Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-07-16
Almost a Duel.-The Washington

ALMOST d Ducls-1uc w deuluBtVl
correspondent of the Baltimore Sun
wrote to that paper under date of July
s, and gave the following account OF a
difficulty OF which most OF our readers
have heard: "Mr. Charles Porterfeld,
of Charlestown, w. Va, and Mr.. w.
Chase Morton, of Richmond, were in
the Police Court this morning, having
been arrested by detectives last evening
on the charge of intending to fight a
duel in this District. Mr.. Geo. WASH
ington had come here as the friend OF
Mr.. Porterfield, and Mr.. r. Il. Daniel
as the friend OF Mr.. Morton. Both had
given bail last night, Hon. Geo. d. Wise
being bondsman of Mr.. Morton and Mr..
Daniel, and Mr.. Selden, of the Metro
politan Hotel, becoming bondsman Of
Messrs. Porterfield and Washington.
A crowd of friends and acquaintance
attended the Police Court. Judge Smell
said that unless challenge had been
given in the District there would be no
cause for the detention of these parties,
and unless proof of some character on
the subject were soon submitted he
would discharge them, rs he saw no
cause for their arrest. When Assistant
District Attorney Lavender came in he
announced to the court that these gem
tlemen had violated no law Of this Dis.
trict. Judge Smell then released the
parties who had been arrested, saying
that they had committed no breach OF
the laws of the District, and were there
fore honorably discharged. The duel,
il is said, had been arranged to take
place at Frank Hume's farm, near the
Washington and Ohio Junction with
the Alexandria and Washington Rail-
road, but was frustrated by the arrest OF
the parties here. 1t is understood that
Mr.. w. Chase Morton, who holds au
official position in the basement offices
of the Richmond Capitol, had been cor
responding with sister of Mr.. Charles
Porterfield, and that a suggestion that
his letters had been improperly opened
by Col. Porterfield, the young lady's
father, led to IL difficulty, in which the
honor of Mr.. Porterfield, Jr., ana Mr..
Morton was supposed to be so involved
as to Justify duel. The time for sober
thought given by the arrest, and the
publicity of the matter, which led to
the intervention of friends, has, it is
we'll understood, settled the difficulty"
State Teachers AssOciatiOn.-
The Educational Association of West
Virginia was in session last week at
Mountain Lake Park. Charleston
was selected rs the place OF next meet
ing of the association. The committee
on resolutions reported rs follows:
Resolred, That in the judgment of this as
ISOLATION the time has come when the whole
educational machinery of the state should be
unified into one system, beginning with the
primary and district schools and ending with
the normal and the university, ond we
heartily indorse and approve OF the efforts
now making looking to the accomplishment
Of this end.
ResOlred, That course OF study should be
provided for the graded and grammar schools
of the state, and in addition TO the regular
English course there should be such an OPP
tional course provided as will hit those COM
pleting il 10 enter the State University.
Resolved, That In the opinion of this asso-
citation the Legislature should, at Its next
session, make such enactments as Will secure
In all the public schools Of the state thorough
instruction concerning the physiological eff
fects OF alcohol and narcotics upon the hui
man system, and especially concerning the
disastrous results Of intemperance.
Resolved, That the school month shall con-
sist of twenty days instead of twenty-five, as
now provided by law.
The following officers for the ensuing
wear were elected: President, b. ).
Morgan; vice-presidents, w. III. An
derson, f. NJ. Turner, G. p. I.aidly and
A. 5. Purinton; recording secretary,
F. ii. Crags: corresponding secretary,
V. 5. Flemming; treasurer, L. &. Mil
Ter.