The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-04
MONTPENSIRR.
His Justi0oatIon OF His Coudv


HIS Justification Of His Conduct.
AT his trial, the Duke of Montpensier put
in the following admission and Justification
''For long time the Infante Don Henri de
Bourbon endeavored to provoke me. On the
21st of December, 1868, he published his first
letter, copy of which is annexed, in which
don't know which he tried to insult most,
my ancestors, my family, or myself. On the
14th of January of the present year he pub
lished his second letter, directed to the Re-
gent, in which he repeated the grossest
insults against me. Not living in the place
where he published these writings, did not
try to require explanations from him respect
ing them, but on the 9TH ult., both of us being
in Madrid, he published f1v-sheet entitled A
los MontpenSie1Sstds, which was circulated with
great profusion in all parts, and was even
printed in some of the newspapers. In it, as
will be seen by the copy herewith he
repeated and augmented his insults to my
person and my family so much so that no
one who values his honor and the good name
of his family could have possibly allowed the
matter to pass unnoticed. In view of such
persistence in provocation, without my hav-
ing given any motive for it, and desirous of
avoiding scandal, sent to him to ask if it
was written by him, and he having replied
that it was, and that he ratified it and assumed
its responsibility, 1 saw myself under the
such insults. Not having been able to obtain
any kind of satisfaction, we met in the Dehesa
de los Carabancheles on the morning of the
10Th of March. My Adjutant, Colonel Soils,
accompanied me, and there appeared there
also Generals Cordova and Alaminos, who,
being informed on the question between
u.s. at my request came to an understand
ing with Don Henri and three persons who
there met with him, and who l learned
EalA Pr,1NiO TA,, T,,N,s, 80, c.,
tamaria, and Don Andres Ortiz. After various
fruitless attempts to come to an arrangement
in presence of the six persons just mentioned,
he refused to give me other satisfaction than
with arms, and my offended honor and that
of my ancestors, as an officer and a gentle
man, forbade me to refuse to accept it. The
preliminaries and preparations being settled,
and we both being placed opposite each
other, the duel occurred. The Infante fred
and answered, and so on successfully, until
at my third discharge 1 saw him fall to the
ground, with mortal wound, from which he
died. Greatly affected by this result, which
l would have wished to have done everything
to avoid, 1 retired to my house, accompanied
by Senior Rubio and General Cordova, where
have been interrogated, and where await
the consequences to which this lamentable act
may give rise"
To the charges brought forward by the
the following reply:-'T certainly do. not
deny the existence of the laws, both civil and
military, which prohibit duelling in our
country. ] recognize the penalties imposed
on those who forget these prescriptions, and
do not forget the duties imposed by our
holy religion. I have proved this by the
patience with which have once and again
suffered his insults-all the more affrenting
when they were launched by person tied to
ixv INV fba of l,,
the. obligations of gratitude. Not only did
he repeatedly insult me, but also my fore
fathers and ancestors, as may be seen in the
said letters. My prudent silence in refer
encs to his provocation did not suf-
fee, but was wrongly interpreted by
the Infante, and animated him to re-
peat his provocation, for it made him
believe he could do 80 with impunity. He
insulted me publicly for the third time, not
politically, for in that sphere he was free to
think what he liked about me, but in regard
to what is most dear to every man-the honor
of his person and that of his family. Not
withstanding this. even yet took one step
moro towards conciliation. 1 did not credit
the articles published with his name until
asked him expressly if they were his or not,
expecting he would reflect upon the matter
within himself. His answer was a fresh in
suit. In this situation 1 could not suffer in
silence, red with shame, all the in
suits he had for more than year
been publicly directing against me. I
was obliged to accept the only repara-
ton he offered me-namely, to vindicate
with arms the infamously illuminated honor
of myself and my forefathers. Neither my
family nor my rank, nor the honored uniform
I wear, permitted me to hesitate moment.
1t was not my choosing 1 accepted the only
chance he gave me. did all I could to OBJ
tain another species of reparation. If he fell
it certainly was not because 1 desired 1.-THE
Divine will ordered il so. The law must Judge
me. With tranquility 1 await its sentence,
though 1 am grieved to have seen myself
obliged to give occasion for it"