was
any news.
Being answered that there was nothing
of note, he asked loosely, what is this,
political gathering" to which Mr.. liar.
court responded angrily, bidding Mr. Hanna
not to joke with him. or something to that
effect, at the same time drawing a single
barrel pistol, and presenting it at Hanna,
upon which Hanna drew revolver, and
with it struck Ilarcourt's pistol. At the
same instant. larcourt grasped llanna's pis,
tul, and, cooking 1t, presented 1t at Hanna,
who retreated within the inner room. I'M
mediately thereafter he heard cry Of don't
shoot, and the report Of pistol, and learn
ing that Mr.. McPhail was shot, in the excite
ment which ensued, at the suggestion of some
one present, he withdrew.
On the other hand, it is stated by some
who were present, that when Mr.. Hanna
came in, Iiarcourt said to him, "Where did
YOU get such fine clothes?' to which Hanna
angrlly responded, do you mean to insult
me?' and drew single barreled pistol,
which llarcourt took from him; that he then
drew revolver, when a Scuile ensued, and
in the struggle between the two, the pistol
md ia, Int .trn,iy NJ N,Dha,l
1t was Immediately ascertained that the
unfortunate gentleman was seriously wound
ed, the ball having struck the upper portion
of the thigh, and passing entirely through.
The nervous system was for some time great
ly Frustrated, but in the course Of an hour
u reaction took place, and consciousness was
restored, the natural warmth also returning.
Upon recovering sufficiently to converse, Mr..
McPhail stated that the shooting him WAS en-
tlrely accidental.
At half past o'clock this morning, we
learn that Mr.. McPhail is comparatively
easy; the physicians in attendance had stop
ped the hemorrhage from the wound, and it
was hoped that the temoral artery was un-
touched. Anodynes had been administered,
and he seemed likely To fall into sleep. Bali.
Sun, Of yesterday.
A Common Scold on Trial in South Carolina.
The Anderson Is. CO. Gazette. in its re-
ports on the fall term of Anderson Court,
says
1.-The most interesting case was the State
against Nancy Stevenson As the public
are aware, this was an indictment against
the defendant "A n Common sruli true
bill was found against defendant last March
term Of court and was tray ersed. The case
was called for trial on Wednesday last, Hon.
Il. Munro presiding, Solicitor Reed represent
ing the State, and Messrs. Orr and Mar
shall appearing for the defendant.
The case being called, Mr.. Orr made
motion to quash the indictment, on the
ground that 1t was not an indctable offence
in South Carolina lie made brief but
able argument in support Of his motion, sus-
tanning himself by reference to the case of
Commonwealth at. Samantha Hutchinson
which was tried in the sixth judicial district
Of Pennsylvania, and found in the American
Law Register, p. ll3. The defendant in
that case was discharged on the ground
that the offence of common scolding is not
indlctable as a crime in Pennsylvania Mr..
Reed read from the books much law to sus-
tain the Indictment After argument pro
and ron. the following order was passed:
"On hearing the motion in this case it
is ordered that the indictment be quashed,
ON the ground that it is not an indictable
offence, that portion Of the common law re-
lating to this offence, being obsolete in South
Carolina"