Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-22
THE PORT BYRON FEUD.
.Doe." Merryman's side OF the Recent
FIogGing Affair-Persecuh0n anu
Abuse the Alleged Cause OF His

FIogGing AnaiT-PersecutiOn ana
Abuse the Alleged Cause OF His
Conduct.
Editor Argus:
PoRr BYRON, Ill, March %. The ac-
count of the difficulty between Port BY
ron physicians contained in the Fort
Byron correspondence appearing in last
nights ARGUS, appeared to tell but one
side of the story AT least your cores
pondent failed to describe the clrcum'
stances leading up to the affair. Dr.
Merryman located at Port Byron three
years ago, and was Immediately antag
onized by DR.. Morgan in every way that
professional jealousy and petty spite
could dictate. 1t has been his public
boast for years that he had run out
every other young physician who had
ever located here" and said that Dr.
MerrYman should be no exception to the
rule. He Immediately. from the brst
week of DR.. Merryman's arrival in the
town, set about to make good his boast.
DR.. Merryman soon accumulated fine
practice, which he still retains, in spite
of the efforts of DR.. Morgan to besmirch
his character, both professional and pri'
vate. From the beginning DIR. Merry
man has been bounded and prosecuted in
manner past belief almost. DIR. Nor
gan kept paid spies" upon his track
night and day. Morgan has publicly
tiourshed pistol and made the statement
that if DR.. Merryman crossed his path
he would shoot him.
In short, DR.. Merryman has been the
subject of series of prosecutions unN
speakably nasty, and which would do
credit TO the dark ages He does not
deny the whipping of the author of his
persecution in an artistic manner but
does deny having used n loaded whip or
the butt end of any whip or any deadly
weapon. The only regret his friends and
himself have in the case is that The castl~
cation was not administered sooner, and
although administered in highly sclenN
titic manner, consider that the doctor lie
ceived not so much as he deserved.
JUSTICE.
DR.. Merryman was in the city last night
and engaged City Attorney McEniry to
defend him in the preliminary hearing OF
the charge against him Of assault with
attempt to commit great bodily injury
doc" is about twenty-six while his
friend ~ DR.. Morgan is nearer fifty.
Merryman claims that when he was sum
moned to see the patient over which the
trouble arose last Sunday, he was obliged
to leave several patients in bis office
and ride on horseback a considerable
distance into the country, but
that on the way he met a mes
senger, who told him that DR.. Nor
gan had been summoned, and that
the latter said he (Mcrryman)
would not be needed. Dr. Merry
man, however. having neglected other
bust ness to attend this supposed urgent
case, hurried on and further on, passed
DR.. Mor9an's vehicle and reached the
house some time before the latter, who.
upon arrival, demanded that either Mer-
ryman leave the house or he would not
attend the patient. DR.. Merryman left.
but before doing so admonished his rival
that the insult would be repaid.
DR.. Merryman says he then returned |
TO town, purchased an ordinary black
snake whip-nOt with a loaded handle as |
has been claimed-and going back up the !
road, awaited the return OF DR.. Morgan.
When the latter approached. he stopped |
him a"d told him there must be settles |
nent then and there He told Morgan he |
would tie his horse for him and give him |
time to remove his coat or make other |
hut that then he must either |
fight or get whipped. Morgan alighted |
and started across the meadow and Mer-
ryman after him. Suddenly Morgan |
turned and dealt Meyryman blow with
u billy. Now the tiogging began and |
Merryman. while swearing that he did |
not use a revolver or even have one about |
him, confesses that he administered |
the whip until Morgan. upon his knees, |
begged him to cease and promised not to |
b)ther him any more. The preliminary |
hearing at Port Byron next Monday will
doubtless be quite treat to the dcnizens
of that usually quiet burg.