The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-19
rHE BENNETT-MAY DUEL.
now THE STONY rs TOLD ny MIR. MAYS
BILTIMORE FRIENDS


MprsiuuU nm ileluWNiC, III january OF last year.
nbout which there was so much wild talk ut the
time %! is occurrence. would have been allowed
10 drop entirely out of sight. Recent publica-
tons in the New York papers. revvng the mat
ter have made it necessary to return to the sub
jest. and to give once for all. an absolutely cor
rect statement OF all the incidents connected
with the affair. The latest publication on the
subject was made in the Now York Times OF yes
terdny. tho particulars OF which ara given by
George Wilkes. as coming from DR.. Phelps the
surgeon to Mr.. Bennett on the OCCASION.
The statement in brief rectcs that " no man
could have behaved better or moro bravely on
the ground tnan Mr. Bcnnett;" that he spared
the life Of Mr.. May. who was at his mercy;"
and before the signal words were, counted
out he tBcnnctD had forgiven him and fired In
the air"
How fnr tho statement purporting to come
from DR.. Phelps is true may be seen from the
eubIoined accurate account 1t IA added in the
Times version, and in the main this part Is
pistols Those Of Mr. Bennett were hair trg-
gers. new. of the finest fashion, most delicatcly
Those oi Mr.. May were not new. Indeed. they
were very Old and appeared to have seen much
service, They were less eleRan, and less nicely
finished than Mr.. Bennrtt's. and ns II turned
out. Very hard upon the trigger the ono that
NJ Bennett got was so, at Least" .,....
renee. the principals and their seconds DR..
Charles Tilghman OF Baltimore. surgeon to Mr.
May. anu Mr. Brnnrtt > surgeon. Ut. lOfiIS-
who is referred to in the Times statement as an
"eye-witncss"-- were within reach, but neither
Of them was nm eyewitness io the meeting.
The weapons used were regular durlling ps-
tolls the property ~ one time Of Major William
Gilmor. uncle of Mijor Harry Gilmor of Balti-
more. private letter row in the possession OF
friends Of Mr.. May in Baltimore witten at The
time ol the occurrence to nm Interested party in
in the Union Club New York. II which the
principals H. tho duel were members, gives the
true story 81 the meeting and Us results, This
iaffa ia NH ali "A tnr
tho first time. SAYS:
have been extremely worried heretofore
TINT could not give YOU an actual statement Of
the circumstances attending the late duel, but
all the parties were hound in honor to say
nothing further than that one shot was fired.
and that then the asEreved party stated he was
satisfied Your Letter to me to-day. however,.
shows that thero has nee IL shonorabe hreach
NJ iaith on the pnrt ot MIR. Bennett. and now
make you n detaie statement of the affair. Be-
fore. however. coming to the proceedings OF tho
he.d. MAY say that | have every reason to OK
press dissatisfaction WITH the manner in which
the itld was reached. a, II mad been agreed
that the utmost privacy was necessary to reach
thu point agreed on. only Frederick May his
surgeon. and second went together: while ON
the cars in the other party were Mr., Bonnet his
Second. sur. econ, servant. and another person
female nurs". still, rs No interruption took
place on account Of tiis. Will pass j 10y. When
the n"l! WIS reached mo- ono. To the best OF my
knowledge WAS in sight, except Mr., Bennett.
his second. Mr. Roth ns. Mr.. MAY and his s"c
ond. DR.. Frederick Nay ut Baltimore. The two
seconds agreed thnt on" toss oi hnli dollar
should decide whose pistols should be used,
who should give. tnr word. and VINO should
have the choice " position. Dir. Mays ser9nd
Won the toss. AMI the m-n were pnred. MIR.
Mays second inadei the pistols with regular
charges " powder and hu."-, weighing fully
nrit's second. Nnt tn" Weapons were
paced In tho bands * the priu irnls. B.iorr
ever. Mr.. MaN's second called the attrI',nY ~
Mr. Robbins To- the "a . that III, powder had not
might miss IRE, although ~, believed they
wopia no,. NJ. R,,s..ln7 sud III" loading, was
post n about TN paer- 20 III" windwar! Of rs
principal. and b" wa- placed twelve Ia -es from
ns arr Rs r6 6aa rrSG %. May y S4r S
slipped a liiil' and he s"id. N2t ready rhe
ready As to Nj. Brunru's reply It
could not be heard whether he said
ready or not ready the wind blow
ing SO high. The h.rl time The question was
asked both nr,ncignls we're Ynlereteod to say
give the word. Fre-onr two. thre'. Both prin-
cipus raised their pistols. Mr, May. was rs cool
was very nu'h exc,tel and nervous his body
swaving Ia and fro Brtw.en one and two
cap WIS h"ar.l 20 snap. Believing IL to be- Mr..
