The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-12-24

Teu Feet Apart-Almost 3ussls
to Nuxxle.
81. Louis Globe Democrat.
Some time ago, when Mr.. James
Shields, who represented two States
in the United States Senate. Was in
st. Louis, he met his old friend, Mr..
j. l.. ID. Morrison-commonly called
Don Morrison-and the two old COM
rades had a long talk about early
times in Southern Illinois. when they
were Young lawyers together. Dur
ing their conversation something was
said about an affair of honor in which
LYMAN Trumbull. ex-senator from
Illinois, was an actor. and the reccl-
lection of the incident caused the two
cronies to unite in a hearty laugh.
Curious to learn further particulars Of
the affair, a Globe Democrat reporter
made inquiry Of Mr.. Morrison, and
obtained from him a promise to give
the full details at some future time. IL
was not until a day or two ago that
opportunity was afforded for fulfilling
the promise. Meeting Mr.. Morrison
at his elegant mansion on Locust and
Twenty-eighth streets. the reporter
reminded him of his promise. and he
at once proceeded to narrate the
which occurred about
forty years ago.
Four of the actors are still alive, be
said-Shields, Trumbull. Koerner and
myself. 1t was in the winter of 1888
or '39-I am not positive which-you
know it was forty years ago. Shields.
Trumbull end VIM. G. Kinney were
young lawyers, living in BelIeville.
Kinney was a prominent young man.
a son of William Kinney, who held
the position of commissioner of public
improvements, aud was q man of
wealth and high social standing.
Shields had been teaching school al
Kaskaskia, aud had recently com.
menced the practice of Law. Trumbull
was from New England. and had his
fortune and reputation to make.
Shields and Trumbull were regarded
as adventures just beginning profes'
siional life. and it was Q matter oi
doubt whether either of them would
ever amount to anything. koerneI
was more promising man, and BE-
came acknowledgement of thu
State.
"And you? :"
30, I was then q young midshiP
man in the navy. I was afterward
asked how it happened that my com.
panions of that day all reached
positions of distinction while | wa.
left out. Ireplied that it was because
1 did not happen to be born in either
New England. Ireland or Germany.
"As l was saying. | was a midship
man in the navy. and was at kaskas
kia visiting my family on leave Of
absence. At that time Kaskaskia wal
something of a metropolitan city
inhabited by wealthy and refined
people, and the center Of fashion aud
eavety. The Convent of the Vista
ton had recently been established
there. and the pupils were made up o.
the Young ladies Of the best families
of Missouri and Illinois. A more
charming or intellectual set Of girls
never met. The court met. and
continued in session two weeks, and
amoung the lawyers who ATTENDED
were Shields. Trumbull. Kinney ant
koerner. Kinney was courting thu
daughter of United States Senator
and afterwards married her. Will.
they were there a BelleviIle paper va
received containing an article reflect
ing in severe terms on Kinneys fatheI
as Commissioner Of Internal Improve
ments; stating that he was defaultel
to the State aud guilty Of malfeasanct
in Office. The article created greal
deal of excitement, and was generally
regarded as q SANDER on the elder
Kinney, who had been Lieutenan,
Governor. and was highly esteemed
The question was, who wrote thu
article. II was charged on Trumbull
the young lawyer from Connecticut
and he acknowledged the authorship
and declared that the statements wer,
true. As soon as this acknowledg
ment was made, young Kinney made
a demand on Trumbull to write q re.
traction over his own signature, or tax,
the consequences. Trumbull refused
to retract q word, saying the article
contained nothing but the truth. H,
did not desire to fight. however, think
ing it was absurd to settle dispute o
that kind Mt the muzzle of the pistol
I had no part in the affair at the start
but Trumbull was intimate at my
uncle's. and for that reason he sought
my advice. His friends advised him
to call on me. AZ my business at tina
time was fighting. Ny advice to hin
was that If the article be true. hs
ought not to retract. He said that i
was strictly true. and Kinney was in
formed that no retraction need be
expected. The next day Shields. d
the friend of Kinney, delivered 9
formal challenge to Trumbull. Thu
matter was now becoming serious. and
Trumbull came to my fathers house
and asked me what course be should
pursue. He had no idea what . due
vas, and did not know what thu
challenge meant. { He said he had
NEVER FIRED A PISTOL IN HIs LIFE,
that his education and moral training
were opposed to everything Of The
kind, and he did not recognise thu
code by any means. told him ],
was necessary tn retract or accept the
challenge; there was no other way oi
getting out Of it.; or he might refus.
to fight. and in that case / could have
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