The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-09-15

, !
"Political differences arc settled casio,
| nowadays than they were half centur,
, ago, said an old, gray haired Statesman
to Il Philadelphia Times writer. ''I re
member distinctly" " he continued, "whcr
James Watson Webb, one Of the grca
> editors of the oldcn tine, lay wounded
ut the United States Hotel on Chestnu
street, near Fourth. lie was shot in
duel within twenty-five miles of tho city
by Kentucky statesman, Colonel Thos
L. Marshall, son of Chief Justice Mar
shall. That was forty-four years age
IN the morning, i'll lonely field skirting
tho Delaware State line, below Marcus
Hook. Josiah Randall, ex-Speake1
Randali's father, was one of the partici-
pants. All ill-fccling had arisen from
a Congressional debate on the repeal of
the bankruptcy bill of 1911. About the
same time Monroe Edwards was coh-
vlctcd III New York of forging drafts to
The tune of $50, 200 on bankers and 9TH
Grs III that metropolis. Among those
| who defended Edwards in court was
| Colonel Tom Marshall. An editorial
| paragraph from the pen Of Colonel
webb, published in the New York Cou-
n?r and Enquirer during the famous
tlal, read as follows: "Wc learn that
Hon. j. f. Marshall after wandering
about the country for some thirty DAYS,
occurring on temperance and giving his
| experience as devotcc Of the bottle,
mas returned to defend the notorious
Monroe Edwards. For his fortv days
absence lie will draw from the Treasury
500 Tor making Il mountc-bank of him
sen and dcvoting his time in advocating
| n pin1 q -.
IN addressing the jury Marshall advcrtcd
to tins attack, and spoke in a meaning
way OF charges made against him and
fellow members in receiving, by way of
bribery, Britisl coin to the music of
500, 900 apiece. The defeat of his client
and other grievances were too much for
Southern blood, and the satisfaction then
usually cXactcd among gentlemen was
demand.
After some skirmishing meeting was
hciI II Wilmington, and prcliminarics
settled. The arrival of the parties be-
coming noiscd abroad, by a clear re-
course to Stratagem they out manUuvcrcd
legal vigilance. DIR. Carr and DIR. Glib
son, son OF Professor Gibson of this city,
waited on the siXfoot two Kcntuckian,
while Major Morcll, proprietor of the
Courier. and DR.. Tucker, Virpinian.
tiIen residing here, did the honors for
Colonel Webb. Josiah Randall was
present rs friend of the editor. He
was then, like Colonel Webb, staunch
Wing, by daybrcak ten PAGES were
measured oil, and Il stone placed at the
cXtrcmlties OF the line. Major Morrcll
tossed a coin for choice of position. The
SILVER falling i'll the grass caused some
controversy, but Marshall settled it by
lmpahontly calling out to his second:
Give 1t to them, doctor. | came here
to nave a shot ut him, and | do not
mean to be boillcd by tlihcs." 1--WE ask
%on to give nothing, proudly answered
the Major. eve ask but what is right. ,"
Again the coin spun upward and fortune
WAS again with the New Yorker The
duclists and their friends were searched,
according to stipulation. "Gcntlcmcn,
are You rcady?' sang out the Major as
the sun was Struggling into light. ~
am, said the Colonel. 81 am not" put
in Marshall, now the object of general
observation. With searching, earnest
look at Colonel Webb, he flung off his
coat and slowly lifted his hat and tossed
1t aside. Now, sir, am ready" The
Mayor distinctly commanded "Fire-
one, two, three. The Simultancons rc-
port made some believe at first that only
one had fired. Both were wide of the
mark.
"Auothcr shotn' shouted Marshall
raising his pistol. Again came the sig
nal and Colonel Webb was observed
slightly staggering. He was prevented
from i4lllhS by one of the seconds.
Cpon the surgeon reporting to Marshall
that Colonel Webb w4s W yunded below
the knee, he tGundcrcd out: "Hit in the
knee. 1t is the damndcst lowest net of
my life. We must exchange another
shot; that man has injured me more
than any being on earth. If he can
stand | expect and demand that we shall
exchange fire again" The bystandcrs
ihlerposlng, the matter was LETT to the
surgeon decision, who made it under
stood tsiat 1t was impossible, owing to
thc ColoncI'S condition, to continue the
matter ut present The Southcrncr
tncrcupon shrugged his shoulders and
observed: "Wc have no further business
here and may as well return to the
Colonel webb, on learning of tho de-
lhnnd made for third shot remarked:
L nave entertained no unkind feelings
toward Mr.. Marshall Mt any time, nor tio
now iccl unkindly toward him. 1 do
iiol NAo" WY he should bear such un-
compromising malice toward me-" When
Marshall returned 10 the hotel he cover
ed down somewhat and made inquiry of
AY. Randall as to the extent of Colonel
Ncbb's injuries. His subsequent career
lost much OF its hrilliancy by too free
use of stiIlul0nts. The wounded Colo
mel was laid up for somo time in the
United States Hotel. He took it good
naturedly and, upon one occasion, he
lacetIousty remarked: 81 am confined to
bed undcr Marshall law" Under the
statutes of the State of New York he was
tried and convicted, but Executive elem
cncy bong evoked, intcrposed in his be-
hall. Colonel Webb was appointed
minister TO- ljraail by President Lincoln,
and whiio in that position Inc is credited
with obtaining a settlement Of tho claims
OF the United States against that coun-
try, and OF being instrumental, through
his intimacy with Napoleon Ill, of