The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-04-21
The Wise Skinner Affair.

Mention was made of the social sensation il
| the Southern colony in New York in which Mr.
j. S. Wise and Col. r. w. skinner figure. A dis
| patch from New York says: tt appear.
| Jhtt certain remarks were made about Miss lisa
bella Greene that soon reached the ears of hei
| friends. Col Skinner, her grandfather, hasten
ed to town from Richmond, and promptly visit
ed the office.of Mr.eWise and demanded that
Mrs. Wise write letter that should be satisfac-
| tory to Miss Greene The letter which Mrs. Wise
cid write was not at all satisfactory to either
the young lady or the Virginia Colonel. The lat
| Ter thereupon placed the matter in the hands of
| his friend, Col Leslie Bruce with instructions
TO arrange things" He has been unable thus
! far, to obtain satisfaction from Mrs. Wise, who
has gone to Virginia on visit. Colonel Skinner
has returned to his home and the matter is now
in the hands CT the young ladys brother Mr..
Frederick S. Greene who is staying at the New
York Hotel. ssMr Greene is said TO have also de-
manded satisfaction from Mr.. Wise, and devel-
opments are awaited with much interest.
The Wise side maintain that the remark about
Miss Greene was dropped by some one else than
Mrs. Wise, but the tenor OF Mrs. Wise'sletter is
not at all conciatory. and she is held RESPONSE
Bile. In fact, Mrs. W Use plainly intimates that
she could not take-up the case of Miss Greene
The affair was. discussed in all its bearings by
the members OF the large Southern colony here,
but the chief point Of speculation was the proba-
bility' of a challenge Grom Mr.. Greene to Mr.
Wise. The latter is known to be a man who
never runs away from an antagonist however
well armed, White Mr. Greene is said to feel
very keenly the sting contained in the remarks,
as they were repeated to- him by one OF his sis
ter's friends on the committee. Many believe
that challenge has already been sent to Mr..
Wise, who isswating to hear Mrs. Wises side of
the story in detail.
Mr.. Wise took very serious view OF the mat
ter yesterday morning. He appeared anxious
and depressed The villiication, mortiflca-
ton and abuse to (which this trouble has sub
jected me is something awful" he said. 1t is
the first time the sanctity of my home has been
invaded. and l feel it deeply. VIII say nothing
about my wife further than that she is a gentle
woman and incapable of being scandal-mon-
ger. She is out of this affair now, and whatever
comes up will be attended to by me. OF course
won't fight duel if Col Skinner challenges me.
Everybody VINO knows me knows that wouldn't
do it. have fought al the duets that intend
to. The Southern set in New York has enough
material for Col. Carter of Cartersville without
dragging me in To acceptssa challenge now,
after my expressed resolve not to, would only
subject ME to a greater charge of cowardice."
Mr.. Wise intimated that the story of the feud
between his family and that of Miss Greene had
been made public by some one OF the latter
young woman's friends. 81 have positive in
formation he said. that the facts were sold
for cash in this city"
81 want to say,' he said, that Mrs. Wise
never said anything against Miss Greene
The New York Herald in it's account of the |
affair says Miss Greene said to & friend yester-
day:
eff Mr. Wise thinks my grandfather is too old |
to fight him there remains my brother, and if |
he thinks my brother is too young, why, there is |
still my father, who is i'll at our .home in Vir- |
glnia, and who WILL fear Jas well as my poor |
mother, be almost Frustrated by this terrible |
affair."
In regard to the interview with Mrs. Wise it |
should be said in Justice to that lady that she |
stated positively, on Monday night that it was |
her husband Who had chiefly objected to Miss |
Greene being invited to the Assembly dances. |
: Mr.. Wise told me- she said, not to invite |
Miss Greene on any account, and did what he |
wished. I suppose he had his reasons for taking |
such course, but did not inquire what they |
were
1t was learned yesterday that while Col. Skin
ner was in New York, q sfew weeks ago, a duel |
the Colonel and Mr.. Wise was so much |
under consideration that Mr.. Leslie Bruce, as
second had been sent to, Mr. Wise with formal
The only reason the challenge was
not presented was.thiat the lawyer immediate
ly on receiving Mr.. Bruce, said that his wife's |
apology had been written and was on the way |
to Col. SINNERS hotel.
There is very good chance that unless Mrs. |
Wise sends q more satisfactory apology in the
near future 'another,chailenge will be drawn up,
and this time delivered, but Mr. Wise announces
that he will not accept q challenge,