Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-17
WAR IN A CLUB.
The Union Club In New York Ex~
cited Over a Possible Duel.

The New York World Of Saturday says:
ga dark and lurid cloud, presaging war and
frightening Murray Hill to its remotest pre-
cincts from its proprietY, hangs over the
Union Club. About six months ago MIR. j.
T. Loubat, member of the Union Club,
well known a yachtsman and as the Ru-
thor OF an interesting work 10 two colossal
volumes on the Medallic History OF the
United States, in the presence of several
other members of the club-Mr. Willing, TO
wit, Mr.. Kimball and Mr.. Henry Turnbull--
casually made some very disparaging re-
marks about lady of high character, well
known in the society Of New York, none or
whose relatives or particular acuuaintances
were at the moment present Mr.. Henry
Turnbull considering such illusions to
such a lady an offense not to her alone,
but to the club and to the gentlemen
present, promptly resented them in very
strong language According to cne account
he said to Mr.. Loubat instantly, That Is
the most blackgusrd remark aud the most
ungentlemanly speech that / have ever
heard a gentleman make Mr.. Loubat, it
is sverred, upon being thus addressed
shrugged his shoulders and quickly walked
away. The matter was talked over freely
in the club for day or two, at the end Of
which time Mr.. LOuhat left New York In
pursuance, his friends aver, of a previously
formed plan, for California. While there It
is said that Mr. Loubat found himself pur-
sued with highly colored and exaggerated
reports of the Incident, which, as he was In
formed, were freely circulated throughout
New York to his detriment and disrepute.
After getting through with the business
which took him to California, Mr.. Loubat
this week returned TO this city, and upon HIS
return, It is said, wrote letter to Mr.. Henry
Turnbull, denouucing him as a slanderer,
and asserting that he had maliciously
and willfully circulated a false statement
about Mr.. Loubat To this letter Mr.. Turn
bull, it is said, declined to make any reply.
but after consulting two fr tnds prepared a
circular to the members of the Union Club,
embodying Mr.. LOubat's letter TO him, and
with it the statements as to the ORIGINAL
affair of Mr.. Arthur Willing and Mr.. Kim
ball. These two statements are not abso-
lutely identical as to the details of the in
cident Mr. Willing in his statement saws
that Mr.. Henry Turnbull observed: THAT
is the most BLACKBOARD remark and the most
ungentlemsnly speech l ever heard gentle
man make Mr.. Kimball gives this as the
language used by Mr.. Turnbull: You are a
dirty, low blackguard. and are not fit to be
a member of any decent club or to be ad-
m tied into any gentleman's house Every
member of the Union Club has received q
copy of Mr.. Turnbull's circular, of which
1000 copies were issued.
Naturally, the affair has caused great ex-
citement among the members of the Union
Club. The vital question seems to be as to
the action proper TO be taken by Mr.. Loubat.
Concerning this, sundry members of the
club were last night consulted. One gen.
tleman, esteemed an authority on the rules
of private belligerenee, holds that If Mr..
Vikings version of Mr.. Turnbull's remark
be correct, the remark, though not concilia-
tory or complimentary, cannot be consider
ed as challengeable Offense, Mr.. Loubat
having been charged, not with being q
blackguard, but with having made black
guard remark unworthy Of a gentleman,
which seems to be fine and delicate dis
tinction. II, on the contrary, Mr.. Turnbull's
version be correct, the same authority holds
that Mr. Loubat is bound to slap Mr. Turn
bulls face by the motion to that effect
of a glove. The circular bears date
at the Union Club, May IL. and is adj
dressed to the members OF the Union
Club. 1t recites the whole controversy be-
tween Mr.. Turnbull and Mr.. Loubat, Mr..
Turnbull affirming that Mr.. Ioubat had
used such foul and offensive language about
a lady that 1t was Mr.. Turnbul's duty as
gentlemen to resent it. Not few members
OF the club, in conversation last night, ar
gued that though 1t was penitentiary Of
fense In New York to send a challenge,
there were occasions on which challenge
must be sent. If two gentlemen agreed to
fight, they said, some way could always be
found to evade the law by sending the chaI-
lenge and fighting the duel beyond the
State limits. Another difficulty, however,
arises. Though Mr.. Loubat is said by his
friends to be eager for fight, high authori-
ties consider It an open question worthy to
be discussed by the club whether, after so
long time had elapsed since the offense
was given, Mr.. Turnbull can be required or
even permitted under the code to give
Mr.. Loubat satisfaction"