The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
d VOL. XLlv.-N0. l29.
A FAMOUS NEW YORK DUEL
JTE WHITING BETWEIN JiNES ".
HEBB 1ND ron MARSHALL.


the Lea rnuguinnry kcntucktan l n
expected Indictments and sentence.
One of the most interesting events OF its
day. and one int ABSORBED pnolic interest for
months. was the duel fought In June, 1852, 10y
James Watson Webo then the editor Of the
Courier dnd Enquirer, and Thomas r. Marshall,
popularl, known as rom Marshall, a 1icpresen-
tative In Congress from Kentucky. Brth were
men OF great distinction, Webb being vigorous
and Influential writer. and Of much rsona
popularity, aud Marshall being one Of the gifted
uen in the House Of Representatives.
1he quarrel arose from remarks made by Mar
shall on the ioor OF the House in January 1872
abusive Of the newspaper press In general and
particularly OF the Courier ant Enquirer. which
he styled a "pensioned Journal, and OF its
editor, whom he denomnated a "pensioned
EDITOR" Webb sent Marshall nle OF his jour
nal. and wrote him two letters reseniiig the
imputntlsn upon hims.lf, and requesting a re-
traction. Mar,hall took no notice OF the re.
guest, and webb bided his time.
A few months later Marsh III came to New
York lie came as a reformed drunkard and an
hdvocao Of teetotal Temperance. The halls OF
C,ngres had often seen him too fun Of
alcohol to do his State honor or to do Justice to
his own talents. lie came to New York. having
forsworn the bottle, and created a sensation 10y
Its spo chcs in behalf OF the temperance cause.
lie attr .tted crowded houses, and became ono
OF the most popular men Of the hour. The
Opportunity had now come for Webb,
aud he assailed the reformed Con-
rrcssm nercey in mis- ewspaper. He brought
out N.afshals weak points pretty strongly. aud
accused him of lack of honor IN uttering SLAM
ders IN Congress winch he refused to retraot
when m de aware OF their falsity and OF lack Of
courage In falling to neclar' int he was willing
to be hcli personally responsible, as gentleman,
Marshall retOTteu
in bis TEMPERANCE speeches.
In the beginning Of June. lsi2 occurred the
famous trial OF Munroe Edwards for forgery.
Ogden Hoffman. Joseph X. liar, fPhilljelphi,,
aud other leaeing l.wiors, appeared for the
retained In association wi "a senator Crittenlen
OF Kentucky, Robert Emmett. J. Prescott Hail,
ins the conduct Of the trial. incl
centally criticised the lawyers ens eel In II,
aud dtrutd that the c,se mad shown that
Nar,hAis ability IS an orator had bee u greatly
ove,titet, nnd that ue hld NJ le ~ any supe-
TlOrs among the LAWYERS Of New York. Mar
e. i. relied In a DAY OF two In his summing up
7 th4 defence, in which he devoted an ex-
uemeN bitter quarter OF an hour to James
" t-un M'bo. The retOTt Of the Courier and
Lnguif,r the following morning measured a
coumn nd half. pass had now been
threats that had been uttered on both sides
left 10 aiteru tive. Anything less would nave
expvscd both parties II the rdicgle Of the
sending, nj webb promptly accepting 1t.
On the "a OF June. Webb, accompanicd oy a
Ill, III
panic 'y Dr. Kerr of Washington. and seyerd
friends crossed the state border and catered
~" ~ OF Delawite. Inry pissed through
oHr. hIt So InIav peraons were drawn tosetner
BY tn or rarations 10 g. rsnder II necessary to
Jlat oro the meeting UNI IA. .l"win. morn
Ing. IN tNe mean time Col. Webn pos ! over
into New jersey and returned ABOUT eleven a.
the evening sleeping IN his carriage oil nieht.
Marshal, his brother. surgeon, and second, s= u
1T ircus Hook tavern.
After the disappointment at Wilmington. a
As Z
on, the Delaware side Of the Penn,
sSlNaDa state line, and there, little
before 'yiignt the next morning. the
principal-. treir seconds. and number of gen.
tue tpot urOn hearin. rumors OF she impcndins
duch utGe .her apreartuce. Almost Ia. me
for cnoiee OF pos non, and the piece falling IN
tue grass, .ome dispute srose as to which paity
bad won. Neither second would yield.
The dispute was settled hy Marshals request
ing hi, second. Dr. Kerr. o coacede the point.
