Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-05

last week, that gentleman wrote AT. henosH:
withdrawing bis consent to The unicc.. UT;
Bennett was considerably surprised at this. and
At Grss hardly knew what to do. Ills t'st IN
nulse was TO elope with the girl aid marry icE'
despite the want Of consent OF her father, out
he aft.r7arI raconsidered that determination
aud concluded to wait until the affair had olo"n
o=er, being, however, still determined TO marry
her. In order to prove that amcabie reiations
had existed between the family CT Miss May
and The family of Mr.. Bennett, the reporter
informant stated that Mr.. Bennett sister was
AZ Miss Mays house on tuesday, and that she
was also there yesterday at the very time "aen
the assault was committed By young Mr.. Nay
upoa Mr.. Benuctr The latter had 60 IDEA
whatever that any trouble was oreWiog. lie
vas on. riding yesterday 10 bis sleigh aou
paid visit TO the Union Club. Alter remain
ioc there short time he called Tor his slelgh
aud prepared to leave. As he came out OF the
club house be noticed MIR. May Waklog on the
sidewalk. That gentleman approached Mr.
Bacnstt and without saying word, struck
him across the temple with the butt Gcd CT
heavy rawhidc, knocking him down. lie struck
him again after lie vas down, hlttng him THIS
TING across the nose. There was tnen SNORT
and sharp scutil,, and then friends stepped IN
and separated them. After this VIZ. Bennett
was driven hcme. The marks lett by the CD,
counter arc Slight abrasion OF the temple, and
. Slight scratch % the nose. That, said inc
Informant, lis just about all there Is 9: Il.
When a:ke what the result would be the gen
tjeuaa said that at present lie vas not able TO
state. lie vas sure the Intention OF both par
ties Fas 10 he married, but that, OF course, the
present state Q! the case put an entirely DC"
phase On the matter When asked what he
thought about the rumor in CLUB circles last
piyht to the cffcc. that there Was Likely to DC
hostile meeting OF the contestants, growing
out OF the assault the gentleman replied, en-
phatical!y, tina. he did DOT believe J word OF II.
lie said that il: such thing had been IN con-
templati5n lie was quite sure he should kuo"
something abou, it, aud he thought, therefore,
that such q rumor was wholly untrue and un.
authorized. Tie said, moreover, that ne did
not think the lady had anything TO do With the
affair but he dil 90: know whether the father
mad anything to do with it or not.
Another gentleman, also warm personal
friend Of Mr.. Bennett, stated that there vas
10 mistake whatever about the truth Of the
rumor, apl that the engagement was entered
into about Que year ago. lie SAID, however,
that he did not believe that ans particular day
had ever been set for the marriage, aud, FROM
his personal knowledge OF the affair, ard his
close personal relations with Mr.. Bennett, be
did not think il possible day could have been
| fixed upon for the wedding without his knoWi'
edge. 1t had been rumored, he said, that they
were TO have been married 10 April, and again
| in Septcmber and again in October add Nc.
vcmbcr, bat he thought that was 90. 50. Iney
had been engaged just about year, however,
and lie supposed the time Tor The marriage was
drawing nigh. Tie gentleman stated further
| that he knew the engagement Was finally
| broken eli on Saturday last, but DC did not
| know what caused tha! action, or who had
caused it. or anything about it. is to the re-
ported difficulty between Mr. Bennett and the
brother Of Miss May, the gentleman said the
only cxpIa oaliou lie could give was that, II 1t
had happened, it was probable that the cause
was the anger Of Miss Mays brother at the
sudden termination Of the engagement.
Nr. May stepped up as soon as Mr. bennett
had lei: the stoop, and, graspog him by the
shi7, :ton: with one hand, drew cowhldo
| rapidly ac-9ss bis face with the other, The
vs:p drew b.ood with every blow. MIR. Ben
,a:rts io.y practice bat May warded off every
BIOS 9th tic utmost case, and, drorprs bis
wap, caught biz opponent by the shoulders
as be thoughr, observed Dir. Bennet; reaching
for Derrnger 10 the back pocket Of his pan
falcons. lie thereupon graspcd Bennett, ard
with display c! wonderful strength threw him
tro,a the sidewalk nearly into the middle cfthe
street. Following up this advantage, he drag
ccd Mr.. Baarctt around in the Snow. At this
poin, John Hcci,shcr Dtartered and separated
the CONTESTANTS.
Mr.. Bennett went toto the club house. Fred.
Nav spoke with several friends, and then walk
I'd up the avenue.
1t is said that challenge is likely to be sent
il it has not already been forwarded, from Mr..
Bennett, demanding satisfaction for the assault
There is the greatest diversity Of opinion as TO
what Mr. Bennett will do 10 the premises, and
ecycra! heavy tcts have baeo made as to the
result.
\ member of the Union Club, an eye witness
of the assault 90 M James Gordon Bennett
b. Mr.. Frederick; May, gives the following YER
sion 81 The affair 81 vas going out OF the
club Just after eating uc dinner, when met
Mr. Mag 1t the door He asked III, to wait a
few miuutcs, aud would sec soma fun. He
said be intcodcd to horsewhp Bennett. He
told me there was no use oil demonstrating With
him, tor he vas firmly resolved 70 do il. |
went back to the club room, took off my over
coat and went to the window. Mr.. BcDrett at
the time vas walking up and down the room in
az excited manner. He was smoking 4 cigar.
This was the first time had ever seen bin
smoke n the daytime. Directly he put OF his
overcoat and walked out Of the door. He
stood on the steps for few minutes. and then
started down. Mr. May waited until he reach
ed the sidewalk, and, then going up to him,
drew from his breast cowhide and struck
Beuuctt With it five or Elk times over the head
and face. The first stroke, think, was direct
y across the face. Bennett unbuttoncd his
coat aud made motion as if to draw weapon.
May then c!aspctl him around the body and
threw him cut in the street. falling Oh him.
No blows were struck on either side. 10 throw
iog Bennett ioto the street May had lost his
cowhida and reached around 10 the snow to
get it. Members of the club then ran out and
ioterfered. Mag then picked Bennett up and
threw him bodily half across the street. Ben
Dett got up aad went into the club aud Mr.
May walked away. No blows with their fists
1,,,o ba-