Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-07
Tom Marshall's DueIs.

u Among Tom Mafshalps chyckered
experience at this period was duel
with James Watson Webb, of New
York On the trial OF Monroe Edwards
for forgery Marshall defended him.
The defense called forth severe criti-
cism in the New York Courier and
Enquirer edited by Webb, whom
MARSHALL challenged for the offensive
article. The duel took place in the
neighbOrhood of the city of New York.
Webb was SHOT below the knee joiht,
provoking Marshall toDcry out o the
spot: at is the damnedest lowest act
of my life" Marshall in the course of
his life fought two other duels. One
with young Rowan, of Kentucky, who
challenged him for words spoken
against Rowan's father, the famed
Judge Rowan, with the evident inten-
ton of calling forth challenge from
the latter Rowan was what Is called
a ship shotast that is, he raisedhis Bis
tol to his own hip and then fired with
out taking aim, but with almost UNI
erring precision. This method gave
him the. advantage in time, and Mar
|4shaHfell at the first fire, shot through
the thigh. While confined to his room
by this wound, Miss Louisa Bullitt, %
lady widely known for her wit and
beauty and whom he had long but
vainly .courted, called with friend to
see him, playfully saying as she en-
tered the room, "Mr. Marshall, you
have at last got what you have so long
desired-a bullet" "Marshall's retort,
more witty than delicate. shall be
pardoned for emitting. The manners
of forty years ago we should bear in
mind were little broad as well as
very high.
His sother duel was with James S.
jackson, fought while both were
serving in the Mexican war. An old
grudges at. home having sprung up into
a quarrel in the enemy's country,
Jackson, on Marshall's volunteering
the 'avOwal that he was ready to fight
him whenever he chose, at once chal-
lenged Tom. The appointed place of
meeting was nearly thirty. miles dis
tant, and could he reached! OnlNt On
horseback. Marshall was suffering
from the flux, and had frequently to
dismount. When he reached the
ground heecoulds scarcely stand. He.
dlucIWdTu tOlu I'LL lllIllltIc lIleIlu lila y
he had made up his mind to kill Jack
son, and had balanced himself on his
left leg SO that, even if Jackson shot
him, he could stand long enough to-
return the fire.. jackson fired first
without effect Marshall then took
deliberate aim and fired, Jackson turn
ing his breast fully to him. The cap
was true, but there was mo- explosion,
and Jackson stood, unhurts Marshall,
turning to his second, who was also
his lieutenant, asked what that meant.
The second replied that the ramrod
was too short, and he had not rammed
the ball home. ooh, yes" said Mar
shall sarcastieally, III Understand;
you hre my lieptensnt, and had L been
killed you would have succeeded me-"
Col. Tom Hawkins, Jackson's second,
stepped up, took the pistol, rammed
the Ball home and handed ID back, Of
fering another fire; but by this time
Marshall was too weak to stand, any
longer. The event, wasa fortunate for
both! Jackson, as gallant q Spirit as
ever breathed, lived to join the Union
side in the civil war, rising rapidly to
the position Of acting Majors general,
when he was killed in the. battle. of
Perryville, falling at the head of his
diviSiop