Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-21
MORE TALK BUT NO FIGHT.
Additional Gossip in Regard to the
Blackburn. Rucker Controversy,

The New York World to-day has specials both
from Denver. Col, and from Louisville, Ky,
in regard to the Rucker- Blackburn controversy
From Denver it appears that Col John C.
Moore, formerly managing editor of the Kansas
City Times, and an ex-confederate officer, has
arrived there and was last might in close con-
sultation with Judge Rucker, who declined to
be interviewed on the main points that have
been raised. The dispatch continues:
Judge Rucker is now writing an open letter
to Senator Blackburn, in which ne reviews the
controversy, shows the inconsistencies of Black
burns various statements, points out to him
the injustice he has been guilty Of toward him
lRucker), and charges him with unmanliness in
his attempt to screen himself behind an as
sumed social inequality between the Senator
and himself, thereby anticipating that he might
RACES committed. and demonstrating that Sem
ator Blackburn's position is entirely untenable.
The card will be napier, il not meat-axe.-
THE DAYS OF CHIvALRY ARE GONE.
The Louisville Post Aments that the DAYS of
chivalry are gone and adds: ''If Judge Rucker
is really not gentleman why, Blackburn,
under the code, cannot face him. EVERYTHING
goes, however, to prove that Judge Rucker ia
as high socially a. the Hon. Joe himself. If
Blackburn speaks, himself, freely and rabidly
concerning Rucker and then adds that he ia no
gentleman, in order to relieve himself of any
danger OF being called out, he takes towards
refuge. II this thing il to be settled under the
code Rucker has the privilege of challenge,
and Blackburn has no excuse to leave the gage
lying"
AN OPINION UNDER THE CODE.
The following opinion by Louisville gem
tlsman who is said to be we'll acquainted with
"a 10 oysv
Under the code, of course Senator Black
burn had right to resent any affront put upon
him or the President by Judge Rucker. But
he had no right to say that the man he had in
troduced at the White House was no gentleman
or was blackguard. II Judge Rucker has be-
uayed confidence, he has not. 80 far as the
public Is concerned, given any evidence that he
ID outside Of the pale OF gentleman's consider
alton from Blackburn. The latter cannot under
the code decline to grant it to him. If Rucker
has lied, OF course he is q scurvy fellow and the
senator need not notice him. If, however. he
has simply told an ill-advised, untimely truth.
Senator Blackburn owes him satisfaction or an
apology. 1t is not sufficient for the Senator to
say that Rucker Is not a gentleman and 80 de-
cline any further action in the matter. So far
as the public knows, Fuckers position and his
word are as good az the Senator's and the
Senator himself gave him an Endorsement by
introducing him to the President
There seems to have been no motive for his
lying about the matter. There are times when
1t is necessary for gentleman to lie, and even
20 perjure himself. The Prince Of Wales made
himself vastly more popular and more respected
than he had ever been before when he went
on the stand in a certain notorious case and
perjured himself like gentleman. Senator
Blackburn may be in similar predicamept.
There seems 70 be some mystery about the af-
fair connected with the two witnesses whom
nobody names, but in any event. the Senator
has said all that he could say, and there s moth
ing for him to do but await Judge Fuckers ac-
tion."
Gen. Basil Dukes authorized opinion is that
it ID OF prime Importance to find out what
President Cleveland did say. Then it will be
easy to determine what further should be done
in view of the insulting language which has
passed Gen. Duke thinks, from Senator Black
burns discretion and caution that his report
Of the interview with the President must be
right.
Col. Blanton Duncan said: with Speaker
Carlisle called on President Cleveland few
days before Judge Rucker called with Senator
Blackburn. The President then expressed en-
tire confidence in Gov. Hill and in Tammany in
their dealing with the national ticket 1t seems
impossible he should so soon after have said
what Judge Rucker attributes to him."
WHO JUDGE FUCKER Is.
Judge A. W. Rucker was born in Harrods-
burg, KY, in 1si7. He was a private in
Shelby's brigade in the confederate army,
practiced law at Lexington, Ky. and Kansas
City, No., and came from the latter place to
Colorado IN 1879, locating at Leadville, where
he practiced law and was judge of the criminal
court. He has made fortune in the mines
and has an income of S25,O00 a year besides
what his Law practice brings him. His suburban
Denver home, known as brokerage IL one
of the finest in the west.
He is man whose courage has never been
questioned. He gained little notoriety once
in Kansas City by attacking DR.. Morrison Mum
ford, Of the Kansas City Times, for the publ
cssion Of certain articles. Judge Rucker told
DR.. Munford that he would hold him person
ally responsible IL they appeared in the col
ums Of that paper. Rucker was then making
. race for the nomination for the legislature
and the Times was attempting to defeat him.
At the time Of the fight he jerked Munford's
pistol out Of his hand. When Judge OF the
criminal court in Lesdville he was fearless in
melting out justice to the desperadoes who At
tempted to run things with high hand in the
great camp, He il a democrat