Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-01
AN ArFAIR OF HONOR.
Duel scar Patterson. n. IA New York
Merchant s,nd "a Bank Clerk the Prin-
cspnls-The Former shot An the Head.


cfpaIs-The Former shot An the Head.
An affair of honor-now-a-days so
rare an occurrence, especially in our
northern latitude, with the weather
cold enough to freeze the hot blood
came off lately in the neighborhood
of Patterson, N. J. The participants
in the duel were gentlemen of New
York city-one Mr.. X. Pemberton,
an importing merchant, the other Mr..
Deblieux, a Wall street bank clerk
The duel ended with single exchange
of shots, Mr.. Pemberton's ball striking
tree close by, while that of Mr..
Debheux, being better aimed, struck
his antagonist in the forehead, inhict-
ing a serious wound. The quarrel, it
is told. originated in this way. A short
time since the parties concerned at
tended ball at Irving Hall, Mr.. Penn.
berton accompanying a sister of Mr..
Deblieux. During the course of the
evening the latter learned that his SIS
ter had been insulted by bis friend, and
be at once sought out Mr.. PembertOn'
and charged him with the offence; a
quarrel ensued between them but they
were soon separated by the ball COM
mittee, and there for the time the mat
ter rested. On the following morning.
however, Deblieux wrote to Pember-
ton demanding an apology. This the
latter declined TO give, whereupon Mr..
Deblieux, who is a Southerner blythe
by, sent a friend to Pemberton, chal-
longing him to fight him, or in case of
refusal to prepare for consequences
which must result at their first meeting.
Pemberton, even at this crisis, iG is
said, not having the faintest idea that
the threat would be carried out, still
consented TO meet his antagonist and
put his share of the matter into the
hands CT few confidential friends who
were inclined to look upon the thing
as a good joke. Nevertheless the usual
preliminarles were regularly gone thro'
and the spot selected for the encounter.
On Wednesday evening the duelists,
accompanied by their confidential
friends, left the city of Patterson,
where they stopped all night, kee ping
their plot against each others peace
from the public ear. Yesterday morn
ing, after breakfast. the party proceed
ed In carriages to GoodWinsvil!e, near
Patterson, and refined to "a secluded
spot of this secluded place to carry
out their deadly purpose.
Then and then only, 1t appears. did
the thing begin to look truly serious to
the friends, who had been good
naturally waiting for hand-shaking,
which would settle the matter. They
tried TO settle the difficulty, Pemberton
being willing, but Deblieux was mex
Orable IN his demand for blood, remark
ing that if Pemberton attempted to
leave the ground before he had given
him satisfaction he would shoot him
then and there. As it was now evideL t
that this gentleman meant all he said,
the final preparations were made, the
friends of both parties exacting pro-
mise that single shots only would be
exchanged, whatever the result In
conceding to this proposal, Debheux
remarked, lone shot will do me, /
only ask but one," and as he said so
he looked perfectly cool and uncon-
cerned. PembertoD, on the contrary,
evidently disliked the affair, and took
his position with evident embarass-
mrnt OF manner and with a tremulOus
hand. The words one, two, three
being given, it'll the utterance of the
last came the report of either pistol
simultaneously, Deblieux stood IN
hurt, Pemberton's ball having passed
to his left, lodging in a tree close by;
but he had succeeded i'll making good
his word, for his antagonist was found
to have received a dangerous cash in
the side of the head aud a slight frac-
ture of the skull, the ball escaping the
brain only by half its own diameter.
Pemberlon'5 wound was hurriedly
dressed, and the entire party returned
to Paterson as quietly as they had LETT
it, and thence took return cars for the
City, where they duly arrived and
separated. mutually satisfied" no
doubt. N Y. Times.