The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-23
THE r.. KING CODE.
SAD FRATRICIDE UPON THE DU-
ELLING GROUND.

ELLING GROUND.
Two Carolinians Exchange Shots Near
Savannah.-Brothors = in = Law Es-
tranged by Petty Politics-.Onc
Fires Into the Air But Receives His
Opponents Bullet--His Death.
SAVANNAH, January 15.-IIarlcy, who
w;,S shot in the duel Saturday is still
alive. Physicians say he cannot survive
through the night. His wife has arrived.
LATEK.-W. :. Harley is dead. The
coroner's jury returned Il verdict that the
| deceased came to his death from Il gum
shot wound by some person unknown to
the jury.
Origin of the Dificulty.-The Chal-
lenge and Contest--The Man Who
Would not Widow His Wife's Sister
-.Erratic Course of the Wounded
Man. =
rSavunnah NeWs.]
The community were greatly surprised
to learn yesterday morning that a duel
had been fought on Saturday afternoon
within three miles Of the city, and that
one of the combatants had been very
seriously, and, in the opinion of the SUR
geon attending, MORALLY wounded.
The parties were strangers, and arrived
here during Friday morning after
noon and registered at the Pulaski House.
They were very quiet in their movements
and being strangers their object was UNI
known.
The first arrivals were Mr.. Walter
Stevens Harley, II of the principals,
accompanied by Mr.. Charles II. Farmer,
! his second. Later in the day Mr.. Robert
F%iShburnc, the challenging party, his
second, Mr.. w. NJ. Rivers, and his broth
err, +. G. F%ishburne, arrived and register
| ed ut the same hotel. The parties are all
from Walterboro, Colleton county, South
Carolina. Mr.. Harley and his second,
Mr.. Farmer, arc prominent lawyers OF
the place. Mr.. Robert Fishburne, who is
q brOthcr-in-law OF Mr.. Harley, hvving
married the sister Of Mrs. Harley, is
Clerk Of the County Court, and his broth
CIR, MI. +. C. Fishburne, is Il Trial JUS
tice.
They left the hotel Mt different hours on
Saturday morning, and proceeded to the
junction of the Atlantic and Gulf and Sal
vannah and Charleston Railroads, near
which the duel took place. MeSsrs. lIar-
lev and Farmer walked ont, and reached
the junction some time in advance of Mr..
Fishburne and his friends, where they
were Joined by a surgeon according TO
appointment. After the usual prelimina-
rieS for
THE COMBAT.
The ground was marked off, the distance
being ten PAGES. The weapons used were
Colts and Smith d. Wesson revolvers,
The party had regular duelling pistols
but on examination they were found to
be unfit for use. The former weapons
we're then produced, and Mr.. Harley
gave his antagonist the choice. Mr.. Fish
burne chose the Colts, and the Smith &
Wesson, small size, was taken by Mr.
Harley. These arrangements completed,
and the principal being properly station
ed, Mr.. Rivers, the second Of MI. Fish
buri,e, said:
gentlemen, are you ready?"
Mr.. Harley replied promptly, ~ am
MI. Fishburne simply rejoined, ready.
Mr.. Rivers then gave the word:
"Fire! ono, two, three, STOP!
Mr.. F%ishburne fired promptly, willis
MI. Harley did not fire until after he was
hit, and then fired upwards in the air a
he was falling. AS he fell to the GROUND
his second FASTENED to him and discov'
cred that he had received a wound in the
left side, having taken his position facing
his antagonist, and thus exposing hiInscl
moro than was necessary. The surgeon
who was present. after examination, eX
pressed the opinion that the
WOUND VAS MORTAL,
the ball having penetrated the cavity.
Mr.. Fishburne and his party immcdi
ately left the ground on foot, taking thu
track of the Savannah and Charleston
Railroad.
The surgeon remained with Mr.. Harley
giving him stinlulantS and morphine
and doing everything necessary TO relieve
him.
Mr.. Farmer secured a wagon from
some parties living in the vicinity, ant
with their assistance and that of the sur
geon, the wounded man was placed com
tortably on Il mattress III the vehicle, an
then proceeded to the city. On reaching
here, he was carried to the st. Joseph
Infirmary, at the cornCr Of Habershan
and Taylor streets.
We visited tho hospital and saw the I'm
fortunate man, who was under the intlu
ence of morphine. Mr.. Farmer, hi
friend, was with him, and seemed TO b.
much affected at the condition of hi
! pTllclpal, anu tHpIeSSCu tHc iilcItioi v
remaining by him as long as it was nee
essary.
ORIGIN oE II DIFFICULTY.
Mr.. Harley and Mr.. Fishburne are O
the same political faith, both being zeal
Gus Democrats, but for a long time, W
understand, there has existed i'll feeling
between them, and this hard feeling wa
increased and en- bittered on account Of
dispute concerning the recent municipa
election in Walterboro Of the 7th instant
Harley having espouscd the sideto whicl
Fishburne was opposed. We understand
they have had several street rencontres.
THE OFFENSIVE WORDS.
We learn that the correspondence be
tween the parties shows that the chal
lenge was the result of offensive word
used to Fishbnrne in his office by Harle,
On the evening of the Sth instant. On
the morning OF the 9th Mr.. Fishburn,
addressed a note to Mr.. Harley, reterrin,
to the Objectionable language used to hin
and requesting retraction or withdrawn
of the same. In reply to this Mr.. Harle,
disclaimed recollection of having uset
the language quoted, and added, "What
did mean to say was that you and w. j
Fishburne arc weak and cheap copies o
the Ishett family, without their brains o
courage, and I must positively and EN-