The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-07

Prove the Charge Appearing, Mr.. Beirne Is
Dscharged-Congratulations or Friends,
and Rcminiscence OF the Past.
More than half moon ago Mr.. Rich
ard r. Beirne, editor OF the State, turned
the key In the door OF his Office I'm
Richmond and went up to his home In
Ashland, bent on the most bospitable
intent. The commencement exercises OF
Randolph-Macon College were being cele-
brated at Ashland, and Mr.. Beirne, an
alumnus Of the college, had invited certain
OF his Richmond friends to come up and
break bread with him. They did so. but
the next morning the host excused himself,
and for the following ten or twelve days his
name was as frequently called as that OF any
other in the State. The public eagerly de-
voured everything that had any connection
either with Mr.. Beirne or the gentleman
with whom he was SAID TO have had an
affair OF honor.
The report of the meeting near Waynes-
boro', in Augusta county. the wounding
Of Mr.. w. C.. Elan, the editor OF the Wing,
and all the particulars OF the duel, were
read far and near with unflagging interest.
Mr.. Beirne's visit to Baltimore, his return
to his family at Ashland, and his future
movements, were noticed carefully. That
he is the best fellow in the world was at
tested by the expression Of public senti-
ment heard on all sides, and was clearly
shown i'm the reception he met yesterday
from Richmond friends.
BEFORE THE POLICE COURT.
Mr.. Belrne heard that warrant, cbarg-
ing him with "having sent and accepted a
challenge" was in the hands OF officers in
Richmond, and yesterday morning he left
Ashland with the determination OF deliver
ing himself into the hands Of the authori-
ties, and testing the strength OF the
charge. He came down on the IL
O'Clock train, and rs soon as the train
reached Elba he disembarked and gave
himself up to Officers Boschen and SKIN
ner, who took him to the Third police
station. and thence to the Police Court.
Sergeant Elijah Hulce, OF the police force,
escorted Mr.. Beirne, and Captain John ii.
Dinneen represented him as counsel. When
the case was called before Poice-Justice
ID. G.. Richardson no evidence at all OF the
charge contained in the warrant was adj
duced. and Mr.. Beirne was discharged.
During the day Mr.. Beirne Was called
upon by numerous friends and received
congratulations on all sides, not unmiXed
with expressions that told Of the courage
OF his antagonist, Mr.. Elan.
BEIRNE AND RIDDLEBEnGER.
This matter recalls another which oc-
Cured between Mr.. Beirne and Mr.. III. II.
Riddleberger on the 14th Of October, 1881,
a full account of which is reproduced from
the State, as follows:
On the afternoon Of Friday, October
14tb, inquiry was made at the State office
for the responsible editor OF the paper.
Some misiHformed person at the Stdte office
told the gentleman making the inquiry that
both the editors were out OF the city and
would not return until the next day. The
fact was that the senior editor OF the paper
was at his home in this city and the junior
editor was at his home in Ashland. (This
much by way OF explanation as to how the
Junior editor, Mr.. X. +. Beirne, received
the letter copied below.1 Colonel -
carried the following letter to Ashland and
handed it to Mr.. Beirne at the latter's resi-
dence about or little after O'Clock T..
NJ:
"R1cHMoND, Va. October IA, 1881.
" To the Responsible Editor Of the State:
"Sir,-The editorial in your paper OF
this evening is OF such tone and charac-
fer in relation to me that i am constrained
to request that you will refer my friend,
the bearer Of this, to some gentleman who
will represent you in such further proceed
ings as to them may seem proper.
Respectfully,
"H. ii. RIDDLEBERGER."
Mr.. Beirne's reply was written at once
and handed to Colonel -, who return
ed to Richmond the same night. The re-
ply was as follows:
"AsHLAND, VA, October IA, 1881.
L" II. II. Riddteberger, Esq:
"sir.-The editorial TO which you refer.
and which appeared in the State OF this
evening, was written by me, and | am re-
sponsible for the same. have the honor
TO refer YOU to William Ryan, Esq, Rich
mond. Mr.. Ryan'S address can be found
bv simple inquiry at the State office, or at
CAPTAIN John Hampden Chamberlayne's
residence.
..Your obedient servant,
"RICHARD +. BEIRNE.'
About II O'Clock (miInigh0 FRIDAY,
upon reaching home, found card lett
bv Mr.. -, with the request that /
should call at once at Snelling's. l I'M
mediately went to Snelling'S, where L
found Mr.. -, who handed me MIR.
Beirne's reply to Mr.. Riddleberger. This
was about 1890 O'Clock. read the letter,
and then told Mr.. that / would re-
turn i'm the course Of half or three-quar-
ters OF an hour. When | returned Mr..
gave me to understand that the mat
Ter was peremptory. He asked me to name
a place of meeting, and In response to this
request wrote q memorandum and handed
il TO Mr.. -. The following is Il copy
of the memorandum:
~ will have Mr.. Beirne on the Tele-
graph road about half way between Rich
mond and Ashland. | will leave Ashland
about daylight; the other party to leave
Richmond about daylight; both parties TO
drive on till they meet. W. Ryan.
0Richmond, October 15-2:15 n. NJ"
little after daylight Mr.. Beirne and l
left Ashland in carriage and drove down
the Telegraph road toward Richmond.
About five miles from Ashland we met n
carriage containing the parties. Mr.. -
and | alighted from our respective car
riages and approached each other. l told
him that friend and referee would meet
me about halfway between Richmond and
Ashland, and asked II he had any obiec-
tion to my driving down the road little
way to find him. Mr.. said he had
no objection; that he would wait where he
was (about five miles from Ashland). After
driving abouta mile Mr. Beirne insisted on
returning to the place OF meeting. We
returned to the place where we had left
MFR. Riddleberger's party, not having found
the referee. 1t was now about 7:50 A. NJ.
saturday.
meeting OF the principals. Mr.. Beirne,
being the challenged party, was to furnish
weapons. / unlocked the satchel in which