Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-04-02
The Field of Blood.

AAO oVll VI lOlddGiibDufB, u1Q
has bloody record. II has bee
the scene of many a refined mui
der in days past. One who visit
the place new will find the fiel,
green with verdure, which a fev
years since was trampled by tn,
feet Of men arrayed in deadly hos
tility. Here, on beautiful grass
plot, surrounded by trees, forms
made after the image Of God, came
to insult nature and defy Heaven.
In 1914, Edward Hopkins was
killed here in a duel. This seems
to have been the first of these fash
Iionablc murders on this ground.
In 1919, A. r. Mason, a United
States Senator from Va, fought
with his sisters husband, John
McCarty, here. McCarty was averse
to fighting, and thought there was
no necessity for it; but Mason
would fight. McCarty named mus
kets loaded with buckshot, and so
near together they would hit heads
if they fell on their faces. This
was changed by the seconds to
loading with bullets, and taking I2
feet as the distance. Mason was
killed instantly, and McCarty had
his collar bone broken. His hair
turned white so soon after the fight
as to cause much comment. He
was afterward solicited to act as
second in duel, but refused, in ac-
cordance with a pledge made to his
wife soon after killing her broth
er. ..
In 1920, Commodore Decatur
was killed here in a duel by Com
modore Barron. At the first fire
both fell forward, and lay with their
heads within ten feet of each other;
and, as each supposed himself
mortally wounded, each fully and
freely forgave the other still lying
on the ground. Decatur expired in
a few days, but Barron eventually
recovered.
In 1921, two strangers, named
Lega and Sega, appeared here,
fought, and Sega was instantly kill
ed. The neighbors only learned
this much Of their names from the
marks on the gloves left on the
ground. Lega was not hurt.
In 1922, Midshipman Locke was
killed here in duel with a clerk in
-he Treasury Department, named
5ibson, who was not hurt.
In 1926, Henry Clay fought his
iecond duel with John Randolph, !
ust across the Potomac, as Ran
lolph preferred to die, if at all, on
'irginia soil. The latter received
lays shot, and then fired his pis-
ol in the air. This was in ac-
ordance with declaration made
0 Mr. Benton, who spoke to Ran
olph Of call the evening before
n Mrs. Clay, and alluded to the
uiet sleep other child and the re-
ose of the mother. Randolph
uicllly replied, 81 shall do nothing
disturbe the sleep of the child
r the repose of the mother" Gen.
essup was Clay's second. When {
andolph fired, he remarked, DIDO I
OF fire at you Mr.. Clay" and ex-
.nded his hand and advanced to
eet Mr. Clay, who rushed toward '
i'm. Randolph showed Clay where L
lie ball struck his coat, and said fa- I
'tiously, "Mr. Clay, you owe me a +
,at" "Thank God the debt is no y
eater" They were the best of
lends ever after. .. Il
In 1882, Martin was killed here n
Z Carr. Their first names are not Il
wv remembered. Thy were both T
ON the South. 5 s =
In 1888, Mr. Key (son of Frank q
ey, and brother of Barton Key of C
ckles notoriety), met Mr. Sher- fl
IN, and Sherbon said, "Mr. Key, ~
have no desire to kill you" "No
ltter," seid Key, II came here to
i you" every well, then" said II
Il will now kill you," and fe
made good his word al
In l845, lawyer named Jones q.
d a duel with and killed a DR.. -
hnson, ... ... 'e
In 1851, r, A. HooIe and A. j.
Lllas had a hostile meeting here.
:, Dallas was shot in the should
but recovered,
In 1852, Daniel and johnson, w
0 Richmond editors, held so
'mless set to here, which termin- Sc
d with coffee. mr...iaf... . le,
In 1858, Davis and Ridgeway on
Ight here. Ridgeway allowed his
jagonist to fire at him without all
urning. the shot. fic