Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-12-11
To the Public,

Mr. W1lllam Robinson on the pavement IN RaielSh,
near Mr.. Turner's Bookstore, and caned him, and
otherwise punished him We both subsequently
appeared before tho Mayor and gave bond to appear
at the February term Of Wake County Court.
have no taste for statements disputes about such
matters, and was consequently disposed to make
no public alluson to the rencontre; but as the
inal senior Editor of the State Journal has given
totally false account of the affair in the last number
of that paper, justice to myself requires that l
should state the facts they appeared in evidence
before the Mayor, and as they will appear more
fully before the Court The State Journal says: s
"On Wednesday last, while our Assistant Editor,
Mr.. Robinson was standing on Fayetteville street.
examining paper in the hands of Hon. D. M. Bar.
ringer, Holden, of the Standard, advanced upon
him nearly from behind and wholly unobserved
and struck him over the head with heavy loaded
gold headed cane-remsrking he struck, "you
call me potroon, do your A second blow was
received upon sword cane held by Mr.. Robinson,
and then the belligerents closed. After struggle
OF some minutes, during which Mr.. Robinson drew
the sword from his cane and made effort to use
it on his assalant, they both fell together. They
were Immediately pulled apart. As soon as Mr..
Robinson regained his feet he tore loose from the
persons holding him and brought his cane down
with vim upon Holden's mead, making him bleed
profusely."
Now, it is not true that approached Mr. Robin
son NEARLY from behind, and wholly unobserved"
He was conversing with Mr.. Barringer, and both of
them were standing with their backs to the south,
with their faces slightly turned towards each ether.
while approached them from the north. As
approached and when within ten feet of Mr. Rob.
nson, gave him warning, BY the expression re-
peated above by the Journal Those who were
present at the examination Of the witnesses 3elore
the Mayor, will recollect that Mr.. Robinson endeav-
ored, after the examination was closed, to produce
tue impression that l had approached him and
struck him stated by the .Iour,al and they will
also recollcct that at once rose and stated | had
approached and struck him boldly, fairly, and
squarey, and that my statement not to be dis
puted. Neither Mr. Robinson nor his counsel made
any reply.
Nor IS it true that struck him with "a heavy
loaded god-headed cane" The cane, ills true, has
golden head, but it is not loaded Nor is it as
heavy as many canes which are worn The nom-
inal senior Editor speaks teslingiy the subject,
and imagines that the stick is much heavier than it
really is. 1t is the same with which once chas-
tsed him through all the meanderings around the
pillars in front Of the Marlborough House. in this
City.
Nor is it true that the struggle lasted "some
minutes" Mr.. Robinson made effort after effort to
stab ME with the sword-cane, but failed held his
| sword arm with one hand, and punished him with
| the other and | would have thrown him instantly
the point Of the sword cane might be turned up.
wards and run through me. !;
Nor is it true that We ''fel together" He fell
| before did, for was on top of him.
Nor is it true that as soon as Mr.. Robinson re-
gained his feet he tore loose from the persons hold
| ing him" and struck me with his cane. Mr. Bar
ringer testified before the Mayor that two minutes
elapsed between the time were separated and the
time he struck me with his cane; and another wit
ness testified that when he struck me was held by
at least two persons. My belief is that one had me
by the left arm, another by the right arm, and an.
other by the shoulders, sand think the evidence,
when fully brought out and sited, will show this,
though it is far from my purpose to reflect in tue
slightest degree on the witnesses who we're examin-
| ed. He advanced ten feet and struck me when
was powerless, looking him in the eye. The
friends who held me no doubt meant well, but it
was hard to be struck in manner so cowardly,
when l could not WELD finger in selEdefence. The
blow, it is true, slight one. 1t occasioned nd
jar but only broke the skin and the nature of the
wound, so greatly magnted by the senior nominal
Editor may be judged Of by the fact that it did no,
need to be. dressed and occasoned me no inconve
nience
have thus shown that there are at least five
palpable falsehoods in the above brief extract from
the Journal The writer knew them to be false
when he penned them, for he was present at the ex
animation and heard all the evidence But am moi
at all surprised at the account which the Journal
has given of the rencontre. expected If it noticed
it at a that it would misrepresent the whole affair
deliberately apd wilfuy; and the result has showr
that was not mistaken. My observation has con
vnced me that that paper will never tell the truth
whom falsehood will sait its purpose better.
tThe lntimation by the nominal senior Editor tha
am not under bond 10 keep the peace towards him
and that he is ready to fight me- is unworthy of no
tice, especially after what occurred iE front of th
Marlborough House, some time since.
In conclusion | beg leave to say that 10 man il
more averse than am to personal broils and con
ficts. have resided for the last twenty-five year
in Raleigh. during all Of which time have conduct
ed myself and been regarded as peaceable citizen
, But have been pursued for months by certain poll
ticians with the utmost malignity; and the nolnina
Editors of the State Journal have been instruments
and are now instruments IN the hands of these poll
ticians in their warfare against me. For month
that paper has teemed with the most bitter persona
abuse of my friends and myself We have been as
sailed as untrue TO the South, and as unworthy t
he trusted in the present crisis. The people hav
been called upon to put hdeous mark upon ou
!, brow" as persons whose wicked counsels kav
brought the "present sufferings upon the South
Indeed, this abuse has been so vile, and has bee
indulged in to such an extent by the State Jossna
that Mayor Root on the occasion of the examinato
referred to, distinctly intimated to Mr.. Robinso
that the course OF that paper had tended to dscoT
and breaches of the peace in this community, an
that Magistrate, even if be were not guilty
law of an affray. it would be his duty, on accour
alone Of the character Of the paper with which he
! connected associate Editor, to bind him to tt
peace. Mr.. Spelman was present. and heard tn
warning given by the Mayor. have paid but lit
attention to this abuse, aud, SO far as Mr. Robnso
is concerned, | have never even alluded to him.
know that can gain no credit by personal collision
especially with such persons as Mr.. Spelman and
Robinson, but trust my friends will pardon tt
sudden impulse under which l acted in chastisir
|. them. l intend to maintain my position firmly al
9 fearlessly, and to tear the mask from the faces
those who own and control the State Journal al
who, if not checked in their partizan conduct by
people themselves, will inaict great injury upon 4
character of the State. and divide and paralyze I
s public councils st a time when = common frc
> should be presented to our enemies.
=, F.-~.ss-.. w. W. HOLDEN.
n n Or