The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-19
BOUND OVER TO KEEP THE PEACE.

7 ~nry,. pr - ----------.t c.s:ssst-9i .,..
There was quite large crowd In attendance
at the, Police Court yesterday, including.
MANY members Of the Legislature and a
number of our oldest and most highly re-
rspeeted and I'd citizens, who were
drawn thither for the purpose 81 bearing the
examination Of Mr.. James P. CowarufHa 5>el e
Washington city, and Mr.. A. Fulkerson, a
member ofthe House of Delegates from Wash.
ington county, who were arrested WedDes-
day and bailed for their appearance yester-
day. to ans sWer, the, charge of being about to
engage in a duel or otherwise break the
peace. Mr. S. B. Witt appeared as counsel
for Dir. CoWardin. and Judge b. w. Lacy
and Colonel W. r. Winn, members of the
House of Delegates, and Mr.. George Z. Haw,
represented Mr. FukersoD. ..
Upon the calling OF the case, Judge Lacy
asked Tor the discharge Of Colonel Fulkerson
on the ground that he (Fulkerson) was a
member of the Legislature, and that under
the Constitution Of the State lis members are
privileged from arrest during its session, cX-
crpt from treason, felony, or breach Of the
peace. and that the warrant upon which he
had been arrested did not charge him with
the commission of either Of these offences,
but simply charged that breach Of the peace
was about to be committed.
The motion was overrulcd, and the eXami.
nation proceeded with.
DR.. David Panniil was the first witness
called. He testified that upon the evening
the PARTIES were arrested he was at Ford's
Hotel, and met Mr.. J,mes p. Cowardn and
copversed with him. From the difficulty that
had occurred between Mr.. Cowardn, Sr.,
and Colonel FulkcrSon, witness inferred,
from seeing Mr. Cowardin there, that there
would be a difficulty between the two should
they meet, and his suspicious were confirmed
by the actions Of Mr.. Cowardin. He there
fore informed the authorities, and the gem
tlrmen were arrested. lie answer to ques-
| ton propounded by the Court, he stated that
! he heard there was some correspondence be-
| tween the parties, but ne did not know from
whom be derived the information.
Mr.. S. Longley, a member OF the House OF
Delegates from Washington county, was next
called, who testified that about O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon he met MessrS. Fulk-
crSon and ". 7. james in the passage, up
stairs, in Ford's Hotel, and Mr.. Fulkerson
requested him to 90 down stairs into the Of
flee and inform MIR. II. Tate Evans that he
(Fukerson) would give him an answer to-
morrow Thursday morning at &C O'Clock.
This request he complied With.
Mr.. Icrby. q clerk in Ford's Hotel, testl-
fed that upon the evening in question Dir.
| james p. Cowardin and another gentleman
came into the office and wrote note. While
so engaged a clerk in the Capitol en-
tered the office, walked up to Mr.. Cowar-
din. and slipped pistol into bis (Cowardin's)
pocket. He stated in answer TO question
| by counsel that he did not know whether
II tl,at tho niStpl hu n
| been placed in his pocket. He further teStl-
| tied that he was coyriZint Of the fact that
there had been difficulty between Mr..
Cowardip, Sr, and Colonel Fulkerson, anu
| lbal from appearances there might be one IN
| the hotel between Mr.. james Z. CoWardln
! and Colonel Fulkcrson. lie therefore wrote
| rote to Colonel Fulkerson putting him on
| his guard.
| Mr.. W. II. james was next examined. who
affirmed the statement made by Mr. Long
ley.
| General f. r. Bagwcl, member of the
| House Of Delegates frem Accomac, was the
last witness examined. He stated that few
days ago Colonel Fukerson received a COM
munication from Mr.. James Z. CoWardin in
reference to the difficulty had with his father,
and that Colonel Fukerson consulted with
him as a friend, and that be bore note to
| Mr.. Cowardin from Colonel FuIkerson. He
stated that he WAS in full confidence with
Colonel Fulkerson, and he didn't believe
any duel would have occurred.
The correspondence on both sides in refer.
ence 10 the subject was called for by the
Court and objected to by counsel on both
sides; but the Court overruled the Office.
tions, and the papers were produced and
read as follows:
| "RlcnMoND, March 16, 1875.
"Coloael AJram Fulkerson:
| Dear Sir.-You have seen fit recently to
assail my fathers person and character in a
most unjust and untimely manner. His
honor is dearer TO me than my life, and un'
less there is some rclraction on your part you
must answer to me for your wanton attack
upon one of the purest and best men in the
| Commonwealth. My friend Mr.. II. Tate
! Evans will act for me and receive any reply
| YOU may have to make to this communities.
| tion. am, sir, yours very respectfully,
| "JAMEs Z. CowARDlN."
"RIcuMosD, Va, March 18th, 1875.
James p. Cotrdrdin, Esq:
"Dsar Sir.-Your note Of the 10Th instant
| was handed me at Il late hour last night 5y
YOUR friend Mr. Ii. Tate Evans. will reply
at an early date.
VERY respectfully,
GA. FULkERsoS."
"RIcHMoSD, March II, 1879.
| .s Colonel Abrdm Fulkerson:
"Dear Slr,-Your mole Of this morning has
been handed me 10y my friend Mr.. Evans. 1t
is entirely unsatisfactory. You should know
enough OF the ways among gentlemen 10
appreciate this fact. am in the city on
visit to settle the matter, and it must be SET
tied at once. You must make ample apology
for the assault made upon my father, or hold
Yourself responsible TO me. An lmmedlate
and defuite reply would greatly oblige
"Yours, very respectfully,
james p. CowARDIN.'
"RlcnMoND, March II, 1879.
James p. Co,rard,n, Esq:
Dear Sir,-Your note dated 10th OF
March was received through your friend
Mr.. H.. Tate Evans after 10 O'Clock last
night. do not consider that had assailed
uniusIly or untimely either the character or
person of your father; but have simply v!n'
dicated a wrong done 20 myself by him, ior
which he admitted his responsibility in the
columns of his paper. If your father was IL
anywise incapacitated from redresslng
grievance which he provoked, and wore
be to confess an unwilIingness by reason
such inability or incapacity Co seek redres
for such, then it would be time enough, If