The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-13

The DUELLING Hoax BEFORE THE
COUNTY MAGlsTRATEs.-H. C. Wall and
. ID. c. Mayo We're examined on yesterday
! morning before Justices Nettles and
| Thomas on the charge of being engaged in
a duel in Rockets old field. Prior to the
! examination of witnesses, Mr.. J. Harmcr
Gilmcr, Jr., counsel for the accused, asked
upon what charge the parties were arrest
! ed. The warrant was then read to him.
1t read as follows: For as much as l.,
William L. Wade, justice of said (licn-
rico) county, have good reason 10 suspect
that II. c. Wall and ID. c. Mayo did, on
the 1th day OF July, 1866, engage in duel
by firing at one another with pistols or
other firearms, therefore, in the name of
the Commonwealth" etc.
The counsel then read the law upon
dazzling, and called the attention Of the
court to the fact that lsnoliy ,ceapons were
necessary 10 constitute duel in the eyes
of the law.
From the evidence the following facts
were elected: 4 party Of gentlemen,
friends Of Mr.. Wall, made arrangements
among themselves to play practical joke
upon him; and with this intention sent a
mock challenge to him from Mr.. Mayo.
Accordingly the parties met in field
near Rockets, with everything apparently
in readiness for bloody work. There were
the deadly weapons, loaded with the
deadliest powder; a case Of obStetrlcal i'll
strumcnts, which were handled by Il
would-be surgeon in the most professional
manner and the seconds, with faces the
very pictures of solemnity, were engaged,
| in the gravcst and most busincss-like man
ner, in arranging the preliminaries. At
length, when all was in readiness, the par
ties took their position. Mayo was of
course the model Of courage, and Wall, to
the discontinue of those who thought TO
have II splendid joke, buttoncd his coat
with great coolneSs, and stood erect with
his pistol in hand with as much nonchatdnce
as if nc were getting ready TO go out on
drill. lie had gricvously received an inti-
nation as to what was up, and having an
idea that the whole affair was nothing
more than joke, determined to have the
Joke as much on his side as on the
other. The word was passed: Ge"-
Heaea, are you ready? FIRE, One,
t,co, three" Bang! bang went the
pistols: and although Wall heard no
bullet whistle past his head, his adversary
reeled, and fell, gasping, "Help, kynde
Heaven, or | die" He was soon weltering
in blood, for as his coat was torn open, his
shirt-bosom was disclosed, soaked in gore.
The blood, however, was Of a peculiar
color-akin to the red with which Messrs.
Mayo s Hodges brand their tobacco bales.
The surgeon Immediately brought up his
case Of obstetrical instruments, and seemed
anxious to operate at once. Up to this
time the conduct ofthe NJ. d. $50 called")
had been in the highest manner profess
sional, but the instruments seemed to puz-
zle him. He held one in his hand, and
seemed at loss as TO whether he should
resect, dissect, probe, or amputate his
head, his arm, or his leg. His skill can
not be questioned, however, for in short
time the man who but few moments be-
fore had gasped to Heaven for assistance
was declared out of danger. Wall In the
mean time had viewed the bloody scene
ia the most stoical manner, and seemed
perfectly indifferent as to whether his ad.