The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-09-22

Az EDroR1AL EScouRrzR,-The city
was all agog with excitement yesterday
morning over the reported Gaming Of Mr..
Lewis Baker, Of the RsgiiteT, BY Mr..
Harry Smyths, Of tho hoyPdsyille ~.
Sidts Gd=ttte Upon inquiry We ieafhed
that there had been personal encounter
between the gentlemen III the IlgateT
Office, but the Gaming proved to be .
canard. It appears that the trouble grew
out Of a paragraph in Smythes paper,
rejecting upon the action Of the Ohio
County Democratic Executive Committee,
Of which Mr.. Baker is a member, in as
suming the responsibility Of nominating
a candidate to ill the vacancy in theState
Senate occasioned by the death Of Gen.
PanneII. The paragraph alluded to Is as
follows;
"A DEPAETuRE-The Executive Com
mittee Of Ohio county, the other day, took
it into their wise heads to nominate u
Senator for the District. This action was
strongly denounced by Democrats gener-
ally, and the gentleman nominated, Mr.
Hearn, whom We understand is worthy
man, promptly declined the honor Of so
unheard OF q nomination"
Mr.. Baker has furnished US with the
following statement in regard to the affair;
The editor Of the Moundsville GaEetts
made an attack, in his last weeks issue,
upon the action Of the DemoGratiG EK-
ecutiYe COMMITTEES, Of this COUNTY, in max
ing a nomination for Senator. lie vas
evidently disappointed that the Register
took no notice Of his "squih;' 80 he called
at the Regider office yesterday morning
to compel a notice in some way.
After discussing the matter 4 short time
he left the office, and returned again in
the course Of an hour, apparently under
the influence Of something that had ex.
cited his brain. He produced q copy OF
his paper and demanded that Mr.. Baker
read his article, and point out
the ialsehood in il, The latter per-
son laying the paper down on the coun-
ter, and standing with his head bent down
reading the paragraph, received blow
on the top Of his head which sent him
Keeling backward. The lick came from
the fist Of the valiant Moundsvillian,
without warning aud without his mo-
lions having been observed, Mt. smythe
then proceeded to explain that in his ar
ticle he had not intended to cast any Of
iensiye reflections, and that probably he
had been miSinfOrmed as to the facts.
ale afterwards went on the streets and
to the other printing offices with his
story - martyrizing himself greatly;
hence we give the Iacts rs witnessed by
two other parties. Any other statement
Of the matter, by whOmsOevcr made, is
absolutely false; and this fact can be YER
flied BIZ competent Witnessed
Mr.. Smythe also called upon lis, and
gave US his version, which is in substance
10 the following effect:
While in tho Regisld office about 10
o'clock yesterday morbing, milking o.
friendly call, Mr.. Smythe was asked by
Mr.. Baker how a provincial paper hap
pened to know so much about the feeling
Of the Democrats Of Ohio county in re.
gard to the action Of the Executive Com
mittee in nominating q successor to Gen.
PANEL. Mr.. Smythe replied that he
was frequently Ia the city, and his tacili.
ties we're equally AZ good rs those Of
the Register in obtaining the senti-
lnents Of the community. lie then asked
Mr.. Baker II he alluded particularly to
anything that had appeared In the Gd:ettc.
Mr.. Baker said thGt there had been an
unjuslihablC attack upon the Committee
In Smythe's paper, and characterized il
as "a Id dirty slur." Mr.. Smythe did
not remember the paragraph referred TO,
but said he would produce n copy Of his
paper, and II he had wronged Mr., Baker
he would apologize for it, and II not he
should expect Mr.. Baker to apollo.
gi1c for the language he had used.
lie then went TO the office Of Prosecuting
Attorney Crncrait, and procuring copy
Of the Gd:dte returned to tho Register
office, and handing il to Mr.. Baker re-
quested him to point out the obnoxious
lines. Mr.. Baker found the paragraph
published above, and after reading it
aloud pronounced il 20 id lie." Mr..
Smythc asked him II the epithet was
meant for him, or the persons from
whom he had obtained his information.
Mr.. Baker ejoined that he could take it
as he pleased" Smythe, who il rs big
and bony M Ned Ol}aldwin, thereupOn
struck Baker on the side OF the head with
his fist, knocking him down against the
partition separating the counting room
from the sanctum. Mr.. james fancy, who
was u witness to the scene, caught hold Of
Smyth,c who remained in his first
position watching Baker, thinking that
he would probably draw his revolver.
fancy did not offer violence, but told
Smythe that he was doing wrong, which
probably had a depressing egec! upon the
MoundsyillC editor, as he Immediately va
Gated the building. lie was followed to
the door, he says, by Baker, who in
very amicable manner suggested that pos.
sibIy both parties had been mistaken.