Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-27
THE BENNErT-MAY DUEL.
IT Breaks Out Il. a Nesv Spot.
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IT Breaks Out III a Nesc Spot.
New York Tines
My attention has been calledto an article
in the New York Times of the 18th inst,
which has been copied by most of the daily
papers of this city, purporting to give by
ian eyewitness" sthe true story of the
affair which occurred one year and half ago
between Messrs. May and Bennett. This
''true story, now for the first time made pub
lic, although at this late day, bears no sigma
ture, but is the production of volunteer,
one Mr.. George Wilkes, who says hereceived
it from d.. Phelps, who, we are told, twas
present and ''acted as surgeon for both
parties have parposely waited some
days, thinking it probable DR.. Phelps might
deny having made this statement, but by his
silence I conclude he sanctions it. shall
therefore speak of it as it deserves.
The object of this article appearing at
this time) is apparent, and have no hesita-
ton at the start in declaring, in the most
unqualified terms, that it is absolutely and
maliciously false; and further, of adding
that if DR.. Phelps did give such version to
Mr.. George Wilkes, and, to fortify it, told
him Sthat he was present, '(that is, of course,
on the ground,) and in the capacity of
surgeon to both parties, . then in that case
he knew he was making false statement
when he did 80. Very soon after the affair
alluded to took place it was thought inadvis-
able on account of the misrepresen-
tations that were almost daily
circulated by sympathizing press, ignorant
of the aggravating facts that led to the diff
Guilty, to have correct account of what did
occur sent on from Baltimore, from the only
authority that is ever recognized among
gentlemen in such cases, and that as the Of
fetal friend or friends of one or both of the
parties. This was accordingly done, and
that statement drawn up in full, and
signed by Mr.. Nays second CMr. Robbins
being in Europe), was for several months
city, no one daring then, or since, to ques
reasons it was not published in the city
papers.
Now, without at this time deeming it nee
essary to enter into further particulars, de-
sire to say that any gentleman of the hun
dreds who have read this statement, will
be able to judge if have been either hasty
or harsh, in branding as I do, the article in
the Times with falsehood. There is an evil
dent effort in this article to create the i'm
preston, not openly but indirectly, that Mr.
Bennett was not fairly dealt with as to
weapons, for after infinitely describing those
of both parties, we are given to understand
that Mr.. Bennett had one of Mr.. May given
to HIM which was 'svery hard on the trigger
80 dreadfully hard it could not be fred in
the time allowed by the terms of the fight.
But will give his own words: "Almost
instantly upon the word MI. May fred
sOne, two, three followed, and Mr.. Bennett
who pulled at his trigger, and evidently with
the best will in the world, did not succeed
in getting his weapon off. The ineffective
pistol exhausted the zone, two, three by it,
reluctance, and dropped harmless by hi
slde.'' But he gives us further to under
stand, as Mr.. Bennett had been fired at, g,
return shot" was claimed for him, which
claim being, as he says, according to rule
was of course allowed" and Mr.. May stood
up unarmed, or as he expresses it, sstook hi
place empty handed before Mr.. Bennett's
p!stol.'' And then it seems the difficulty a
to the'sineffective pistol" vanished; thes:hare
trigger" yielded, it would fire, and it wa
sfired in the air.
Now the first part of the paragraph i
false. Mr.. May did not fire at all, for hi
pistol missed fire, or snapped It is true I"
return fire. was claimed, and by grea
mistake, was acceded to by the second o
Mr.. May, who was inexperienced in sue
matters, and who, though having a stron
doubt as to any such right, nevertheless
yielded it in spirit of chivalric magnanim
ity, and told his principal to stand up IN
armed-which he did, to receive this elaine
shot. And every one knows, as Mr.. Bennett
knew, that if under these circumstances, b
had fired at and killed his adversary, eve
by the ''barbarous practice of duelling,' as
has been recognized in this country, b
would have forever borne another mark tina
that which his friend DIR. Phelps states ct
wears to this day and will carry to his grave
and that would have been s'the mark
Cain.''
I will only add that should not have col
sidered this article in the Times entitled
any notice, if it did not profess to be d
rived from one who, it is asserted, "wa
present, san eye witness" and 'acting q
surgeon to both parties," and to prov
which the most minute circumstances a
detailed, even as to the appearance of Il
''fatal disk of the avenging weapon, as Il
E merciless word was given,' and even as
the look of the eye of Mr.. Bennett, Gas
bore straight across the angry wound whi'
his opponent had inflicted upon his face
few days before, while his arms were enta
gled in his coat,'' &c. How can mar
arms get entangled in the coat whi
he has on? But enough
such senseless trash. It is sufficient for I
: to say that DR.. Phelps twas not present.,
!. the ground; was not, therefore, san Q
: witness on the ground; was not ''acting
i. surgeon to both parties on the ground; al
that he has grossly, if not wilfully misrep,
sented the whole affair.
had hoped this matter was buried a
!. at rest forever; but if the friends of Mr.. Be
nett, will, in his absence, drag it forth b
. fore the public, they shall be met whene,
: and wherever they may dare to do SO.
leave my name with the editor of the Ten
, for "those whom it may concern althou
!. | now sign with that of VERrrAs.
Miss Ast0r's Lover.
New York, May 26.-The family of w
: B. Aston have been annoyed for months
i a man named Charles Burch, aged IS, "
: is evidently crazy, and imagines Miss As
r in love with him. He has been on Bla.
k wells Island already year for loiteri
'.- around the house and accosting the you
| 1o1u or ho lob