The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-06
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

SHOOTING AFFAIR IN A RAILROAD TRAM
Yesterday at about 1928 considerable ex-
element was created at the depot Of the Bal
tlmore railroad, occasioned by tumult In
one Of the cars of the Philadelphia train.
II appears that Mr.. z. D. Etchison, with
his daughter, was seated in the car, when
Col. W. r. Lount, In company. with Capt
John Nye, brother Of Senator Nye, entered,
and Col. Lount thus addressed Etehison
This Is my friend, Capt. John Nye, and !
have called with him to see you. should
like 10 have q word with you In his
presence" Mr.. Etchlson rose from his seat
as III TO accompany them, and. Colonel
Lount aud Capt. Nye turned to leave the
car. Col. Lount states that when near the
door, on looking over his shoulder, he saw
Etchison draw q pistol, when he ID turned
rapidly, and as Etchison had the weapon
pressed against his left breast he, with great
presence OF mind, knocked the pistol up
ward, when II was discharged, the ball
striking the finger OF Mr. Etchison. The
Colonel then wrenched the weapon from Mr..
E., and with hia fist struck him several
blows In the face, considerably dls0gurlng
Mr.. Etehison, and causing the blood to TOW
freely.
while the fracas was In progress, Etchi-
son, in loud tones, proclaimed that Lount
had sedueed his (E's.) wife, to which Col.
Lount replied. "You know you lie, sir.
Your wife Is lady and you are villain"
During this time the greatest consterna-
ton and excitement prevailed among the
passengers In the car, and the police being
called, OGicers Brewer and Walling forced
their way in and arrested both parties. The,
were taken TO the Seventh precinct station
whore II was impossible, owing to the ex
cited condition Of Mr.. Etchison, to ge
correct idea Of the affair, an
Lieutenant EckloG ordered him to b
detained until six O'Clock p. M, whe-
an examination Of THO affair would tax
place. On the person Of Mr.. Etchlson wal
found huge bowieknlfe, evldeucing un
mistakably that he had well provided himsel
to make formidable defence In IN emer
gency. Col. Lount was discharged upon hi
own recognizance to appear at the examina
ton.
At the time set for the examination the
Statlon-house was crowded to its utmost
capacity by parties curious to hear the de.
velopments which would be evolved by the
evidence. Etchison had procured the ser.
vices Of Messrs. Merrick and Norris, and
Col. Lount was bcset by the friends Of the
prisoner not to make any charge against
him. To this the Colonel replied that he
did not care to prosecute the wretch, but
he (Etchlson) had, while receiving his beat.
ing, proclaimed that he (Col. Lount) had
been living In adultery with Mrs. Etchisoni
he insisted In Justice TO an innocent lady,
who had been foully aspersed BY her husband,
that he, the husband, should publicly state
he had lied. Col. Lount having thus stated
the conditions, word was carried TO Etchl
sou, who agreed 10 compromise. At 6o'clocl
Justice Walter called the case, and wat
about to administer the oath to Col. Lount
When Mr.. Norris remarked that he (Col
Lount) had no complaint to make aguins
Mr., Etchison. Mr.. Lount having agail
stated the conditions Of nolls pros, Etchl
son agreed to it, when the following dia
logue took place:
Lieut.. Ecklof. That Is all very well, bu
there was a pistol fired In the car. ThA
must be explained.
Colonel Lodut, "Well, Lieutenant, an
inclined to believe the firing was accidental
as in my opinion, the person IN whose hant
the pistol was, Is too great coward to shoe
any one but himself"
This explanation, II not satisfactory to tn
officer, must have been to the crowd whicl
was present, for, to speak in theatrical par
lance, 1T brought down the house"
Justice Walter dismissed Etchlson from
custody, and the crowd dispersed.
Among the people assembled were seyeTa
gentlemen who witnessed the occurrence, an,
all agree In saying that the very dangerou
position in which Colonel Lount was placed
and the great presence of mind with whicl
he averted death to himself by seizing tn
pistol OF his would be assassin, was indee
wonderful, and the cool aud determine
manner In which he succeeded In disarmin
his assallant and administering merited ca
tigatlon, was a specimen OF courage al
"pluck" which few men would have hf
sufficient presence Of mind to make nynilab
under the exciting circumstances.