Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-08-06
DUEL BErwnEN rwO RIVALS.


A correspondent of the Louisiana Courier,
writing from Welby, Kentucky, gives the
following particulars Of fatal occurrence
In that village;
Iittleton Wells and Sandiord B. Roberts
were both young men of unexceptlonable
character, and occupying enviable positions
in our society Wells was about twenty-five
years old, and Roberts was probably two
years his senior. The former was our deputy
postmaster, while the latter was clerk in the
store of Roth 81 Strother. For some time
both had been paying marked attention TO
an amiable and beautiful young lady OF the
neighborhood, whose name withhold LOT
obvious reasons, and until within month
past were generous rivals, their relations
toward each other being upon the most
friendly footing. Some three or four weeks
ago Wells visited the young lady, and made
formal proposal for her hand. HIS propo-
siiion was respectfully but firmly declined,
and upon his pressing her for her reason for
her declination, she lndiscreetly informed
him that she had already accepted similar
proposal from young Roberts. Wells lei!
The house, mounted his horse, aud returned
10 the village. He first went TO the post oihce
and armed himself with pistol, and then
sought his successful rival at the store =
Here an alteration ensued, which would
| have had bloody termination, had not by
ISLANDERS interlered and put an end to the
difficulty. From that time until SATURDAY
| they were as strangers TO each other. VI
that day they both attended picnic, hoD
erls being accompanied by his taneee Al
soon as Wells saw them together he seemed
to be imbued with the very spirit of insanity
Approaching them, he grossly insulted kob
erts in the presence of the whole assembly
The insulted man sprang to his feet ant
/ Of ri tan nVtnnntlV
sent the insult when gentlemen present pre-
vented collision. Roberts and his com
panion, at the earnest solicitation of th
latter, Immediately lett the ground and re
paired TO her home, where she, fearing
difficulty between the parties, endeavore'
to persuade him to spend the night. Ii
that she failed, but succeeded in extracting
promise from him that he would not returl
to the picnic ground. Reaching the village
and brooding over the gross outrage tina
had been put upon him, he went to his rool
, and peuned q challenge TO mortal comDal
,, which he lntrusted to friend to be deliver
, ed into the hands OF Wells. This misslo
was accomplished that night Next morn
ing friend of the challenged party calle
$ upon the friend Of Roberts to arrange til
= preliminaries. This was soon accomplished
y The arrangement was that the fight was |
y come off in meadow about one mile ea'
s of town, at daylight, ON Monday, the WEI
+ pons to be Colts reyolvers At the appoin
II cd time the principals and seconds were o
the chosen ground. The principals wei
+. placed ten feet apart, with instructions
. fire between the words lone" and three,
q and then advance, firing as they advance
I. such being the terms insisted upon by Il
IL challengee, and not rejected by the cht
lenger. AT the word both parties fired, al
so accurate was their aim that Wells ft
y dead, pierced through the brain by his q
OF versarys ball, while Roberts received l
o. opponents bullet in the centre of the brea
e. passing through his body and lodging und
ce the skin just TO the left Of the spine. AT I
moment write he is not dead, though sin
10 ing so rapidly that the physicians say he ca
Z, +, not possibly live more than an hour.