New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-10
WILD RUMORs IN THE CITY.

THE CLUBS STILL GIVEN OVER TO CONJECTURE.
THEORY, AND INQUIRY-NO FURTHER INFoRMA-
TON AFFORDED BY THE DUELING PARTY-UN-
FAVORABLE COMMENTS ON THE AFFAIR-MR.
BENNETT BACK IN THE CITY.
Conclusive evidence was received in this
city Yesterday that meeting had taken place between
James Gordon Bennett and Frederick May, reported,
near the boundary line Of Maryland and Delaware but in
the runos aOat the clubs and the conversation of
friends OF the dueiss the result OF that meeting grew
more and more doubtful and cOnectura the reports and
opinions the subject grew NUMEROUS The stories OF
dangerous Injuries Mr. May were still circulated but
lacked confirmation. Dispatches were received from the
South that he had since the time OF the duel
in an apparently sound condition. AT the house VI hs
father the appearance Of which has been regarded
nv the reporters sort OF baTOmctric Indicator
OF the feelings within. while gasiight streamed
brightly through the glass OF the inner 'front.'
door no one wts at home 10 any who looked like
reporter This also Detokened absence OF serious re
suit TO young May In the clubs whisper arose be-
fore night that there probability Of the reported
xonnda being wholly fictitious. Indeed at the Union
Club Firth Avenue Hotel, and several other places
of fashionable resort suspicion was not wanting that
there was something about the duel not altogether on
the square" A. Oakley Hall took extreme ground and
declared that no duel had been fought and the young
men were not within thousand miles OF eacn
other at reported time Of the netting This opinion
had many supporters. One account which found some
acceptance that the cOmbatants mad met ID the
vicinity Of Slaughter Station Md, and fired into the air,
OF fired blank cartridges with deadly aim upon each
othera proceeding entirely satisfactory 10 the aver
age man and woman even though farclcal,
but somewhat aggravatng TO those who had
zloated on ghosty forebodings Of stretch
ers biers, and the grim paraphernelia OF death
and terrible sensations. Whether the believers in the
bvpotbess OF blank cartridges mistaken or not,
history will probably never show with certainty, but
there il probability Of number Of converts TO this
view of the affair within the next few days Even yes
,ardav the Union Club contained number OF gentlemen
who thought no balls added To the charges Of the
pistols
Whatever the nature serious farcical OF the duel
the line OF conduct which the participants have adopted
"a the yisest to pursue plainly Swallowed forth Last
night In all probability outside OF the circles OF their
most intimate friends they will refuse to give informs-
ton either upon the particulars OF the case or the
character OF their connection with II, thus making
sure not 70 erimnate themselves and place their free
dom within the hands Of the ana the
Grand Jury The facts Of the duel will in time be sfed
from the rumors and raised by club gossip anu
finally become settled the public mind but not until
all danger Of indictment and imprisonment Il past VIII
they be made certain by the actors and eye
witnesses of the affair. An indication OF
this was shown yesterday in the action
of Dr. Charles Phelps the physician who attended the
duel When asked for Information neither
Affirming nor denying his connection with the case Dr
Phelps declined with polite emphasis to have anything
to say about it, II subject TO which he could by
no possibility REFER he said, for obvious reasons The
secret was not his own, and he could not honorably
dvuIgs II, although should it eyer be in his power to