The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15
Narrative or the Last Fatal Duel Fought near
Warrington.


Narrative or the Last Fatal Duel Fought ncar
Warrington.
Some time In the winter OF 1885, received
note from the Hon. Daniel NJ. BarronGer then
n representative In Congress from North Caro-
lima. asking me to call at his rooms immediate
ly upon the receipt OF the note Tho request
was compiled with. when was introduced to
DIR. H.. also from North Carolina. and informed
that duel was impending between DR.. ]. and
Mr.. j.. tho latter lawyer OF distinction. and
| both gentlemen Of the very highest social posi-
| ton In North Carolina. DIR. II. was acting rs
| the second OF DR.. j.. and. not being versed in
the code duello. wished to DO advised by me;
| First whether being the brother-in-lnw Of DIR.
j.. he could. consistently with the requirements
OF the code. serve as his second. He was in
formed that brother-in-law. not being blood
relation. did not come within the degrees OF
consanguinty prohibited by the code to act m
second. And IL there was no objection on the
| other side, there was certainly no objection TO
| his serving. He replied that they had expressed
| their pleasure ut meeting him In such position.
| and then stated. secondly. that his principal
| had informed him that he intended to throw
away his Ere: ana he wished to know II 1t
would bo proper. with such knowledge. to ac-
company him to the field. He was answered
| that this was n matter TO be decided by himself.
was lnlofnou tuat inc putleh nuu been IN
innate personal friends and that their present
attitude grew out 81 the charge n an improper
! intimacy between DIR. J. and the wife Of tho
| challenger. I was also Informed that DR.. J. had
settled up his affairs In North Carol ma. and II
he survived tho duel il was his intention 10 set
! tie permanently In New Orleans. was further
consulted rs to the terms OF the meeting. and
suggested the placing OF the parties ut twelve
PAGES. back to back, and that they wheel and
ilrc tho words 20 be. Are you ready? Fire.
One two. three; halt" neither party to COM
monce wheeling until the word FIRE" nor TO
! fire after the word malt" He also suggested.
/ il these terms were agreed on. that Dr. n. in
| struct his principal to drop his pistol 10 an ann
| in wheeling. receive his alvrrsnry'e fire. then
| elevate his weapon and IRE in the air. rs he
! thought the movement 81 the arm aud pistol
might In some measure distract HE advorsnrys
| aim and IL after the fire his princp ui was I'M
| hit. and the other side were unsAtisilel aud n-
sisted upon another iIc. which was not prob.
rom rom BE- fHq G TSs Wound have s
his procuring another second before the matter
| could be renewed. and the effect OF such delay
would probably be the ending OF the affair;
The terms suggested were drawn up anu Tor
mally proposed. but were strenuously objected
count Of the near-e lghtedness Of their principal
the distance should be shortened TO ten PAGES,
and that the firing take place without ne wheel,
ing. / was sent for and again consulted. and
Informed DR.. II. that the arrangement ~ the
terms Of the meeting should be mutual; that no
/ had no more rightto dictate them than tho
other sids: that tho idea Of tho challenged party
having the privilege OF absolutely prescribing
the terms OF a meeting WINS a vulgar error. But
inasmuch rs his principal had communicated
70 him ms Intention not 10 hre NJ hls adversary.
and continue 60 insist on prescribing the terms
in the interest OF saving him. as he was expos;
Ing his life TO one whose life he did not intend
left Dr. H. not long before midnight and rs
| tho controversy relating to the terms was stu
going on. did not suppose that any meeting
could possibly take place until the middle OF
About O'Clock on the following morning.
thought would call upon Mr. Berrenger, and
ascertain the result OF the negotiations II any
had been reached. and while standing In front
OF his boarding house. exchanging few words
with passer by. a hack drove up. cut Of which
ensagsd to attend Dr. J. to the fieid. The writer
entered the house. with them. and Immediately
eiained: y" My God Dr. j. is Killed.
Then ! learned that shortly after ! let the
night Defore the other eide had Withdrawn
their objections. and accepted the terms pre-
cisely as proposal. and insisted upon an i'm
mediate meeting; that they had gone out at
daylight each party accompanied only by his
second and surgeon. and had sought TO Ind the
famous old Blaiens6urg duslling ground.
long since abandoned Ior such PURPOSES. All
the parties We're. Of cNrse, strangers to the
nelghbOrhoOd. and their hackmen wero unable
10 locate the ground. when. finding themselves
within sight Of the village u Bladensburg they
tho fight. The terms | had suggested were
complied with. AT the word Fire" MIR. j. in
StHftly wheeled ana urei ulttlng MS adversary
in the head before he had wheeled and killing
him instantly-a purely accidental shot.
Ia the mean time they had attracted the at
tentlOn OF the people OF the village. and immedi-
atrly upon the conclusion OF the affair they were
surrounded by the police. who arrested Mr..
managed to effect their escape. leaving the dead
body oi Or. j. on the field.
Upon learning These facts volunteered to 20
out and bring in the hody. Procuring n hack.
aud with an undertaker, went TO Bladensburg,
and tncro strut,h he'd on ~ plunk, splendidy
sol eln n,. ltaly MI All sf -
Specimens Of mankind | had ever beheld.
ontnined the permission Of the Coroner to re-
move the body and 1t being delivered 10 the
undertaken WIS taken to Washington ana
thence shipped g North Carolina
The trial OF Mr.. j. and his party before the
Coroner Jury was proceeding at me tlme 81
my arrival. found them greatly embarrassed
succeeded III having thom discharged, becoming
term Of tho couri, IT Uppcr Marlboro. Primes
Georges County, Maryland. The second and
surgeon were discharged without bail
AT the meeting OF the court, about two months
nhrrwurd. Mr, J. and myself protH,9cd IN n
buggy from Washington 10 Upper Marlboro.
sixteen miles. DURING the driv, a cpnyersetion
considering the proiriety of uking his vito
back. ana desired my uIYice on the subject. lie
stated that he had large family OF young CHI
dren; tint his iathcr-iu-law WIS one OF the
most noble and chiValric OF genllamon. that he
WIS greatly attnchcd, indeed could NOT be- more
/ had previously heard the lady described as
n remarkably duiet, refined, and mdyllke per,
10 the peculiar advantages Afforded her So
ducor from his Professional relations Ne family
physician. Under ali the circumstances did
not hesitate to advise that II his feelings Justi-
fled the act, 10 disregard any supposed censure
oil the world, anu restore his WHO 10 himself
and his children. The Grand jury ignored tho
indictment, ana shortly after his return home
his vito was received with open arms.
Thus ended, without undue nutOrlrty or the
least excitement 10 the community. one OF those
cases where tue feelings Of IA gentleman some
times render IL necessary 10 resort 10 the duellO
How different Is such a mode OF settling such
difficulties from tuut which occurred on the
streets Of Washington. within view of the Pres
identlAl mansion, some thirteen years there
alter. when an unarmed gentleman Tor such Il
supposed prOyocatiOn was shot down IN the
most cowardly manner
An episode of a very sad and extraordinary
nature IS connected with this duel some three
or four years after il took place Mr.. j. had re-
moved from his former residence 10 the county
town OF neighborlng county. As lawyer oI
large practice he was necessarily often from
home During one OF these absences n brother
ln-aw. who had his suspicious aroused at the
frequent visits TO the house by person OF the
very lowest social standing-the Keeper OF a toll
gate in the Observation-Disclosures him in the
very act OF adultery with Mrs j., beat him So
Vereiy ana elected him from the house. This
shocking discovery gave rise to the i'm preston