The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-23
THE BENNETT MAY 1FFAIR.
what II was that Called Out DR.. Phcips's
Gard In Yosterdsy's sun.

From tuesdays Nde Fork T,mss.
NV attention has been called to an article
In the Ne,c York Times Of the nth inst, which
has been copied by most OF the daily papers OF
this city. purporting to give by an eyo-wit-
ness" tho true story" Of tho affair which oc-
Cured nearly ono year and n half ago between
Mcssrs. May and Bennett This true story.
now for the first time made public" although ut
this late day bears no signature. but is the pro-
ductlon Of a volunteer. one Mr.. George Wilkes.
who says he received 1t from Or. Phelps, who.
VIZ are told was present and acted rs SUR
gcOn for both parties" hnvr purposcy waited
some days thinking i ri b a,n, dr. Phe En-,
his silence conclude ho stnHions it. l shall
therefore speak OF it rs it deserves.
Tho Object OF this article appearing ut this
timrl ia apparent and have no hesitation at
the start In DECLARING in the most unqualified
terms. tina, 1t is.absolutcy and maliciously false
and further. of adding that II DIR, Phelps did
give such It version To- Mr.. George Wilkes and
to fortify it, told him he vas. present that Is.
Of course. on the groundl. and In the capacity of
"surgcon to both parties. then in that cuse he
know he was making u fal ~ statement when ho
did so, Very soon after The ntIair alluded To
took place It WAS thought advisable. on account
OF the Misrepresentation that we're nlmos; daily
circulated by II sympnthizlng press. ignorant 81
the aagraVntng facts that led To the difficulty. to
have . correct account OF what did occur sent on
from Baltimore. from the only authority that ~
ever recognized among gentlemen in such cases.
and that IL the official friend or friends OF ono
or both Of the parties. This WIS accordingly
done. and that statement drawn up in full and
signed hy Mr. MAYS second MIR Robbins being
in Europel. wns for several months freely cir
culnt"d nj different clubs in this city. no one
daring then. or since. to question It's accuracy.
For many and obvious reasons 1t was not pub
Now. without at this time decming it ncccs-
snry To- enter into further particulars. desire
a. say That any gentleman Of the hundreds who
have read this statement will be- able To ludgc
II have bccn either hasty or harsh in brand
ing ~ J. do the articl" in the Tunes with false
There "a a. ti
60 crontc the Impression not openly hut inii-
rectly. that Mr.. Bennett was not iairly dealt with
stand that Mr.; Bennett bad one Of Mr., Nays
gc1"-so drcadfuy hard IL could not be fired In
the time allowed by the terms Of the fight.
But will give his own words " Almost in
two, three followed, and Mr.. Bennett. who
pulled at his trigger and evidently with the
si WI in the world dld no, succeed IN get
huustcd the one. two. three 10y its reluctance.
and dropped harmless by his side" But he
had been fired at. - return shot" was
claimed for him, which claim being, rs he says.
,,acc,a,rdine to rule. was OF course allowed. and
II. took his pnce empty handed before Mr..
Bennett's pistol. And then It seems the DIM
the hard trigger yielded. 1t would fire. and it
Now the first part Of this paragraph is false.
fire. or snapped. Ii is true. return fire was
claimed. and. by "A great mistake was acceded
to 10y the second of Mr.. May. who was ineXpc-
rienccd in such matters and who. though hay-
ing q strong doubt Ms to any such right. never
thelcss yielded i, in spirit OF chivalric magma
nimity. and told his principal To stand w un-
armed-which he did-to receive this claimed
shot. And every one knows. rs MIR. Bennett
knew. that II, under these circumstances. he
had fired at and killed his adversary. even by
the " barbarous practice OF duelling' Ms IL has
been recognized in this country. he wonld have
his friend DR.. Phelps states he wears to this
day and will carry to his grave" and that would
have been the " mark Of Cain"
will only add that should not have consid-
cred this article in the Tunes entitled To my no-
tice If II did not profess to be- derived from one
who. it Is asserted. was present. AN eye wit
ness. and acting rs surgeon 20 both parties.
and To prove which the most minute circum-
stances are detailed even us TO the appearance
Of the fatal disk OF thu avenginR weapon as
the look OF the eye OF MIR. Bennett us II bore
straight across the angry wound which his OPP
ponrnt had inflicted upon his face few days
before. while his arms were eniangcd in his
coat &c. How can mans arms get eniangled
in the coat which he has on But enough o
say that DR.. PHELPS was not present - on the
ground; was not. therefore,. an eye witness
on the ground WAS not acting rs surgeon e
both parties on tho grounds and that he has
grossly. II wilfully. misrepresentation the who'll
affair
had hoped this matter was buried and at res
forever; but If the friends Of MIR. Bennett Will
in his absence. drag II forth again before tn,
public. they shall he met whenever and wher
ever they may dare to do SO. leave my nam,
with the editor of the Times for those whom Il
may concern" although now sign with that o