The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-02-15
THE DASTARDLY YAssAULTUPoN GEN:
ERAL d. II. MAURY.
The Facts OF the Case.
From the Huntsville Advocate j


The Memphis Appeal has published an &C.
count OF an assault made by MT. Trice, the
conductor of sleeping car on the Memphis
and Charleston Railroad, on General Dabney
81. Maury, on the night Of January 3lst, at
Chattanooga. This account varies very ma
terially from the facts OF the case, and was
probably derived from Mr.. Trice, who desired
to foresLall public opinion In bis favor. Gen.
eral Maury has felt constrained to place in
our hands for publication the following prl-
ivate letter, which he addressed, on the lat in
stant, to Major Wicka, president of the Mem
phis and Charleston Railroad Company.
We have known General Maury from boy
hood, having been fellow student with him
at The University of Virginia. He has made
his own imperlshable public record BY valua-
BILE services as an officer In the Mexican war,
when he received honorable wounds In both
arms, and as general In the Confederate ser
vice, where his cause was ever upward and
onward. and true to the lDer OF patriotic
duty. We therefore credit the entire truth
fulness Of his statement, and have no hesi-
fancy in dehouucing Mr.. Trlce's assault on
him as uncalled for, cowardly and brutal. Its
dastardly character is aggravated by the fact
that General Manry Is man OF small stature,
and inferior strength, unarmed, and with both
arms Injured by wounds received IN bis coun-
try's service. Il
scandal about Mr.. Jefferson Davis, and. If re-
ports be true, many passengers have hesita-
led and refused TO take berths In his sleeping
car, In consequence Of their disbelief of his
statement in that connection. he ought to
be snmmarily dismissed from the road. Here
is General Mansys letter:
HUNTSVILLE, February ], 1872.
IMdjor III. j. Wicks-DEAR SIR: Last night
arrivedain Chattanooga by the train from
Virginia, having been since Sunday week
almost daily. I therefore went
into the sleeping car at Chattanooga TO secure
some rest. The conductor Of the sleeping car
met me, and politely informed me that any OF
the berths would be aCmy service, as he had
no other passengers. I laid my travelling bag
chat with the conductor, during which he In
formed me he was from Louisa County, Vir-
ginia, the adjoining county to my own,
Spottsylvania. asked him his name. He
said his name was Trice. l turned
from him, and, without word, took up my
valise and shawl and went out Of the sleeping
caf and went into the next Car In 'front.' 1
had been In that car about five or ten min
utes, when missed the cape Of my overcOat,
and thinking might have left 1t in the restau-
rant of the depot, went hastily In and asked
the proprietor If had left my cape there. He
told me no. then went into the sleeping car
to look for 1t, and found 1t In the seat where I
naQ placed II. IOOk ~ up, duu H0o ou uS
way ont OF the car with 1t, when the same
conductor confronted me, and said to this ef-
feet: 'You left this car very abruptly just
now, sir; why did you do 30 p His manner
was aggressive. replied, Because, Sir, I
chose to do so." Aud then, with coarse Ian
guage and insoleqt manner he de-
manded again my reasons. I replied:
81 left the car because you are the
author of scandal upon the Southern
people," He then ran to the stove, took up
an Iron poker, about eighteen inches long, and
came quickly up to me With 1t, denounclng
and threatening me In violent and foul terms,
until had reached the door Of the sleeping
car, when, just as stepped out upon the plat
form of the car, he suddenly caught me around
the neck, with the arm holding his lantern,
threw me down upon the platform. and struck
me rapidly and violently On the back Of my
head with the poker. He Inflicted several
cuts upon my head and several upon my arms
before he was prevented by Mr. Peck, the
brakesman, from further violence. I had no
weapon upon my person, nor anywhere within
reach, and, having been MANNED In both my
hands, was at his mercy from the moment he
threw me down.
These are the main facts. known to me,
about this outrage. lay them before you,
and am, respectfully, yonrs,
DABNEY b. MAuRY.