The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-20
MAYEND NAC CHALLENGE
LAWYERS WILSON AND CLARK
SLUG EACH OTHER.

An Objectionable Bill in Equity the
Cause of q Lively Meeting on q
Central Railroad Train-Lawyer vii
sons Story of the Trouble-The Cor
respondenoe That Passed Between
the Two Attorneys.
There is a probability of duel between
lawyers H. f. Wilson of Savannah, and D.
H. Clark, of Tusculum, Efhngham county,
but whether it will be a Georgia duel or an
Alabama duel has not yet been settled.
The two attorneys had a setto on the At
lanta fast mail between Eden and POOler
Yesterday morning. The Ettingham attor-
ney got in a singing blow under Mr.. Will
sons left eye, and the Savannahian pinned
the Effingham man several plump blows in
the face, under the chin and behind the
ears. The fight took place shortly after
the train lett Eden. Mr.. Wilson got on the
train at Guyton. Just before reaching
Eden he went into the smoking car, where,
be claims, Mr. Clark attacked him from
the rear Friends interpOsed and the COM
batants were separated They came on to
the city, and it was expected that the
matter would be settled here, but neither
attorney saw the other during the day
Mr.. Clark went back to Tusculum on the
''shooflyn train and Mr. Wilson went up TO
Rome on the fast mail last night. Some
of their friends think that the sorimmaze
is only preliminary to a further meeting
and perhaps duel
THE ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.
The trouble had its origin in a petition
presented at the spring term Of the Effing-
ham court by Mr.. Wilson, in which it was
alleged that Mr.. Clark, his father and Mr.
MIngledorf, used unfair means
IN securing deed from
colored man named Scruggs, whom Mr..
Wilson represented. Mr.. Clark, after
reading the bill, asked Mr.. Wilson if any
of the information in the bill was drawn
from his own knowledge. Mr.. wilson re-
piled that it was not. Mr. Viii
son said that Mr. Clark seemed to be
perfectly satisfied and said as much. Moth
ing further passed until about June l,
when Mr.. Wilson received a letter from
Mr.. Clark stating that the explanation
that the former made in a conversation in
Savannah was wholly unsatisfactory
and he demanded before resorting to the
measures usual in such cases that the Of
fensive personalities should be expunged
from the bill.
II replied at once" Mr.. Wilson said II
told Clark that | had nothing to add to the
conversation we had in Savannah"
A month later Mr.. Wilson received an
other letter from Mr.. Clark asking for
personal interview.
81 replied to that letter." Mr.. Wilson
said, THAT any communications he desired
to make with me must be reduced to writ
ing"
ASKED FOR A PERSONAL INTERVIEW.
Mr.. Clark then asked for a personal in
terview at an office of one Of his friends in
Guyton. Mr.. Wilson did not reply to the
letter, and nothing more was heard of the
matter for a month In the mean
time and before any further CORE
spondence passed, the two lawyers
met several times. Mr.. Wilson sat
In car a couple of seats in front of Mr.
Clark at one time coming down to Savan-
nah He said that he met him in the court
house at Springfield, and sat within four
feet Of HIM when there was no one in the
court room except AIR. Wright and a few
Others A few days after that meeting
Mr.. Wilson received the following letter.
GUYToN, GA, July 49, 1889.
E. H. Wilson, Esq.
SIR: Your past contemplate and cowardlv
conduct precludes every possibility that YOU
will accord me an interview this eve ling. II is
my purpose, however, that you shall not lack
opportunity.
This viii be handed 20 you by either my friend
Mr.. Elkins or Mir. Strange
Any proper place FOR this meeting will he ac-
ceptable TO me that you may name. Very re-
SPOCt4ui'y' II. II. CLARK.
MIR. Wilson sent this reply:
GUYToN, GA, July IS, 1889.
d. II. Clark, Esq, Guytoa, Gu
SIR-Nour note of this date has lust been
handed 10 me by MIR. Strange. As to your
opinion Of my conduct, will say that do not
consider you judge of the motives that actu.
ate gentlemen. have no particular desire to
meet you, and will certainly not avoid doing so
II in the line Of duty. You kH7lc You can see
me Just when you rant to- either here or in Sa
Vannah. Very respectfully,
II. f. WILSON
MEETING LOOKED FOR.
Some warmth of feeling began to be vsi-
BILE, and those who knew about the matter
were on the lookout for a rencounter. A
short while ago Mr.. Clark came down to
Savannah and stopped at the Screven house.
Mr.. Wilson did not know he was there. tut
passed the hotel and saw Mr.. Clark sitting
In the door. He went over to Broughton
street and soon after passed the Screven
house just as he had done before.
Mr.. Clark had gone in the
meantime, and neither saw the other
again. The matter dragged along until
yesterday when the two men met. They
met 'cornfeld" style, and several parties
who saw the atfray said that it had Just be-
gun To be interesting when the combatants
were separated. The outcome of yester-
days meeting is awaited with some interest.