Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-09-08
THE TERRY-BRODERICK DUEL

THE ERRY-BRODERICK DUEL
A New statement of tie Circum-
| stances that Led to the Fatal Meet
ing
An old Californian has related to the
St. Louis Glo6e-Democrat what he
claims were the true circum-
stances leading to the duel between
Senator Broderick and Judge Terry, of
California, in 1859; which resulted in
the death of the former. He saws:
| ''The men were warm personal friends,
and both were democrats when the
vigiiantes ran the town, in 1857. This
was before Broderick's election to the
senate, but Terry was on the bench.
One day, while the vigilantes were ar
resting, trying, and hanging whoever
they pleased, Terry happened to be in
the United States naval agents place,
when sergeant and squad of the
vigilantes came there to arrest some
one. Terry protested against it, and
in the talk that followed was jostled
roughly by man named Hopkins.
What followed was done very quickly,
the judge whipping out knife and
slasning Hopkins, half severing his
head from the body. He escaped and
went to the United States arsenal,
where The vigilants followed, width sev-
eral small pieces of cannon, and
threatened to attack unless the fugi-
tive was given up to them. He was
offered protection, but preferred to
surrender himself, and did so. He
was held a prisoner about three
months, and was repeatedly threaten
ed with hanging. The officer in COM
mand of a few little war ves-
sels in the bay, asserted that if
he was executed he would lombard the
stronghold of the vigilantes, which
was known as Fort Gunny- bags, but
Hopkins recovering, much to every
body's surprise, Terry was tried and
acquitted. Broderick during this time
retained his friendship for Terry, and
did what he could to assist him in his
strait. The rupture occurred after
ward with the split in the democratic
party, when Broderick espoused the
boilers and Terry remained straight
democrat. The 'splits" held conven-
ton and made nominations, and short
ly after the ''straights" did the same
thing at Benton's church, which was,
for lack of something better, used at
that time for political gatherings. In
the evening after the last convention
meeting was called, at which num-
Der of the prominent politicians of the
state spoke. Terry was not much of a
public speaker, but, being pressed to
do SO, made few remarks, and to
r,I,nI,la1 fha ~ hor w.
pronouncing it as of such diminutive
proportions that Broderick, its origina.
tor, could put it in his pocket. There
was apparently nothing personally Of
fensive intended; but synopsis of the
different speeches having been tele-
graphed to San Francisco, appeared in
the papers there the following morn
ing. Broderck had evidently read the
reports before or on coming to the
breakfast table, but made no remark
concerning them until asked at the ia
BILE by Daniel S. Perley, an English
man, what his opinion was regarding
them. Broderick replied something to
the effect that he had until then al
ways thought we'll of Judge Terry, and
considered him a gentleman, thus init
mating that his opinion had
changed. Perley retorted that Brod-
erick had no right to use such
language in the absence of the judge
and in the presence of his frieLds,
adding that he considered himself one
of the latter. Broderick made a harsh
reply, of which several different ac-
counts were given, and added some
thing that Perley considered personal.
He challenged Broderick in conse-
quence the latter placed the matter in
the hands of his friends, who decided
that the social position ofthe senator was
so much above that of Perlev that a
meeting could not be had. When this
conclusion was made public the judges
friends apparently looked to him for
continuance of the affair, and the
papers in discussing it intimated
curiosity to know what he was going to
do about it, Broderick waited Sc 5eral
days without making any allusion, and
then remarked, while the conversation
at political meeting, that he came
| from Washington to California to con-
duct politica, campaign, and until
that was over would not permit him
self to be drawn into any personal
difficulty. At its close he was ready
for any o. them, or something to that
effect. This was made public, but was
ignored by Terry until three months
later. On the day following the cleo
ton he sent his resignation to Gov
Weller, and at the same time chal
lepged Broderick. The latter accept
ed, and meeting was arranged, but
the authorities interfered and arrested
Broderick. Arrangements were con-
cluded a second time, when Terry was
arrested. His friends did not hesitate
to assert that the interference was at
the instigation of Broderick's friends,
who feared meeting, and both parties
were SO inceased that a third attempt
was made, with the above fatal result.