Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-10-03

Resolued, That it is the sense of this meet
ing that the County Executive Committee
should be authorized to take measures to con-
centrate the Conservative vote of this county
to the support of such ticket for State and
county officers, as in their judgment may be
for the best interest Of the people.
-<>-
From the Charleston News, 18th utlmo.
THE CALDwELL.TUPPER TRAGEDY.
THE ENCOUNTER AS DESCRIBED BY TuPPER
AND MONTGOMERY.
COLUMBIA, Sept. "a, 1872.
Upon the commitment of the coroner, Cap
tain George E. Upper is still confined in Jail
for killing Capt. Jno. D. Caldwell, Of this
city, last Saturday. 1t is rumored that efforts
will be at once made to effect his release by
an application for writ of habeas corpus.
His brother from Charleston, and others Of
his friends, have arrived in the city. The
Hon. G. w. Montgomery, one Of the parties
engaged in the fight, who was yesterday re-
leased from confinement, by his own option
shares the fare of the cell with Upper. Capt.
Tupper's statement of the facts OF the atfray
differs widely from that which has hitherto
been given. The reporter ofthe Ne.os, in an
interview with the prisoner this evening, found
him in as cheerful state Of mind as the cir
cumstances permit. He occupies the roomy
prison cell in the Jail in which the alleged ku-
klux of Union were confined. Many people
have visited him during the day. A cot,
bench and two chairs make up the furniture
of the room. Upper expresses much grief at
the fatal result of the rencontre, but claims
that the trial will show that he acted in self
defence. The following is the verbatim state
ment made to your reporter this evening by
Captain Upper, which is confirmed by G. W.
Montgomery, who was present during the In
terview in the presence Of one other person.
He says:
Col. Charles W. Montgomery, his friend Of
long acquaintance in Charleston, 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 Pheniz,
which reflected severely upon Judge Samuel
w. Melton, and requested that Upper should
accompany him to the Phenir Office, and also
that he should read the card which he pro-
posed to publish, and which was to appear
the next morning. Upper dressed himself
Immediately, and went with Montgomery to
the Pssnir office. On the way there Mont
gomery explained to him the article that had
appeared in the Beaufort Republican, giving
the language of Judge Melton in recent
speech at that place. rejecting upon Mont
gomery. Upon arriving at the PheniS office,
Montgomery showed the card to Tupper, and
the latter says be endorsed his course, and the
card appeared next morning in the Phenir.
During the day of the publication of Colonel
Montgomery's card, Upper states that he was
informed by several gentlemen that Captain
John D. Caldwell had stated that he had tel.
egraphed to several points for Judge Melton
to return to Columbia Immediately and meet
Colonel Montgomery; also, that Colonel
Montgomery had asked Upper to serve him
as his friend in the matter, and he, (Tupper)
had agreed to do so. At about one o'clock
on Saturday afternoon, Colonel Montgomery
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 (Montgomery) had not better show him
self on the same street and give Judge Mel
ton an opportunity to approach him, if he
should have any desire to do so. The prison.
er states that he acquiesced, and at about 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 Cell, and secretary and treasurer of
the State Central Committee of the Boiling
wing of the Republican party, where a con.
versation was engaged in for about half an
hour, when Brennan proposed that the party
should walk to Pollocks saloon for refresh
ments, which they did. There the party
partook of beer. When they came out Of
Pollocks saloon on Richardson street again,
Captain Upper states that he saw Captain
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 recognized Montgomery and him (Tup-
per). The opposite party then walked up the
street slowly, and when that party had reach
ed the corner by Peixottos store, Cthe south
east corner of Richardson and Washington
streets,) Tupper 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
opportunity to assault Montgomery, if he
chose 50 do so When Judge Melton and Capt.
Caldwell arrived at the Palmetto tree which
stands on the opposite corner from Peixotto's
store, they crossed Richardson street, and when
they reached the opposite side, the two parties
were but fifteen or twenty feet apart, both
walking up Richardson street, Upper and
Montgomery walking behind Melton and
Caldwell, at a distance of about twenty feet.
When they had reached the club-room door,
about square and half from the corner
mentioned, Melton and Caldwell stopped, and
as Montgomery and Upper passed them
slowly, walking along, the other party faced
outwards, when, Upper states, that he saluted
both gentlemen with the words, "Gentlemen,
good.day," the relations between him CTupper)
and both Caldwell and Melton being Of
friendly character. Colonel Montgomery
at this time simply bowed to Captain Cald.
we'll. Tupper states that Montgomery and
himself, then continued on up Richardson
street, stopping at the Columbia Hotel about
an hour and discussing the matter. He
and Montgomery both concluded and agreed
that Judge Melton did not intend to assault
him. Col. Montgomery believing the same
to be clearly indicated by the gentleman ag-
grieved, (Melton,) they concluded that Judge
Melton would address a communication to
Colonel Montgomery requesting meeting in
Augusta, Georgia, or Charlotte, North Caro-.
lima, and at the time, and as an evidence Of
the fact, Tupper states that he had made ar
rangements to obtain the same duelling pistols
that were selected for the Davega and john
ston affair." At the Columbia Hotel Colonel