The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-03-27
BLOOD
An affair Between Two Officers
at Fort Douglas,
Which Can Hardly be Called One
Of Honor.

About 10 o'clock Friday morning 6
rumor wac sfoat in town that a due
had taken place between a couple OF
officers; and it gained credence when
doctors were forthwith summoned to
Fort Douglas. It finally came cut
that Captain c. B. Weston and DR..
LeCompte bad engaged in shooting
scrspe that morning, but the partic-
ulars could not be definitely learned,
as those in a position to know any
thing about the transaction are un.
willing to communicate it. 1t is.
however, known that about 9 o'clock
yesterday morning, Immediately after
muster, Captain Q. B. Weston and
Dr.. LeCompte met in front OF the
officers' quarters and began firing at
each ether. It is generally believed
that Weston fred first, getting 10 two
shots a. LeConpte, but it sppesrs
that the participants themselves Rre
unable 10 tell who began the work.
LsCOmp.e, however, retaTned the FIRE,
the first shot striking Weston in the
lett shoulder, breaking the bone and
disabling the arm. Weston tlen turned
round aad LeCompte fred again,
the ball It king near the side, oppo.
site tbs lOin and dose TO the
spine, Inficting a flesh wound. The
story has it tina. Weston then fell,
and made an effort 20 bring his pistol
into play again, when LeOompte
stepped over him and tod Weston
Ihat il be lid net leave his pistol
alone he would be killed outright,
Weston then desisted, and was cal
ried of. The shCt fred by Weston
scored LeCompte's little finger on
the left hand, the bullet then passed !
through hIs cuff, then scored him on
the under side OF his arm just be!ow
the elbow, passed up, g azed his left
side, and having spent its force |
dropped into his lett boot. This was
the only injury sustained by Lee
Conpts.
DR.. Hamilton arriving, examined |
Weston's wounds, and found it neces
;ary to perform an operation, which
De dill, opening the shoulder and
cutting out sbou5 four inches of the
bone be,oY the shoulder. The wound
IS very serious, and while the pros
poets are that Weston will recover,
it would not be at all surprising il
hings arise which would result
atally. He Is pretty easy at present.
L Is understood that the parties were
)nly a step or two away from each
yther when the matter took place.
The cause of the affair Is kept in
greater secrecy even than toe
of the transaction. 1t
vas reported to hsva been occssioned
y some disagreement concerning a
ady, but there Is no reason to be-
ieve that the e.ory is or is not true.
)ae of the rumors was that Weston
lad stabbed LeCOmpte and started to
IN, when the latter shot him; this,
II course, is incorrect. 1t is pretty
believed, however, that
Weston wrote LeCompte a letter,
he contents of which are unknown,
1ut understood to be OF g nature that
lid not please the psr5Oa to whom it
vas addressed, and might have been
leemed insulting. Regarding this,
,ae story sage it was a challenge,
mother that it gave him six hours to
igLt or be whipped, and still another
bat it gave him six days to quit the s
amp. The former story could en-
orsce the later; it was also stated s
la! the meeting Vas arranged, but {
he character Of the fight indicates
hat While there was mutual under 8
taading tlGs both would fire, no I
ime had been Get, and tae meeting |
Jas accidental. +
B.ti are moderately young men,
nd neither married. Weston was
ecently promoted, and is the junior
.aptain OF bis regiment. LeCompte
5 assistant surgeon of the regiment,
,ut it is said ia not listed, which c
would make him ameuable 10 civil &
while Weston will be held '
o account by the military.
Whatever view may be taken OF I
be afiir, whatever may have been
be cause, or whatever may be the {
eSult, it certainly cannot afford no
abstraction 10 either; and It paTtOOk
nore of the character of desperate
got thsn one would have expected
rom persons in slch positions. The
rue inwardness OF the transaction
7ili, IN Gll probability, coma out in
ime.