Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-08-02

tenor Of the message" the words sand the cir
cumstances under which it was sent sent" This
did by way Of elucidation, and proceeded tC
make an explanation to him of what those cir
cumstances We're, viz after having been SO often
and 50 cordially invited to his house, to have
sent this message without specifying any other
reason for so doing, than that my visits were
dsagreeable and annoying; thus leaving me
without opportunity Of vindicating my conduct
and character from the implied impntation cast
upon them, and was, in justice to myself,
compelled to return the message before men
toned.
During this interview; Dir. Petit stated that
he did know what Dr. Selser thought of the
message as delivered to him on day previous,
whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied At the
same interview, in answer to some specific in
quiries, | told DR.. Petit, that under the cir
cumstances, should be compelled to pass the
ladies' Of the family without recognition when
ever l should meet them, which he argued was
my right and duty, and that this would be ex-
pected of me; but that in regard to DR.. Selser,
| if he chose, after the message | sent, to salute
me when we next met, should return the salu-
ton, but that my intercourse with him hereafter
must be Ct ;taut. allel want y, further
more, to say to DR.. Selser that l shall seek no
difficulty with him, that | wish the matter to
rest (where my message will have placed it, in
peace. repeated 81 shall seek no difficulty
with DR.. Selser, but shall avoid none if forced
upon me. IF he chooses still to agitate this
| affair, and attacks me- or approaches me in a
hostile manner, | shall, of course defend myself
at any moment"
These statements were made to Petit in re-
spouse to inquiries made by him, and to be con-
veyed to Selser as understood between us.
In, T no
of Dr. Petit, and remembering his having said
he di! not know whether DR.. Scissors feelings
were those of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, |
| thought it we'll to be prepared against attack,
and accordingly applied to G. E. Hutchinson to
borrow pistol, and he presented me pistol
and knife [ placed the pistol and knife Dor
rowcd from Hutchinson, on the mantlepece Of
my room and being called to visit patient in
the country left the weapons there, and only
placed in one of my pockets small dirk owned
by myself, in order not to be entirely defenceless
in case of any hostile attack upon me- re-
turned from my visit to the country after dark,
and proceeded to attend an Ethiopian serenade
in boat at the river landing, having. only, the
small dirk aforesaid, and leaving the knife and
pistol borrowed from Hutchinson, on the mantle
piece where had placed them. | saw on the
boat at the concert, DR.. Selser and family, Dr.
Petit, Mr.. Vernon, Mr. Bedford and W. De-
Griffin. Vernon, Griffin and Petit appeared to
have accompanied ladies.
/ I concluded Of course, seeing them together
that my message had been delivered. At the
conclusion of the concert, left the boat and
went into canvass tent on the bank, near by
to see some human curiosites there exhibited.
Whilst there, William Raws came to me and
s!apping me on the shoulder said, rsBeall, by
~ TO hat ofro
replied to Rawls 81 believe generally do that"
he said 'that's right by Cd, stand your
ground repeating this expression twiceo three
times over, and adding edo not let them run
you off"
While in the tent saw DeGrifin-not then
accompanying any lady. After [ had come out
of the tent which was some ten or fifteen minutes
after the end of the concert and while on my
way home, but at very short distance from the
tent, passed DR.. Selser, on his right, after
passed some few steps he called to me- 'Dr..
Beall." said "Well, Sir" turning round. He
said, Il have received a message from you, and
want to know what you mean by it. !" "The
message communicated by Dr. Petit 2" He
said. eyes," and as he uttered the word he
winked at some one just behind me and a little
to my right, at the same time working his right
hand under the waistband of his pants, as if
feeling for weapon, the other hand resting up
on his hip, little postcriory.
The wink, the motion, the position of his
hands, all of which were distinctly visible to me-
as the moon was shining brightly, and we were
very near each other, the warning of Raws ut
tered in the tent, all impressed me with the con-
viction that my life was in imminent danger.
After the enuncation of the word eyes" by
DR.. Selser just alluded to, said "what was the
purport of the message communicated by Dr..
Petit" To this he made no reply, but winked
again and worked his right hand at his side n1re
industrously. I then drew the dirk from my
pantaloons pocket, and struck at him; we cliq ch-
ed, and during the collision he caught me arohnd
the neck, uttering with anger and intense empha
sis the words ''God damn YOU" During the
struggle he exclaimed: "He has got knife"
Surprised at the remark, as indicating that he
did not have a knife himself, 1 instantly drop
ped my hand to my side and exclaimed "Hav mt
you knife too ?" In few moments, seeing
him lettering, extended my left arm to prevent
his falling.
Immediately was forced to leave this posi-
ton, by w. DeGriffin rushing upon me with
knife in his hand, exclaiming: ''He has killed
my friend, by God, and l will kill him. See
ing him with the knife in his hand, l said to
him, ego away, don't want to hurt you" He
rushed upon me, however, and struck at me
several times, do not know how often, with
the knife. was wounded severely in the back,
and my clothes cut in several places during the
conflict. I, Of course, had no alternative when
Griffin rushed upon me with the knife, but to
use the dirk in self-defence. l turned away
from the spot to go towards my house, near by.
and having gone but short distance, l heard
Vernon cry out, "Clear the track gentlemen I'll
shoot him I'll shoot himH' Having no other
weapon than the small dirk knife which / had
just used, and being bel pless against firearms,
/ hurried to the tavern, few steps further off,
aud asked for shotgun to defend myself against
my pursuer. That was not to be had, nor
pistol, and fastened by the nearest way through
the tavern and tavern yard, to my house to get
the pistol and knife which l had left on my
mantlepiece.. With these weapons I stepped
out in front of my house to defend myself should
Vernon and others call at my house to seek me.
as confidently expected they would. stood
there but a few minutes when Ed. Matthews,
constable, passed by. hailed him by name,
and voluntarily surrendered myself, and deliver
IL 4