Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-07

otherwise punished him. We both subsequently,
appeared before the 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 renconrc but as the non-
ina senior Editor of the State Journal has given a
totally false account of the affair in the last number
of that paper, justice TO myself requires that
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:
"On Wednesday last, while our Assistant Editor,
Mr.. Robinson, standing Fayetteville street,
examining paper in the hands of Hon. ID. NJ. Bar
ringer, Holden, of the StaRda,d, advanced upon
him nearly from behind, and wholly unobserved,
and struck him over the head with heavy loaded
gold headed cane-remarklnS as he struck "you
call me poltroon do your \ second blow was
received upon q sword cane held by Mr.. Robinson,
and then the belligerents closed. After struggle
oil some minutes, during which Mr.. Robinson drew
the sword from his and made an effort to use
it on his assaant, 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"
lie 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 L approached them from the north As
approached and when within ten feet of Mr. Rob.
inson, gave him warning, by the expression re-
peated above by the Journal Those who were
present at the examination of the witnesses before
the Mayor will recollcct that Mr. Robinson endeav-
ored, after the examination closed, to produce
the impression that | had approached him and
struck him as stated by the Journal; and they will
also recolect that at once rose and stated had
approached and struck him boldly fairly and
squarely, and that my statement not to be dis
Puted. Neither Mr.. Robinson nor his counsel made
any reply;
loaded gold,heade cane" The cane, it is true, has
golden head, but it is not loaded Nor is it as
heavy many canes which worn. The nom-
inal senior Editor speaks ttelugLy on the subject
and inagineS that the stick is much heavier than it
really is. 1t is the same with which | once chas-
tised him through all the meanieringS 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
but for the apprehension that, in falling OIL him,
the point Of the sword cane might be turned up
wards and run through me.
Nor is it true that fell 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 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; aud another wit
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 10y the shouders,-and think the evidence
when full brought out and sifed, will show this
fnrF a..
slightest degree the witnesses who were examin-
ed lie advanced ten feet and struck ME when
was powcrless, | looking him in the eye The
friends who held me no doubt meant we'll but it
was hard to be struck in manner SO cowardly,
when could not weld finger in self-defence. The
blow, it is true was slight 1t occasioned no
jar but only broke the skin; and the nature of the
wound, so greatly magnitied by the senior nominal
Editor may be judged Of by the fact that it did not
| need to be dressed, and occasioned ne no nconve-
nence.
! have thus shown that there are at least five
palpabc faSchoodS in the above brief extract from
the Journal The writer knew them to be false
when he penncd them for he was present at the en-
animation and heard all the evidence But am not
at all surprised at the account which the ,IOurRaL
has given Of the rencontrc. expected If it noticed
1t at all that 1t would miSrcprcsent the whole affair
deliberately and wiliuly; aud the result has shown
! that was not mistaken. Ny observation has con-
u
when a lalsehood will suit its purpose better.
! The lntination by the nominal senior Editor that
am not under bond to keep the peace towards him,
and that lie is ready to fight me- is unworthy of no.
tlce, especially after what occurred III front of the
| Marlborough House, some time since.
! In conclusion, beg leave to say that is
more averSe than am to personal broils and CON-
f'cts have resided for the last twenty five years
in Raleigh, during all Of which time have conduct
ell myself and been regarded peaceable citizen.
But have been pursued for months by certain poll
ticians with the utmost malignty; and the nominal
Editors of the State JOUraHi have been instruments
and instruments IN the hands of these poll
| ticianS in their warfare against me. For months
that paper has ecmed with the most bitter personal
abuse OF my friends and myself We have ocen as
sailed as untrue to the South, and as unworthy to
! be trusted in the present crisis. The people have
! been called upon to put " hideouS mark upon our
| brow, as persons whose wicked counseS" have
brought the present sufferings" upon the South
| Indeed, this abuse has been SO vile, and has been
INDUCED in to such extent by the State Journal
that Mayor Root, on the occasion of the examination
referred to, distinctly intimated to Mr.. Robinson
that the course of that paper had tended to dscord
and breaches of the peace in this community, and
that as Magistrate even if he not guilty in
law of an atfray it would be his duty, on account
alone of the character of the paper with which he is
| connected as associate Editor, to bind him to the
peace. Mr.. Spelman present and heard this
warning given by the Mayor. have paid but little
attention to this abuse, and so far Mr.. Robinson
is concerned, | have never even alluded to him.
know that can gain no credit by personal collisions
especially with such persons as Mr.. Speman and Mr.
! Robinson, but | trust my friends Will pardon thC
sudden impulse under which | acted in chastiSinG
them. intend to maintain my position firmly anC
iearleSSly, and to tear the mask from the faces o
those who owr and control the State Journal ant
Who if not checked in their partizan conduct by thu
people themselves, will nlict great injury upon the
character of the State and divide and paralyze thu
public councils at time when common frcn
should be presented to our enemies
w. w. HOLDEN.
Raleigh, Dec. g. 1861