The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-10
wher. ALE Love.

Dominion will 0efenu llseII HsaIuee 'A'0 90
saints OF returning barbarism. Not even
Editors, who may be termed the salt oil the
e,r.b. are exempted from tho operations OF
this salutary law. So that we may have an
authoritative account from a respectable
and appreciative source, let US see what the
Richmond Dispatch says:
More than half moon ago Mr.. Richard :.
ReIrne. editor Of the Sdte, turned the Key IN
the door of bis office In Richmond anu went
mn to his home in Ashland, bent on Tue nlost
bospitable intent. The COMMENCEMENT e1 "a
arc,sss Of Rundo' PHI Macon College were De-
81" celebrated Ut Ashland, and Mr.. Beirne,
an Alumnus Of the college, had invited CIR,
tain Of his Richmond friends 10 come up ana
hrsak breal with him. They did so, but the
nsTI morning the host eXcuEed himself, ana
TSr the folloTisg 10 or ~ days his name as
aS frequently called as that OF airy other IN
The ststa The public eagerly deyoureo
syarvtbiug that had any connection eithet
with Mr., Beirne or the gentleman WAN WHOM
he was said 10 have had an aHair Vi n1hol'
The rep, 1T OF the meeting near WayhssooWFT
In Augusta county; the wouma:ins o. MI nj ~. ~
a. Exam, the edIJUr OF the Wing, and all tue
S:st;orIs-a NJ the duel were r, ad far and near
Pa",th nmaapriug interest. Mr.. Belrnes VISIT
w R,,timore' his return to bis family at ASH,
land aHd his future movements were nouctd
"srs2niIy. That he Is the oest It low IN tpe
world was atttsied by the expression Oh pun
liz sentiment heard on all sides, and was
cIsarIv shown in the reception he met yes
tsrdsy rom Richmond friends.
M B.irne heard that warrant chaslnS
him with "having sent and accepted T SnS
leppe" YVES In highlands Of ohcers ~ nto ~
moIld, aud yesterday morning ne !eit iGr gu
land with the DETERMINATION VI ~ =
testing The strength ef the charge. be came
down on the IL o'clock train, aud as soon as
the rain reached ElbA he disembarEed an9
vsve himself up to Officers Boschen ana
st;nner who took him TO the Third Ponce
s,s,inn and thence TO Police Court ser
"ssnt E,iah Hulce, OF The police force, e.
eoItad Nj. Beirne, and Captsin John d. DIX
neen represented him as counsel. mhen '1e
case was called before Police J1suCe y. "
Richardson no evidence at al O. Tue cnstSs
contained in the warrant was adaqcta, Anu AZ
Mr.. Belrne " Is discharged. Duiing tne Gay MI
hnirne was called upon by numerous ilenus,
and rsoelyed congratulations on all sides, not
nnmixed with expressions that told Oh tue
courage Of his antagonist, Mr. Elan.
Nothing is added to, and nothing taken
from, the account as given in the Dlspdtc"'
A production SO symmetrical should NOT
be wantonly robbed OF any fair proportion.
We have here the good, the true, and the
beautiful. We tread almost upon sacred
pround-at lesst the Dispatch does, and we
follow at respectful distance, with uncover
ed head. The reader will kaye observed
the sweet simplicity Of the narrative, here
mere suggestion Of academic groves, and
then the iar-lamed hospitality OF the o!d
Dominion in plain and unpretentlous
garb.
Having permitted his friends to break
bread with him the gentle host forbore to
cast upon the company even the lightest
cloud-periect Virginia gentleman and
thoughtful host up to the very moment oil
his departure. He would not wound any
guest by SO much as reference to the
coming meeting. Calmly and with dignity
he sailed forth to do his part towards en-
paging public attention for ten or twelve
DAYS, then TO wound the near-sighted Mr..
Elan in the tleshy part OF the thigh. Mr..
Beirne did not wait 10 know that warrant
had been issued for his arrest He took
cover behind no formalities. Probably the
rumor had been "broughtto his attention"
in a newspaper, and he was glad to
embrace 80 early an opportunity to|
show in so marked and polite a way
his great respect for the authorities. 1t is
not so stated, but We are permitted to
imagine, that he invited two or more police
officers 10 meet him at the train; and
having arrived there, accepted the cour.
teous escort Of Sergeant. From the half
moon till now nothing, il We may except
the unavoidable wounding OF Mr.. Elan in
the tleshy part Of the thigh-absolutely
nothing had occurred to mar the honor
able pleasure Of this pleasant affair OF
honor.
Here was severer test. Wonldany per-
son, enyious Of Mr.. Beirne's distinction,
and after he had gently placed himself in
a napkin and neatly folded down the
corners-would any person come forward
with the evidence to support the charged
In all Virginia there was not one; for public
sentiment had ennobled him as "the best
fellow in the world" He went free. Con-
graduating friends poured in upon him,
still calm, still submissive, not so proud
but he would hear mixed expressions that
bore testimony to the courage Of Mr.. Elan,
who, though not "the best fellow in the
world" had been happily wounded in the
fleshy part Of the thigh.
Virginia may not strike with the terror OF
her law the gentlemanly duelists who
dwell within her borders, but by these gen
tie, trustiul means she will preserve the
amenities Of beautiful social life. II in
the providence Of God Mr.. Elan die, We
foresee that Mr. Beirne and his congratula-
thug friends will walk with bowed heads
and reyerent hearts behind the broken
hearted widow and the weeping orphaned
children Of Mr.. Elan, as the body Of hus-
band and father is borne tenderly to the
grave; and that public sentiment which
now does honor to the living hero will have
tear for the dead who fell upon the field
Of honor. The law OF Virginia 10 full Of
terror, but a kindly public sentiment breaks
its awful force.