The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-09-26

The CALDWELL TRAdaDY.-The COR
respondent of the Charleston Ne,os fur
nishes the following statement from Capt.
George Tupper, relative to the killing Of
Capt. John D. Caldwell, on Saturday
last:
Upon the commitment of the coroner,
Capt. George E. Tupper is still confined
in jail for killing Capt John D. Cald-
we'll, of this oity, last Saturday. 7. is
rumored that efforts will be at once
made to effect hia release by an applioa-
tion for writ OF ha6sds corpus. His
brother, from Charleston, and others of
tI, his friends. have arrived in this city.
The Hon. Q. W. Montgomery, one of
the parties engaged in the fight, who was
yesterday released from confinement. by
his own option shares the fare of the
cell with Tupper. Capt. Tapper's state.
ment of the facts of the affray differs
widely from that which has hitherto
been given. The reporter of the News,
in an interview with the prisoner this
evening, found him in az cheerful state
of mind as the circumstances permit.
He occupies the roomy prison cell in the
Jail in which the alleged Ku Klu1 of
Union we're confined. Many people
have visited him during the day. A cot,
bench and two chairs make up tho fur
niture OF the room. Topper expresses
much grief at the fatal result of Il. rem
contre, but claims that the trial will
show that he acted in self.deience. The
following is the rerbdtin statement made
to your reporter, this evening, by Capt
Upper, which is confirmed by G. w.
Montgomery, who was present during
the interview in the presence of one
other person. He says:
Colonel Charles ". Montgomery, his
friend of long acquaintance in CHARLES
ton, where they both formerly resided.
called upon him at his residence on the
night prior to the publication of his
(Montgomery's) card in the DAILY PnG.
NIX, which reflected severely upon Judge
Samuel W. Melton, and requested that
Tupper should accompany him to the
PHOENIX Office, and also that he should
read the card which he proposed to pub
lish, and which was to appear the next
morning. Tupper dressed himself i'm
mediately and went with Montgomery to
the PHOENIX Office. On the way there
Montgomery explained to him the arti-
ole that had appeared in the Beaufort
Republican, giving the language of
Judge Melton in recent speech at that
place rejecting upon Montgomery.
Upon arriving ut the PHOENIX office,
Montgomery showed the card to Tupper,
and the latter snys he endorsed his
course, and the card appeared the next
morning in the PHGNIx During the
day of the publication of Colonel Mont
gomery's card, Tupper states that he WAS
informed by several gentlemen that
Capt. John d. Caldwell had stated that
he had telegraphed to several points for
Judge Melton to return to Columbia i'm
mediately and meet Colonel Mont
gomery; also, that Colonel Montgomery
had asked Tupper to serve him as his
friend in the matter, and he (Tupper)
had agreed to do 80. At about O'Clock
on Saturday afternoon, Colonel Mont
gomery came to Tupper's Office and
stated that Judge Melton was on Main
street with his friend, Captain Caldwell,
and asked him (Tupper) if he Mont
gomery) had not better show himself on
the same street and give Judge Melton
an opportunity to approach him if he
should have any deBire to do so. The
prisoner states that he acquiesced, and
at 2 o'clock joined Montgomery, and
walked down Richardson street, the
main street in the city, on the
West side, for several squares, as
far as Muller's, at the corner of
Lady street, and there met Mr.. James
Brennan. editor of the Southern CsN,
and Secretary and Treasurer of the
State Central Committee on tho boiling
wing of the Republican party, where q
conversation was engaged in for about
half m hour, when Brennan proposed
that the party should walk to Pollock g
saloon for refreshments, which they did.
There the party partook of beer. When
| they came out Of the saloon on Richard
son street again, Upper states that he
saw Capt. Caldwell and Judge Melton on
the opposite side of the street, in front
Of George Symmer's grocery store, and
he states that he observed they recog-
nized Montgomery and him. (Tupper. J
The opposite party then walked up the
street slowly; and when that party had
reached the corner by Peixotto's store,
(the Southeast corner of Richardson
and Washington streets,) Topper asked
Montgomery to walk with him up the
street, on the opposite side, in the same
direction. Montgomery said, eyes," and
they walked up the street slowly, for the
purpose of giving Judge Melton an op-
~