New-York tribune., 1883-03-17
TIE SlfITH-MAHON DUEL.
SMITH suRRENDERs HIMSELF.
THE REAL CAUSE OF THE QUARREL AS AscERTAINEI
THE MATTER REGARDED AS A JOKE.

THE REAL CAUSE OF THE QUARREL AS AscERTAINED
THE MATTER REGARDED AS A JOKE.
The real cause Of the intended duel between
Charles w. Smith ana Robert Mahon, which was
eectually frustrated Thursday by police inter
ference proves to be society matter entirely. In
THK TRIBUNE Yesterday was an interview with
William A. Henna. one of MahOns friends and q
member of Theta Delta Chi In conversation yes
terday with some OF the participants III the pro-
posed duel it was discovered that Henna himself
was the indirect cause Of the quarrel between Smith
and Mah0n. Heuna Is a short. thick-set man, with
dark hair and complexion. ruddy cheeks aud u jew
ish cast Of eountenance. IL was Hennas rescm-
blance to Hebrew that induced Smith to say to
Mahon, as Mahon alleges, that Theta Delta chi mas
gone far to take Jew into membership;
This was the remark which Mahon resented and
which led to the encounter in front OF the ST. James
Hotel All of the persons interested in the case dc.
med yesterday that there any other cause OF
the quarrel than society matters.
Early yesterday morning Smith, the princlPa,
who missed his friends when they started for Ber-
rans Island and in consequer escaped arrest sur
rendered himself to Captain Clnchy. and furnished
$1,000 bail for his appearance at the examination
this morning. In the afternoon Smith was seen by
a TRIBUNE reporter at the Office of 1remain
Tyler, at No. 167 Broadway. He said he had been
advised by his counsel General Tremain, not TO say
anything any one about the affair; In answer
to some questions, however, Smith said
a did not know positively that blank CARTRIDGES
TO be used. for my second. Mr.. Olcott had not
said that absolutely but he did give me to under
stand that such would be the case 1t was WITH
that impression that started to GO with my friends
the police court would have gone there lmmedi-
atey and surrendered myself. No young lady had
anything whatsoever to % do with the quarrel IL
knew that blank cartridges were to DO used can:
not say. The whole thing makes me laugh when !
think of il but while am reminded how serl0ns IL
is after all am disgusted with the whole affair"
General TremaiD. Smiths counsel. said to the re-
porter: 1T doesn't become mo to say anything
about the matter The 5't thing tea1d t Gi II was
papers. Smith is very much liked in this office; he
is industrious and has our entire confidence think
be has not been fairly dealt with III this matter"
At the Office of the Brazilian Consulate at No. ~
Broadway, Mr.. De MendoEca. the Consul, said that
he was the guardian of Johu r. De Beenl, who
acted as a second for MahOn. lie added that Mr.
Wilmot. of the firm Of Wilmot n Gao, at No. l2O
Broadway, had been retained as counsel for lle Bel
hen "no ts son ssSd S bs u
"Well." replied the Consul, Mr. De Bellieni is In
the other room; Will call him and he can answer
that question for himself
Mr. DE Belleni told the reporter thai he was not
had not been aud did not eX pect to be u count
"That was JOKE, suess," said he.
" Is your friend. FaaTdU, u marquis as is al
legged 7" asked Lbo reporter.
ayes" said DE Bellvni, he Is a marquis from
Porto Rico. The whole thing he added grew
oat of a little trouble between Smith and Mahon
because Smith had said that ilenna was jew and
that Mahons society had taken in Jew as mem-
bsr. The remark made to Il young lady when
the gentlemen were calling"
DE Bellieni also stated that he bad seen Mahon
and fajardo. and that they were endeayorlag TO
Judge Morris 10 member Of the same society.
Theta Delta Cal
Dr. Alonzo Clark. president of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, at which DE Bellleni and
FajardO students said TO the reporter: " OF
course we cannot take any action such rs a college
like Columbia could this case. We have a care
for the discipline of the students but leave every
thing to their gentlemanly Instincts. without "A
good moral character II is impossible Tor student
10 obtain degree II our stuents are held for IN
1ictment we may take some seton, but while the
case is pending we probably will not Nor If they
are acquitted will we take any action probably.
We can expel a student for msbehavior, but IN the
thirty-seven years have been connected with the
college there has never been any such step neces-
sary"
Olcott and Mahon are students in the Columbia
Law School. The president Theodore W. Dwight
SAID I" presume We will take no action while pro-
ceedings are pending in the court"
President Alexander S. Webb, of the College of
the City of New-York. said that knew seyoral of
the parties TO the intended duel. lie had been m.
clined TO regard it as joke lie expressed himself
as being very bitter against secret societies. and said
that In the college which ne represented sQcieties
weru not recognized or countenanced. lie was
down on the whole system and believed they de-
stroyed a mans individuality. lie thought that
men between the ages of sixteen and twenty had
enough to attend to with their books without going
into any secret societies.