Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-28
THE FIELD OF HONOR.
Another Duel Likely to Grow Out of
the Elam-Bierne Affair-The Hon.
george ID. Wise and DIR. Wheat the
Principals in the Proposed Meeting.

| George ID. Wise and DIR. Wheat the
Principals in the Proposed Meeting.
Washington Special Chicago Tribune. esd.
GOsslp is rife anent a new duel likely
| to ensue from the Elam-Bierne affair at
hlchmond. "A newspaper at Harrison
burg the l4th inst, obtained long inter-
/ view with friend of Elam relative TO
the recent duel, giving numerous details
4 heretofore unknown. and charging that
the Hon. George D. Wise had been acting
/ as friend of Bierne and at the same
| time headed a posse to try and arrest
| Elan. In the Richmond DiSDdtch. of the
18th inst, card appears from the Hon.
George ID. Wise, in which be SAYS: 'sThe
statement that headed a mob or posse for
the arrest of MIR. Elam is not true, but
| candor compels me to state that. in'the in
| terest of what l believe to be fair nIay- 7
did say to an officer of Hanover that both
! parties ought to be arrested, and pointed
him 10 the house where Mr., Elam was
but L did this after the arrest of Rierne
without his knowledge, and after | had
heard from friend of Mr.. Elam, who /
thought was authorized to speak. an an
nouncement which caused me TO think
tnat the AFFAIR was not at an end, and saw
him depart from Richmond. No one was
with me when | pointed out the house
Where Mr.. Elan was save the officer men,
TONED The policemen frOmRichmond went
there afterward, but not with me. | had
no quarrel or angry alteration with DIR.
wheat, nor any occasion for one.
WHEAT REPLIES TO THIS CARD.
in the Spirit Of the VdlIev of last Satur-
day, and makes affidavit to the facts con-
tanned therein. He gives an iteresting
account Oh MS own arrest and the search
Ior the Eiam party by Mr.. Wise's posse.
InaSmuch as his sworn reply is a direct
and positive denial of the statement of
wise, 1t is rumored that the honorable
member of Congress will call him ont.
and that another duel will be fought dur
ing the coming week. The following is
Or. w heats card to the editor of the SDlrit
Of the Valley, HarrisOnburg, Va:
I'm answer to your letter of - inst,
asking for an account of the ATTEMPTED
arrest of Col. Elam at Mr.. Denton,s honse
near Hanover Junction, said account to
be given under oath, / have to saw nv
recollection of the main facts as they
occurred is clear and positive of the
exact words used by the Hon. G. d. Wise
and others present. OF course l cannot
essay at this late day to give an account
under oath of some of the words and of
the I9e impressions 4RT9ss, made upon my mind by
Mr.. Wlse's action. My recollec-
ton is, however, clear. The
evening of June %, 1888, accompanied
Mr. Elan to the house of Mr.. Denton.
near Hanover junction. expecting
to spend the night. About IL d. M. re-
urea 10 my room. just as | was getting
INTO bed, having eXtinguished nv light. /
heard some one demanding entrance to
the house. The parties were standino
Immediately beneath my window. and. as
the moon was shining brightly, | recOg-
nlzed Captain Wise and another gentle
man whose name at the time | did not
know, but have subsequently learned was
Mr.. Taylor, Deputy Sheriff of Hanover
county. Capt. Wise caught sight of nv
head. In lew moments | heard him eX-
claim, There he is noW' | Immediately
withdrew, and of course heard no more
OF the conversation, but l suppose Mr..
Denton, to whom it was addressed, can
give an accurate account of what was
SAID. Before retiring had opened a win
dow looking out upon ihe roof of the
porch In the rear of the house. | now
craWled through this window. intending
10 let myself down from the roof of this
poTch ana escape through the garden, but
nndlnS tnat the house was surrounded
and as had not yet been perceived. | laid
doWh nat on the roof close against the
slde OF the house, hoping that | would be
unnotlced. had not laid long in this no.
sltlon, however, before | found that some
one, do not know who, was watching
me. l lay perfectly quiet, however. and
IN a few minutes heard the individual
cali captain Wise, as if he were the leader
OF the party, to come to the barn, as he
had found the party for whom they were
searching. Capt. Wise Immediately came
TO nm, and L then heard him Captain
wise call In a loud tone, and give direc-
uOns Tor cutting off my escape. He then
started around to the front of the house.
at the same time calling, sIOok sbarp
down there, and if he tries TO get away
shoot him." and more excitediy, seTake
good ann, now, kill him." Some one do
not know who then climbed on the fence
immediately below, and bringing their
arms above the roof of the house ordered
me twice to come down or they wouId
shoot me. Officer TOmlinsOn, of this city.
then appeared, and, commanding them TO
stand aside, climbed upon the root and
approached me, saying as he did so, 4 am
not afraid; Mr.. Elan won't shoot
me-. asked him if he had
warrant for nv arrest.
and he took out the warrant issued by
Mayor Darlington for Mr.. Elam. and was
ABOUT TO read it, when, looking at me for
the nrst time, he exclaimed, why, this is
not Mr.. Elan; it is nobody but DR..
Wheat then dressed and went out into
the yard, where / found Captain Wise.
Deputy Sheriff Taylor, Officer TomIinson'
and others. After talking with Mr. Tom
tam Wise and said: Captain. YOU are
the last man | would have expected TO
hnd trying TO arrest Colonel Elam.' He
replled: 'Dr. Wheat, you do not know the
Villainy of this thing | repIied that
knew nothing about the matter. but |
still thought it very curious that he
should be endeayoring to arrest
Colonel Elan. He replied that
l. should near from him in the morning.
and repeated it, going on to say some
thing more, to which l paid no attention.
OIncer IOmlInsOn being present. except
to say that | would be glad to hear from
him. He then went on to insist ON a
watch being kept to secure Colonel EIam
II he came out OF the house. Officer TOm-
lInson then took him away, still talking
about what he would do. The rest of the
party soon dispersed, and then Colonel
Elam left the neighbOrhood. | went up
the road soon after, walking, and was
Overtaken by Mr.. Taylor, in a carriage
with Mr. Wise and some others. / do NOT
know VINO. stopped Mr.. TAYLOR and
asked him If it would be necessary for
me to remain at the station, or. if not.
l wished to return home. He told me
IL L wv; was unnecessary m to remain. l thanked
him and was about to depart. when
Captain Wise called from his position
on the back seat of the carriage. II want
TO see you in the morning; | want to see
you outside of the State.' 1 replied, All
right, Capt. Wise and he again repeated
his determination to call me to account.
for what have no idea, and l replied
Certainly Capt. Wise, it will afford me
great pleasure to give you satisfaction at
any time you wish it, - They then pass-
ed out of hearing and l went on my way.
beg leave to state in addition that was
and am perfectly friendly to all the par
ties Immediately concerned in the late
controversy, and that don't believe Mr..
Blerne had any knowledge of Capt. Wise's
actlon'and would have prevented it by any
means in his power. | also desire To saw
that have no ill will toward Capt. Wise
and only make this statement at your re.
quest in the interest of justice.
LEWIS WHEAT.
A Great Senator