Brnn It ani asked: Did your pistol frrf' Nc.
Bennett said No. did not shoot / claim my
shot Hero IS my pistol Mr.. Bennett was ex-
b. r. icrici Nav then said: Ny princl-
PALS pistol has snHpned. Do you claim a shotP
Bennett: o. Or; Frederick May with some
DrSltaton. lpu IAN nave ". ami turning 10 ms
lrincpn. Mr. Nay, stand up as YOU are Mr.
Frederick MAJ did SO. - calm and Us cool rs
any one could ~. Mr. Bennett then raised his
Ilsto 70 an anglo OF about - degrees and fred.
H. then took on" or two steps toward Mr.. Nays
second and sand n was entirely sat listed before
by rs manner nat he WINS iuiiy satisfied.
pr. FREDERICK May then asked Mr. Robbins
II he WIS satisfied, md he gave the same answer
A. his principal. The principals then touched
hands In compliance with the code under which
Ia. meeting had taken place =,
Mr.. Robbins then went no to Mr.. Mays sec
ond and sad: DR.. Nay. there are none others
her. would be glad Il you would agree with
Ne 70 say there was on" shot. md the aggrieved
party stated he WIS satisfied. Dr. May IN re-
ply SAID or course / will agree 10 the request.
with tie understanding that none OF us make
Your le,t.r shows that there has been yio-
auon Of the agreement proposed by Mr.. Rob
bins. and that that violation is the act OF Mr.
hohhinsa principal. In regard 10 tho agree
meni to give Mr. bennett shot after 1lr. Mays
pistol missed fire.. subsequent advice on such
matters GOES to show That it hrs meyer br'n
heard OF that the opponent n the party wnt So
pistol missed fire has claimed shot, II he dld
not tire az or 80 close 10 the time Of the pistol
snappng mat u was pres lmed he could not
hold ms IRE put, on the con ,rary gentlemen IN
mat position have always loW red their pistols,
and demanded thnt The plsto.s OF both should
De iooSea 70 ana prmed. And one gentleman
ed that 1t WA Toe dutyoi Mr.. May second to say
stop. and either draw the loads or shoot on
tho y st"'s and r".oad tem for the parties, as a
i ,nisa hIr H. h"l 2 enot IN TINS country and II
being presumed Tat only gentlemen are on
gagged IN suen affairs. he had never heard Of n
single case where il had been claimed that n
miss IRE eNf The other party right 20 an un-
returned shot. But Or. Frederick May was
comparatively unfamiliar with such things, and
ne contingency Of a miss fire had not occurred
70 MIN 50 whom Nr. i 'nnett claimed a shot on
Mr. May ms. fire. although the second thought
r. hni 40 right TO il. still he granted II. and
IRE rick May stood up ike n man 70 receive
It, when Mr.. Bennett nrld IN the air
Inc oAOwlns then are the points OF the &C.
cuuence:
J. The mon were placed twelve PAGES apart.
?. ! ne word WAS glVen--a cnp was heard 10
snnp, u WIS thought 20 huve been Bennett 5
Ts'pl thai had missed fire. Mays second called
stop T. prevent May IRON firing after such II
8. lly's second wont 10 Bennett AMI asked
nm 4 .i- pistol had fired In a very nervous
Ilnu 'r ho sud Ae had mol, and claimed his IRE.
Alnl 'n' '.murer il was granted him and he
Hr t.Nt,t&.g
Mas s- aonl then asked II the agGreycd
Ialtt WH, satisfied. Mr.. Bennett moved toward
MH h"' Iid amt with great rNgerness shld he
WIS sniltaod perfectly satisfied The same
ql"s'. WIS then asked hy Mays second OF
Mr toubn- hr stated they were satisfied.
Nr. Robbins then stated to DR. My That
ol.i '.' +"nr were Witnesses, ana asked ~ Dr.
hly WIS willing thr statement should bee made
l'| a. ir 1GH s.lur Tire .ng4riryed party cN-
ir-.'l lH".--i' satisfied. Dr. May stated that
l'' .n'. n.. t."u tn such STAT rmrnt, und II
YVES ln' Ia Understanding that no Other State