Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-17
A SEASIDE QUARREL.
AN ERUPTION BETWEEN TWO OF
RICHmONDS SOCIETY MEN.
Have Words Over an Incident at Old
Point-An Informal Challenge.

An incident occurred only few DAYS
ago at Old Point which has finally resulted
IN bringing before that well-known tribunal
the Police Court, two OF Richmond's most
prominent society men.
The occurrence has caused quite stir in
social circles Of the city.
The participant in the affair were Messrs.
Preston Carson and Beirne Blair, who are
well and popularity known in both finan-
cial and social spheres of this city.
ARRESTED AT THEIR HoxEs.
Messrs. Carson and Blair were both ar
rested at their homes at a very late hour
| Wednesday night on charge OF being
about TO commit breach of the peace.
| They were before Justice Crutchfeld
at the Police Court yesterday morning,
and after a careful examination OF the
| testimony the Jrstice placed both the
| gentlemen under peace bonds OF Sl,OOO
| for term of twelve months.
| TIE CAUSE OF THE CHALLENGE.
Il appears that the immediate cause for
| the challenge was some remark purported
| to have been made by Mr.. Blair which MIR:
| Carson took serious objection to. ana
which the latter gentleman took steps to
have explained TO his satisfaction, IN that
be on Wednesday night sent a friend to
Mr.. Blair with a verbal message tnat he
| demanded satisfaction.
1t is claimed that this remark was to the
| effect that Mr.. Carson had acten cowardly
| in an incident which occurred while seve-
raj gentlemen were in bathing.
| BEFoRE THE JUSTICE.
| The attendance at the court yesterday
was very large. and the material was OF
better class than is generally found there.
| Mr. Blair was represented by Messrs.
John Randolph Tucker, Ii. Carter Scott,
and John Rutherford.
Mr. S. S. T. Patteson appeared for Mr..
| Carson.
Among the friends of Mr.. Blair in at
| tendance were his father, MIR. Adolphns
| Blair, Sir. JunIus A. Morris, Mr.. Lynwood
| Antrim, and others.
| With Ar. Carson were Messrs. Waller
| Morton. William II. Allison, George A.
| Gibson, and others,
BEGINNISG TIE TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Antrim. after being sworn, testified
| that he was at Old Point July Sd, and went
| in bathing; that he had been very unwell
and should not have gone in; that after
swimming some time he felt his strength
giving out, and that he called MIR. Beirne
| Blair to his assistance; that the two pro-
ceeded shoreward. and both became very
weak: that they saw Mr. Preston Carson
Oh a raft near 10y and asked HIM for assist
| ance: that Mr. Carson stated that he was
| tired. and did not come. The two pro-
ceeded alone. and when they reached the
raft Mr. Carson, IN reply TO request, held
out one Of his feet to Antrim, and the lat
ter reached place OF safety,
Mr.. Antrim said that both he and Mr..
Blair thought that Mr. Carson had acted
badly. but agreed 20 say nothing about 1t
s. al were Richmond men. When he re-
turned to the city he heard n report that
MIR. Carson had acted very nObly and
| rendered HIM great assistance, ana tnat ne
had then determined 70 tell the story Just
as il was.
Mr.. blair in his statement corroborated
Mr.. Antrim's testimony and said that he
had told Mr. Carson that his opinion OK
the time was that he (Mr. CARSON had
acted cowardly. He thought so still, and
had told him 30 when he called on him at
his office in tins city.
NR. GIBsoS's EVIDENCE.
Mr. George A. Gibson was placed upon
the Eand and his statement was a. fol,
lows: "Msssrs. Blair, Antrim, Carson, and
myself left the bath-house about the same
tine. They went out towards the rail
whiia went up the beach 10 the pier. On
nv return 10 the raft few minutes after
found only Mr.. Antrim, whom asked tc
1 no 10 tlG pier WIN mo il- Sttio ~
that he was not feeling well and dldn
think he would swim any more; that NJ
- ,cn token SICK or given out and some
OF the fellows had 10 help ain to the raft
| attached no importance whatever to the
incident.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Morton testified IA follows: met
Nr. Carson Wednesday afternoon about
half-uast and told him that had heard
Mr.. Blair say that at the time he (Mr. Car
SOM had called on him tor an explanation
he had said TO him (Alr. Carson) that ht
regarded his Mr.. CarsOn's) conduct at OiG
Point as cowardly. MIR. Carson then asked
me il would substantiate this statemen,
i'm Ny. Blalr's presence; which | said
would do, certainly. Mr.. Carson then re-
onested me. as his friend, to go tC
Mr.. Blair and say TO him that h'
had lied in what lie had told me, anc
in many other matters and TO demanC
satisfaction therefor. | found Mr. Blall
"wednesday night and told him that Mr
Carson had denounced him a. q liar ant
had demanded Of him satisfaction tor hi:
false statements. In reply Mr. Blair SAT-
that he had consulted his friends and thai
bv their advice he would refuse Mr. Car
son satisfaction and proposed to Ignore
HIM in the matter. This reply delivered
10 Sir. Carson last night about hall pas
II in the Westmoreland Club.
INTERVIEWING THE PRINCIPALS.
In order that both the principals bt
nlaced fairly before the public DfsPArcE
reporter called on Mr.. Blair and Alr. Car
son az their Offices yesterday and asked tol
statements.
MIR BLAIR SAID II do not think | care tC
saw ANYTHING regarding the matter. pre-
fer that get your information from Others.
The reporter told Mr.. Blair that he also
intended TO ask Mr. Carson TO give his side
OF the question.
MR.. cAR5oN's STATEMENT.
When the reporter called on Mr. Carson
he said he did not desire 10 say anything
further than to clearly cover his testimony
al the Police Court which, ne said, wa:
substantially as follows:
"During the afternoon of the 3d instant
Miss Gibson. BLAIR Antrim. and myself left
the bathrooms together MIR. Blair. goinl
into the water Immediately in front OF tbs
float. Mr. Gibson going down to the per
and Mr. Antrim and myself commenced Z
swim to the float from point about mar
| way between the line Of the hoat and the
pier.
THEY had GIyvS OUT.
Wehad been in the water some time ant
when had come within several yards o.
the float saw Mr.. Blair and two or three
other men on the float. and directly Mr
Blair Jumped of and swan by me. Wher
/ reached the float drew myself partially
upon it and heard Mr.. Blair call ont fol
help. looked around and saw him anc
Antrim swimming together for tho noa
about nine or ten feet on. In response Il
Mr.. Blair's request asked two Other. mer
who were standing on the float TO JumI
out and help them, as | had just gottet
hold of the float. and 1 then called TO Mr
Blair 10 catch hold of me when | stretched
myself out. as said Blair did catch hol'
Of me. as he has testified, and thus all o
us pulled up on the float.
MIR. Entrim said on the fioat. es he re
peated 10 me in the bathroom afterwards
that he had been unwell and had glyel
cut, but so little was thought OF his beinI
seriously sick that oil parties left him ol
the float alone, from which, as he testlhes
he swan to the shore alone.
BEARD NOTHING AT OLD POINT.
II saw both Mr. Antrim and Mr. Blai
repeatedly at Old Point during the mex
two days, and no reference was made T.
tho matter by either of them, who, q.
understand, returned to Richmond on tn
9th instant. did not get back to Rich