Toe sec"ni declihed To d. so. Marshall then,
with m warmth. stld, Give IL to them. Doc
tor; CIV IL to them, / came here to have a
Mo- al them, nd do not mean 10 b. b fled 10y
tribe. ir. Morrell. the scDud Of Col. " eDo,
taiti, T., d. We ask Suu to give US nothing |;
ve ask cut what is our rrht." VI r-hali insist
Ing uppn his noing so the roint was finally
1u-, then proceeded to decide in the same
n Liner - 70 which Of The seconds should give
the word to fire. his al5n WAS won by Webb's
second Weho thus had both the choice Of
pgsltiDn and the giving Of tue wore.
Inc lfiutildl5 were tutn requested to take
Their positions, which they did with coolness
and -lacri y surprising all who were present,
each uleclug his right foot against stone, so as
T. stand nrmly, with the right leg slightly d.
yahc q toward his antagonist, and the left
sapgolting the weight ~ the body. DR.. Kerr
then icquested MIR. Moirell t. road the art cles
Of a.fccinent governing the nght. lie did so,
an tneu "a kei, In clear ana trm tone: "Gcu-
tlemen, are you re dyY" Air Marsnail replied I:
$40. -ir, am n0t;' and, pau-ing for mome NJ.
anu uNing a keen ana searching look upon nis
antnso ID I. ne SLOWLY iifted ms bat IRON his
m al Lanai aAht IirH la fF..
elterln' his position. NOW sir,' he SAID, IL
wenn'- demeanor dur ng thi, proceeding was
perfectly col anu collected. When Nr. MOrrsll
gave the word to hrc, thus " Fire; one-two--
tniee, the reports were nearly s'mnitane 'us
~ to cause some of the spectators 10 imagine
mat Mehu had not nred AZ All. The discharge
bad nren u.on fh- wori "one."
No damage having been done, parley WIS tn "a
held by the seconds. anu The principals not being
satisfied, reparations were made Tor another
eXchdi ge Of shots. 1he weapons were relo .ded
aud again placed IN the hands of The duellists
Again Mr. MOrrell gave the word TO prepirs and
- Ore. and az IN there IS as "A quick di-chara
immediately alter wilton Webb was seen to
wheel hLOut ana stage r. d. Kerr c II ed out 10
Mr.. M"frell: "slr iout irirud Is falling; wlny
cont ynu catch nimf" but, without waiting for
hfeplY' he stepped up aud c-ught the wounded
uan ia h, arms.
Ine ban naa taken effect in the back part Of
tho leil leg, ana upon ascettlinnR that II was
not iata Marshall insisted Oh having another
thot sMiug tnat "ebp nd inJlre hin more
than al other men, aud II Il were possible tor
iiih 10 iln4 he would tXlfci linn 10 resume
On. 20 ltl1u. The second aiS surgeon II tns
"uuu lcu man DOsiaNcb refused T. Kermit ihi., ,
Gt 'hsiins that he wYhld ie nghtlhs undrr great
d. uNant igrs, ana tins, Losctherwlth the inter
i'itnco "a the spectators, prevented further hos
tit .-.
M.r-1 l's Younger brother, who. during the
IilhE, had Ie'ired L. a di, 4nre OF some two OF
ALicr hNhulcd YARD, hHN came up, ana WAS
gate vehement ~ Al, Gcc'ara.Ius tu4t the
l-Li N4ld not Proceed i.ftNtl, shlIl ~ that has
tfIihtr iHI Iut not 10 a~A a.. aud iu..t 4ir ought
u tN" God thAt ths constquonccs were not
Llnft -'iilus.
Ntto. ".Ue reclining In the arms OF his
II, ud. ID that hc aid not then, no. h I'D Lf
ever entertained any hostile ieellrg toward
~ iah~i. lhl-, however. was not said 10 Mar
th'il' u"i Ma- Il oneltliy communicated u him,
anu 4. iIl iit- lett tie Lrrlul VITA apparently
tls ne emu.ttefed ie ilug Wlth wlIca Il,
Nenh'a wound severed sinews II tho leg,
but wAiif II hte'tcn-d l4nl-ue-s Tor life. " as
not dangerous. lie .riIyed ia FhIIl iphla tue
l.rk.
ine report Of tho duel W s. the cles, news
thHt New lpfkers ma received iu 4 lOua time.
pr uue Webb wore hrs laures p'oudly IL
Aad not been his FIRST duell ~ e6ptucucc. and
tiH lst ~ Of his other personal CucOunters
was interesting ana varied ana this " III fresh
tc'lp IA his belt, although the only bullet that
MI WAs lodged IN his own ley But the nght
- % M ntuucd 10 cause trouble. Enemies of
N"h1 blew the dust II the statute book
"1'ie the statute against duclhng WAS
irnied, and lodged Information with
tuo - strlct Attorney, Ia consequence