Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-23
The Wise Teatman Difficulty.

Mention has been made in the GAZETTE
OF a difficulty between Messrs. John s. Wise
and Charles Ieatman, at Lancaster Court
House, last week. \ correspondent of the
Northern Neck Ncws gives the following
particulars of the affair:
"Mr. Wise, during his Speech said he
Woltla put lS record against that of George
! L. GARRISON either as :; democrat or a Vir-
Slnian; Tor Garrison had been loafing around
the Confederate Dispensary in Richmond
during the war drinking the whiskey that
belonged to the sick and wounded soldiers
be had seen him there fifty times.
MI. wise had scarcely finished his sem
tence when Mr.. Chas. Yeatman, who was
standing i'll the audience, interrupted him
and said: You say that about Judge Gar
rlson because he is absent, and when you
meet him you will rctract your words. as
you did what you said about John w.
Daniel"
| Wise then replied, ''If you say that to me
off this stand you or l will not leave the
spot alive-you lying rascal" and Yeat-
man, pointing his finger at Wise, retorted,
Il do say it here, and | will repeat it to
your face when you come of that stand
and be responsible for every word | have
uttered"
Mr.. Heatman then left the Courtroom,
and tour-iitths of the whites Immediately
tolloWed-a majority Of the whites who re-
manned being democrats
Mr. Wise then continued his speech.
In few moments Mr.. Warner Ball ap-
proached the speaker, saying to him that
he came in the interest Of peace, and de-
sired, II possible, to adjust the difficulty
between Mr.. Ieatman and himself A good
deal was said on both sides, and the result
was that Mr.. Wise stated that he considered
that he had been grossly insulted, but he
would say that, if Mr. Yeatman did not in
tend to insult him, then he did not intend
TO insult Mr.. Yeatman.
Mr.. Robert Hall then read Mr.. Wise's
language, as taken down by himself and
asked If it was correct; and Mr.. Wise re-
| piled that most Of it was but that he would
rather not have the word "loafing" used as
he did not consider Judge Garrison loafer.
lie could not say either that he had seen
Judge Garrison fifty times at the Confede.
rate Dispensary, or that the whiske; be.
longed TO the Government; but he had
heard it did, and he had seen Garrison there
many times He meant to cast no stigma
on Garrison's personal character, but only
to say that he, Garrison, had been eating
TAT meat, and swinging on gate whilst he
Wise, was fighting
Mr.. John Cowgirl, who was sitting on the
lett OF the speaker, then came forward and
with bland and chld-like smile PLAYING
around his handsome features, said, that he
knew the people of Lancaster better than
Captain Wise and he would explain what
Captain Wise meant "He simply meant
that Garrison was in Il bomb-proof whilst
Wise was at the front: that was ALL"
Mr. Wise thanked the gentleman for his
explanation and said that was precisely the
case--he had only stated it Il little stronger
Mr.. Wise then proceeded with his speech
As the last word fell from his lips the
Sheriff stepped up and arrested him on a
warrant which had been sworn out BY the
Attorney for the Commonwealth, and ms
the officer went out of the Courthouse, fol-
lowed By Captain Wise the crowd rush
cd after them and the house was soon
cleared
leatman had been arrested an hour be-
fore and held in custody at the hotel.
The parties were taken before Justices
hathaway and Hubbard, at the Clerk $
office, where they had hearing. Colonel
Downing, witness for the Commonwealth.
stated that Mr.. Icatman had vowed he
would strike Wise the moment he came from
the house, and that lie knew he (Eeatmanl
would ito as he said, and that, as he did not
think AR. Wise would back down he be-
ilevcd big row would cnsue, and where
It would end we could only conjecture. Mr..
lcatman, he said, was only waiting for Mr..
Wise to come out, when lie was arrested.
ANA that II one blow had passed there would
have been Il fearful scene. Mr.. Ball was
examined for the defense who stated that
he considered the difficulty settled, that he
had informed Mr.. Yeatman, MS his friend,
that II had been honorably adjusted, and,
as he knew Mr.. Icatman to be an honor
able as we'll as Il brave man, he did not be-
lleve any further difficulty would occur.
The magistrates then discharged the prs-
oners.