Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-08-21
The Last Duel Fought in Pennsyl
Vania.
From West Branch BuIIetin

Meginness IN the Williamsport BuIle-
tin, that Samuel Stewart was the only
man who fought a regular duel IN the
West Branch valley; and is a note
worthy fact that it was the last duel
fought on the soil of Pennsylvania
The prominence of the actors had
special influence in causing the pas
sage of the act of March 31st, 1906,
forbidding dueling in the state The
duel between Samuel Stewart and
John Binns, a celebrated editor of
his day, was fought on Sunday De
cember 18th, 1905, not far from
where the town of Montandon now
stands IN Northumberland county.
According to accounts handed down
Stewart spent the night before at
Andrew Albright's tavern, III Lswls
burg. The following circumstantlal
account of the affair is taksn from
John Binns' Autobiography, he being
one Of the principals:
On Saturday, November 5, 1905,
while was in the public ball alley,
at Sunbury, with bat III my hand,
tossing a ball against the wall, wait
ing for Major Chas. Naclay to play
game, n very tall stout stranger came
to me and said: My name Is Sam
Stewart of Lycoming County, you L
understand are John Binns, the edi-
tor Of the Republican Argus re-
piled L was" Il wish to know who
is the author of the letters published
IN that paper signed One of the
People p" For what purpose 2
said 1. He replied,-"There are re
marks in one Of them which reflect
ON my character, and 1 must know
the author" / declined TO tell him,
but said if there was anything un
true III them it should be corrected.
He was standing on my left, and
instantly threw his left arm across
NV breast, and with ii held both my
arms tight above my elbows, at the
same time threw his right arm across
the back of my head, violently push
ing his foreinger into the corner of
my right eve, evidently with the IN
tent of tearing it out my head. L
struck him with the bat with all nv
strength, when he let go his hold,
seized me about the waist and en-
deavored TO throw me down. We
were separated by Major NIaclay and
others who came into the alley. In
his attempt to gouge out my eve he
left a scar which Will accompany me
TO my grave. The ball alley was at
tached to Henry Shaffer's hotel. l
went into the hotel and wrote this
note:
Sunbury, Nov. ), 1905.
After threatening me like bravo,
YOU have attacked me like a ruffian.
Some satisfaction ought to be render
ed for such conduct. If YOU have
the spirit and courage to meet me as
a gentlemen, and viii appoint time
and place, and meet me with pistols,
accompanied with friend, what has
7. assed viii be overlooked by
JoHS BINS.
Samuel Stewart, Esq.
To this note Mr.. Stewart returned
a verbal answer, ''tlIat he was going
to the ciiy, but would be back in two
or three weeks" On the 18th of
December Il note was handed TO lBe
tIy Mr. Andrew Kennedy, printer os
the Northumberland Gazette:
Northumberland, Dec y, 1905.
When I received your challenge
was on my way TO the elty, asd had
ii not IN my power to meet YOU; but
now l am here, ready to sec you.
You WI, therefore. mention ths time
and plase,- and yOu viii have t. IN
vour power to try my spirits, shat
YOU 50 mach dors5ted 1t must be
Let me hear from you.
SAsuEL STEWART
l replied riat as soon as l could |
get Major Ataclay here I would lsl
L had sent for him, eH-
pected him that eveusng, and the |
coulG be the aext morning
On the evenin r;of the H3til, friend ,
me that Application had |
been made to n BagistIs5e far n war
raat of arrest, t,bind Iae over to |
kesp the peace. Iimme2iately wrote |
a Eote:
Saturday Morning
Sir have Just heaTy'l that ap-
plication has beer made t's,s magis- |
crats- to prevent our meeting l |
write to request thst ven VII instant |
" appoint some other place more |
to YOU, where myself and !
friend Will attend.
JoHS BINS.
1 tEsn wrapped Il pair of pistols IN /!
my overcoat pocket walked about !
half n nile to the hsuse of William
where L directed nv horse, |
and NJ note that came should be
L.jor Maclay soon ar
rived, md after giving him a full
statement of the occurrences, he went
TO No-thum be- rland to settle the
time aatl place While we talked III
the back room the constable raped
and inquired II / was in the house
He was told th 1t had gone up the
road. On Mao lays return lie told
me thst the mi eetin5 was to be ~ Z
O'Clock the mex morning, az the end
of fence be hind Lawshe's house
opposite Derrstowa, where se agreed
to sleep that nigh1
We were OK the ground aa o clock,
Just ia the gray of the morning. In
a few minutes We, saw M: Stewart
and Dir. Kennedy coming down the
lane After muaual salutations, M
A;aclay proposed, that he would cross
the swamp and retire to more pa
vate. place, where the ground Was
perfectly clear Mr.. Kennedy rfo-
posed that tho parties should settle
the distance [ objected. that seinS
the duty OF the seconds. Mr.. Atselay