Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-03-20


ter, also Kentuckian, and Charles
Latimer, the victim OF hellish plot
to take his life, attended by a friend
whose name is forgotten. Along with
these was small coterie Of privileged
individuals who had come to CRAFTY
an idle curiosity and gloat over the
warm blood Of fellow mortal, DR.. B
Armstrong, generous sonl and q
good citizen as public sentiment then
existed, but an ardent and devoted
lover ofthe "kingly game" was there
wrapped in his long gray overcoat, as
attendant surgeon.
The ground Cor rather ice) was duly
measured off. the lines marked and
the stakes set. The rifles were care.
fully loaded with powder and ball and
all was in readiness to enact the last
fatal scene 10 this improvised play Of
murder. As the seconds cooked the
deadly weapons preparatory to hand
ing them to the principals, no doubt
they felt
1T has strange quick jar upon the ear,
That cooking of rifle, when you know
A moment more will bring the sight to bear
Upon your person; twelve yards off or so;
A gentlemanly distance; not too near,
II you have got former friend FOR foe;
But after being fired at once or twice,
The car becomes more Irish and less NICE"
Such was the effect upon Latimer
who was unaccustomed to the use Of
fire arms and for the first time in the
presence of death. Not so, his antag.
onist. He was a practiced duelist
and deadly shot with his tayorite
weapon, the rifle. At this junctnre,
Samuel Morris, an acting constable of
the county, James F. Chapman, jus.
tice of the peace, Maj. John r. Coons
and one or two others, appeared upon
the scene to assert the majesty of the
law and act the part Of peace-makers
Being worthy citizens and men of
honor, averse to all such bloody pro,
ceedings, they went earnestly to work
to stop the combat and were success.
full in their undertaking. 1t was
agreed that Col. White being the ag.
gressor should first apologize. After
lengthy parley, he reluctantly CON
sented. The apology was made in
appropriate terms and readily accept
ed; but in doing so, while the antag-
onists stood face to face, with clasped
hands, Latimer said, 81 accept your
apology, Col White, but / think l am
entitled to further satisfaction" At
this, the Colonies Kentucky spirit
klndled and
"Shook his very frame with ire
And this to me- he said"
"Prepare yourself" he exclaimed,
"and | will give here or elsewhere all
the satisfaction you want" At this
fresh rupture, the presence of the Of
ficers OF the law. aided by others of
more pacific and humane feelings, by
prompt interference succeeded in pre-
venting the accomplishment then and
there of the original intention-the
death of Latimer. A temporary rec.
onciliation was effected, and as the
sun arose, lighting the dark face of
the frowning bluffs on the Iowa
shore, and revealing the still darker
deed already perpetrated in the heart
of man; flooding, in the presence OF
human hate and crime, this proud val.
ley with the golden beams of peace
and love, these would-be malefactors
and their equally nefarious accom-
plices, returned to the town. Not to
forget and forgive, but to rekindle and
warm in the intoxicating bowl, the an
imosities and feelings ofrevenge which
the ride in the morning air had cooled,
but which was soon to terminate in a
more deadly issue. Returning, Lati.
mer drank till his brain became mad
dened and wild with the fumes OF the
poisoned liquor; mutual friends were
busy during the day reporting con
versations that, if unrepeated, would
have been harmless and soon forgot
ten, till he reached that stage Of fren.
zy and desperation where nothing
would suffice or wipe out the stain and
disgrace his honor had received, but
the blood of those who had caused it.
In this state of delirium after having
passed sleepless night, he armed
himself with Bowie knife and two
horse-pistolS, one of which in his de.
ranged condition of mind he loaded
with powder and the other with balls
Intercepting Glouster on the street as
he was going to breakfast he drew
his pistol and fired. Fortunately fol-
Glouster it CHANGED to be the one
| charged with powder and only burned
and bIackened his face. Latimer, te
finish the murderous work, now drew
the second pistol and was again about
to fire, when Glouster knocking aside
the weapon asked him not. to kill hin
but give him chance for his life al
he was then unarmed. $50 and arm
yourself them" said Latimer, "ant
prepare to defend yourself, for, By
CD, you must die Withdrawing
from the presence of the now thor
oughly aroused and crazy man
Glouster procured a double. barre
shot gun and again was soon upol
upon the scene Of action. Latime
was impatlently awaiting his return
whiting a pine stick with his bowie
and as his eye fell upon his man will
gun in hand, he advanced with raised
pistol to renew the conflict /; but, al
the by ISLANDERS observed, with un
steady gait and uncertain aim. As h,
still approached nearer and nearer
G.ouster prepared to keep him off
and with gun raised and cooked, tn,
sight bearing upon the person o. hi
Keeling foe, retreated slowly step b.
step, to an open culyert in the street
where the branch runs near the corne
of Lewis's store, and where farthe
retreat was impossible. He stopped
and as he did so, warned Latimer ant
his friends il he advanced anothe
step be would fire. The words wer,
unheeded, and Latimer, the genia
companion, the accomplished schola
and lawyer, the warm friend, and tn,
poor deluded victim Of an aocursel
appetite and more cursed companions
fell weltering in his blood. Samne
Wilson, who was his friend and init
mate and who had, during the morn
ing made many unsuccessful attempt
4 - T. 4. -