The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-21
sLApPED HIS F1CE.
Called to Account for Trad1eing Lady
Character

MADISON, Ga, August A.-tSpecial.J-.
Great excitement prevailed on the streets OF
Madison this evening over fight wbich &C.
cured between V. II. Stiles, bridge builder on
the Covington and Macon, from Kansas City,
and Mr.. B. NJ. Blackburn, assistant postmaster
of the city. A few days ago Stiles made
very scandalous remark in the presence OF TWO
witnesses about one OF our purest and most
highly respected ladies' She being without
protector, having no relations in the city, Mr..
Blackburn, having heard ID the SANDER even
before it reached the ladys ears, decided, ike
a true southerner, to protect her 1alr name
He drew paper Of retracuon "a ana 10, 70.
of the postofice and asked him
if he had made any such remarks as was con-
tanned in the writing. Stiles replied that he
may have made the remarks or he may nave
not and refused to say and demanded what
right Mr.. Blackburn had to ask
Mr. Blackburn said: "The remarks you
have uttered are false and say that the lady
about whom they were made is as pure as any
upon whom the sun ever shore, ana Tor the
time being you may consider me her relative,
and intend to protect her name. You nave
got this paper to sign" .
81 not only repeat the words have said
about her." said Stiles, "but say further that
l have proof for what I say, and refuse to
sign the paper"
Upon this Mr.. Blackburn slapped him in the
face. Blackburn is a very small man, and
Stiles weighs 200 pounds. AS Mr.. Blackburn
slapped, he drew back as if to strike him, but
halted and said:
You "are mad, and i will take this"
Mr. Blackburn said, 81 consider the lady as
pure as my wife, and southern women, which
is as high an estimate as | can place upon her
character, and you internal LIAR you will have
to take it."
Stiles replied that he did not consider those
ladies of whom Mr.. Blackburn had such an
exalted opinion as the purest in the world, or
some such remark, rejecting upon the south.
Upon this Mr.. Blackburn slapped him again.
Stiles then caught Mr. Blackburn by the
throat and began choking him. Mr.. Black
burn managed to get into the office from the
rear with Stiles still choking him and when
inside Mr.. Blackburn grabbed his pistol and
pointed it at Stiles's abdomen Stiles knocked
the weapon down as he fred and the ball pen
etrated his, (Sties) thigh passing through the
entire portion OF the limb and lodged in the
opposite wall. The ball also cut through Mr..
Blackburn's hand making slight wound.
Immediately after the firing Stiles released
his grip upon Mr.. Blackbuln's throat and cried
out loudly:
81 am shot"
He was carried over to the Glenn house by
parties who had interfered in time to keep
Blackburn from shooting the second time.
About fifty of the best citizens of the town
met at the Office of Dr. J. j.. Stokes this after
noon at o'clock and took action in regard to
the Blackburn-Stiles affair. After some
discussion the meeting appointed committee
of five, composing Mayor j.. w. Bearden, p.
S. Burney, S. II. Foster, G.. b. Stovall and DR..
j. H. Stokes. This committee will interview
Stiles in the morning, and give him a certain
strongly against him, and if he does not leave
he vii IA