Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-30
NASHVILLE UNION AMERICAN. TUESDAY AUGUST 80 1870
THE LATE DUEL NEAR mEmpHIs


We print elsewhere full particulars of
the late fatal duel between two young
gentlemen of Memphis. 1t is said lady
was the cause of the bloody tragedy, but
how is left TO conjecture Neither the
newspapers nor the correspondence ex-
plain this matter. 1t appears, however,
that strenuous efforts were made by mu-
tual friends to secure an honorable adjust
ment of the difficulty, but these efforts
proved abortive. Just why they failed is
not stated. The important fact stands
out very distinctly that after these efforts
had failed, the parties were permitted to
go out of the State to fight a duel, with
out step being taken by the officers Of
the law to prevent the violation of the
law. Let us see what light there is on
this subject. The challenge came from
Mr.. Freeman, and is in these words:
MEMPHIS, TENN, Aug. Is, 1S70.-Mr.
Edward Hamlin, Memphis, Tenn: Sir
This will be handed you by my friend,
Mr.. Chas. P. Woodbridge. wish him to
arrange with you, oryour friend, speedy
meeting, in order to settle all existing diff
ferences. In this communication it is
hardly necessary to refer to the past. Let
it suffice that / shall, and do now, de-
nounce you as coward, poltroon and
base scoundrel. If this is not sufficient
to induce you to give me the satisfaction
every gentleman at all times has q right
to ask of another, inform me and l will
cheerfully give it you. Respectfully,
e E. T. FREEMAN.
The reply of Mr.. Hamlin is as follows:
HoPEFIELD, ARK, Aug. 20, 1S70.-Ma-
joI Z. Z. Freeman: Sir-Your note OF
the 10Th instant has been received. l am
unconscious of having done you any
wrong or of having given you any cause
for this most extraordinary communica-
ton; but the peremptory terms of your
note debar me from any reply other than
the acceptance of the meeting you desire.
My friend, Mr.. Scales, is authorized to
represent me, and will arrange the terms
of this meeting. Ed. L. HAMLIN. -
1t will be seen that Mr.. Hamlin dis
tinctly avows Inconsistencies of having
done Mr.. Freeman any wrong, or of hay
ing given him any cause for peremptory
challenge. Yet with this avowal to start
out with, the difference between the two
gentlemen could not be adjusted. That
sounds strange to the public, and
without satisfactory explanation, will
certainly place Mr.. Freeman at disad-
vantage. 1t appears from the accounts
in the Memphis papers that the prospect
of hostile meeting between these gentle
men was subject of conversation upon
the streets. but no effort appears to have
been made to arrest them and thus pre-
vent the meeting which proved fatal to
one of them. The Memphis Ledger
says, with reference to this melancholy
affair:
'There is scarcely State that has not a
provision of its constitution, or by statute,
the severest penalties for duelling, but
how seldom are they more than dead
letter? Tennessee is no exception, and
the usual denunciation of the practice is
implanted in its fundamental rule And
yet, it isnot found difficult matter to evade
the penalties imposed, and it must always
be thus until there is an entire revolution
in opinion" -a
In this instance, there appears to have
been but little effort made to evade the
laws of Tennessee. 1t is true, the duel
was fought in Mississippi, but the chal-
lenge was given in this State, as shown in
the published correspondence.