Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-09
DUEL STOPPED.
THE AFFAIR BETWEEN Mr.. MORTON
AND MR.. P0RTERrIELD.
The Parties Arrested in Washington
The Matter AmicabIy Settled
The Cause, Sc.
The Washington Star Of yesterday

Inc asnlngton Stur Oh Jesteiusy
says:
Yesterday afternoon the police wsre
informed that W. Chase Morton. OF
Richmond, Va, and Charles Portertield,
Of Charlestown, W. Va, were in the
city for the purpose Of lighting q duel
in this vicinity. Detectives Carter and
Raft at once set out to apprehend the
parties. 1t was supposed that Mr..
Morton and his friend, Major X. 7.
Daniel, would arrive on the Rich
uond train due here at $40 o'clock, but
that train was late, and to this fac.
is ascribed tho miscalculstion which
prevented the meeting. The officers,
about 4:30 O'Clock, went to the st.
Marc Hotel, and there found Mr.. Nor
ton and his friend, Major Daniel, aud
arrested them. They accompanied the
officers to headquarters, and at once
sent for Representative George ID. Wise.
They went to Judge Snells residence,
where bail was given by Mr.. Wise in
$1,000 for the appearance of the par
ties at the Police Court to-day.
The officers later ascertainod that
Mr.. Porterfeld and his friend, George
Washington, said to be relative of the
first President, were at the Metropoli-
tan Hotel. The officers found Mr.. POr-
terfeld in his room. lie appeared to
be nervous, and stated that he was
here for the purpose of meeting Morton,
but that he did not know Of the
arrangements, and he was waiting
for his friend Washington, who was
acting for him. While speaking Mr..
Washington came in and he was ar
rested. In his room were found two
pistols. Porterheld and Washington
were taken 10 police headquarters, and
subsequently Mr.. W. L. Selden, OF the
Metropolitan Hotel, went on their bonds
for appearance this morning.
1t is learned that Mr.. c. b. Butcher,
a Virginia politician, made all the ar
rangements for the meeting, aud that a
written contract was signed that they
were to meet with Smith Il Wesson 80.
c4libre reyolvers at ten PAGES, aud to
continue firing TIL one or both fell. In
the event that neither had fallen when
both revolyers were emptied, the duel
lists were to load again and continue
firing. IIalfpast7 7 o'clock last evening
was The hour named. and the farm OF
Mr.. Frank Ilume, near Alexandria, the
place for the meeting. All the arrange
merits had been completed by the Por-
teIfeld party, even to the selection Of a
surgeon and engagement of 4 carriage,
wh,n IL was ascertained that the other
party bad been arrested,
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
1t was surmi:od by some that the
cause was politics, both parties being
known as politicians, Mr.. Morton hold
ing 4 position in the Office Of the State
Auditor At Richmond. Ii was learned,
however, that politics were not in
yolyed. The affair, it seems, grows out
Of family matters. Mr. Morton had
1een corresponding with daughter OF
Colonel Porterheld, and IN the course
of the correspondence inllma.ei tha,
bis letters had been tsnpered with.
This caused a correspondence between
Colonel PortCrieid and Mr.. Norton
ard Air. Charles POrteriield took il ut
in place of his father.
IN THE Police COURT.
This morning, in the Police Court,
Judge Smell sent for Prosecuting. At
torney Lavender and inquired Of Ln il
he had any papers in regard 20 81 all
legged duel case. Mr. lavender SAID he
would report on the case IN 4 Isg nj
nutes. The Judge said "If tnerc
has been 10 challenge g'vei III ;Ee Dis
trict we have nothing t. % with a.;
case whatever. II my information Is
correct, see no Justification TOR the
arrest. understand these psrt' 5
we're arrested on telegram from Rich
mOnd. There are number Of gentle
meu here from Virginia, and | see 40
reason why they should be detained.
Unless there are some papers filed ii
Ire case pretty soon | Sh4li discharge
them"
THE ALLEGED DCELLISTS Dis
CHARGED.
A few minutes later Mr. Lavender re.
turned into court, said no had exam
ined the case, and thought no Distric:
law had been violated. He had no
charges to lie. The Judge requested
all parties interested to step up. lie
said : 1.-The prosecuting attorney re.
ports that upon an examination OF the
case he finds that no breach Of the laws
of this District mas been committed, and
you are all honorably discharged from
this jurisdiction"
THEIR HONOR SATISFIED.
Ii was said this afternoon that the
misunderstanding between Morton and
PolteTfeld had been satisfactorily ar
ranged, and that there would be no ap-
peal to the code.
The Dispotch learns from a source
that is entirely reliable that Mr. Morton
did not register at any time during his
stay in Washington, and that j. is true
that the affair has been amicably set
tied.