Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-06-14
AFFAIR OF "HONOR."


Since Tuesday last there have been in
newspaper circles reports and surmises
concerning proposed affair of "honor'
between Captain W. i. Cameron of the
Petersburg Index, and Robt.W. Hughes,
connected editorially with the Journal,
the Radical paper of Richmo.d.
An article in the latter paper denun-
ciatoryof some of the Conservative State
canyasscrs by name as types of the class
who have gone forth to reinvoko the
people to courses of treason ; ard as
"a class of PARTICLES so notorious, with
the mark Of Cain on their foreheads ard
the guilt Cain upon their consciences;'
with otho. defamatory and highly in
sultlng expressions. saft.
An editorial article appeared in the
Index Of Monday in which the writer
in the journal, in his personality and
character was severely dealt with and
held up to public execration as q rene
gade Nirgnian, sraartlng under the sense
of bis own shameless treachcry, and
trimming with enmity to all that is bet
ter and truer than himself; an Arnold,
seeking to cloak his baseness by Islander
of the cause he has sold : and otherwise
denouncing Hughes, Whose venal pen
has been sold to the highest bidder to
bolster any and every cause whose direc-
tors We're willing to buy his brains,' I'M
til Ibis former friends, finding how val
ueless were words which the public knew
were bought and sold like behring's in
the market, ceased to remember his tai
ent in the presence of his want of prin-
ciple' .4.t7.
On the appearance Of this article, MIR.
|. Ernest Witt, the local editor of the
Journal, Immediately left Richmond
with q note from Mr.. Hughes to Cap
tain Cameron, in the nature of a per-
eniptory challenge, and requesting the
latter, as the phrase goes, to "name a
friend"
Capt. Cameron is said to have prompt
ly ayowed his responsibility for all that
appears in his editorial columns, and
named Mr.. Ernest Lagarde, the local
editor of the Petersburg Express, as a
friend to whom the communications of
Mr.. Hughes could be addressed.
The Dispatch says that nothing can
be stated OF the correspondence that en-
ensued; it is rumored, however, that Mr..
Witt demanded on behalf of his friend
a full and public retracton, accompa-
MED with a generous and chivalrous ex-
preston of Capt. Cameron's regret at
the publication of the offensive article.
This was positively declined by Mr.. La
garde, and this leclnation left no alter
native but meeting according to +" the
code. There is a report that delay was
asked by Captain Cameron of day or
two on account Of the delicate health OF
his wife. A great many rumors gained
ground, and the Mayor of Richmond ar
rested Mr.. Wilt and placed him under
bonds to keep the peace. He also tele-
graphed to Mayor Newberry Of Peters,
burg to arrest the parties residing in
that city but Capt. Cameron and Mr..
Lagarde were not to be found. In the
meantime Mr.. Witt was released on bail
and left Richmond.
1t appears that Friday morning Mr..
Witt made his appearance in the viii
lage of Chester, on the Petersburg rail-
road, about 4 miles from Richmond
On his way to the field he met Captain
Cameron, who was accompanied by his
seconds, Mr.. Lagarde and Capt. Rogers,
and also by Gen. Malone. Mr.. Hughes
and his friend, Col. ClarIson, were mo-
mentarily expected, and all things looked
favorable for an exchange of shots, when
the sudden appearance OF Justice Lind
sey of Chesterfield and special consta-
| BILE caused a sensation.
Efforts We're of course made to escape
the clutches of the officers, but they
were unsuccessful, except as to Captain
Cameron, who is said to have mado good
his retreat. The whole party, consisting
of Mr.. Hughes, Col. Clarkson, Capt Ro-
gers, and Mr.. Lagarde, were. then pla,
ced under bonds to keep the peace.
1t was generally believed that the
parties would repair to the Old North
State to settle their differences. For the
sequel see our local columns.