The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-12-28
DIED IN A DUEL.
such WAS the Fate OF the Han in
whose EsouOr the County UT
PcIIiS was Named.

''The names of namber of our
counties call up many peculiar associa-
iions,' remarked an old gentleman from
the country in bearing of the Gossiper
ot the Cuiumbis Statesman a few days
ago, ''Pettis county over
here. that wears its nose in the all
because it surrounds the want-the-capl
tai as we'll as the earth Sedalia, was
named after Mr.. PettIs, prominent
aud rising young politician, way back
IN the thirties. An eHeu in Pcttis' lie
which resulted in Ills death Was proba
bly, more exciting than any thai Will
ever lake place in the rounty thai was
named alter h!W."
The Gossiper sa = that the old gentle
mnu had IL siOry to tell AMI solicited
hiui 10 relate SOME incidents in Peltis'
iiie
s.Well,' said he. 81 have often heal i
my father speak OF Petus, he having
known him, and have often heard
aim tell OF the duel III whiGn both Pet
lis and bis opponent were killed, but |
had almost forgotten the story until |
saw something about il in IA newspaper
few days ago. Pettis, who was a
Jackson man in politics, was chosen, ,at
The election Of 1928, ,as Missouri's single
representative III the federal congress
over Edward Bates, the whig candi-
date.
"in 1881 Mr.. Pettis was candidate
tor re election AS jackson democrat
against David Barton, who had just
retired from ten years' term of SER
vice in the United States senate. Dur-
ing this time President jackson was
engaged i'll his persistent fight against
the United States bank, OF which the
great tinancier, Nicholas Biddle, was
the head. A brother OF the bank pre-
sident, Major Thomas Biddle, was
stationed at jefferson Barracks, neal
ST. Louis, at the time. AS supporter
of jackson III his warfare with the
bank, Mr. Pettis, i'll his canvass, assaiI'
ed Mr.. Biddle and the bank party. In
reply to one of PetIis' speeches deliver
ed in St Louis, Major Biddle wrote {
very severe article to one OF the papers
over an anonymous signature,in which
| he ridicnIcd PGttis and declared that hl
was not fit To represent Missouri II
| congress-. To this attack the youns
man replied over his own signature
! charging the authorship OF the article
upon .Oue Thomas Biddle.' In the
reply Pettis said that while the charges
against himself might be true, h'
would ike to know what evidence
Major Biddle had ever given the world
OF his manhood. This answer enraged
| Biddle and he determined to cowhidt
Pettis.
"Armei with rawhide he sough
Mr.. peltis al his lodgings in the city
hotel. Ii was early morning and but
few guests had arisen. Mi. Petus hat
been unwell for several days, and Il.
the night was very warm one he was
s.ceping on the porch adjoinin. hi
room. Here Major Biddle found hiu
il his night clothes asleep, aud assault
ed him furiously, inflicilng terrible
whipping, covering the body OF hi
victim with bruises and abrasinns.
Some OF the hotel inmates were awaken
ed aud put IL stop to the affair. Pettls
friends were highly Indignant, some
even urging him 10 shoot his aSsaiiau
on sighl. Ono friend, hoA ever, gave
him different advice. Pettis wanted It
send an immediate challenge, but thi
friend counseIed him TO have Majo
| Biddie arrested, and have Il full accoun
OF the affair printed and sent through
out tie state, t" proceed i'll his canvass
and men alter that was over to cal
BldUlc to an account. Pettis tinall.
consented 10 this plan and was clcclc'
by handsome majority; he then pm
'imscir under the charge of an expert
,ucca ducljst aud practiccd daily wit
u.gth sword and pistol.
"FiuaIly n challenge, demanding th
weapons and distance be deadly, wa
sent This was accepted by Majo
Blddic and Bloody Island, SO calie
because it was great duelin9 ground
was named aS the place OF meeting
: 'rhr weapons selected We're pistols an
the distance five feet. Etsl 81. Lou
j. now built 0i what was then BiOud
island. The tac! 81. Ssl was gem
: ! ,-,tiN b.n hen rpDalL