Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-31
DUEL FOUGHT IN 1920.
Only Meeting in Illinois on tho so-Called
Field Of Honor.

Only Meeting In Illinois ON tho So-Csued
Field of Honor.
The only record of duel in Illinois
dates as far back as 1920, two years
after the young state had been adj
mitted to the union, and even then the
affair was of such character that 1t is
doubtful If 1t should be classed with
bona-fide meetings on the so-called
field of honor.
The duel was in the nature of prac-
teal joke and was designed to bring rid
icule on one Of the combatants. Like
many another practical joke it had a
tragic ending. The fight was to be
with rifles and the seconds took care to
supply only blank cartridges. One Of
the principals suspected the deception
and, unobserved, dropped ball into
his gun. When the order TO fire was
given he saw his adversary fall fatally
wounded.
Ford's "History of Illinois" gives this
account of the affair:
1.-THE year 1920 was signalized by the
first and last duel which was ever
fought In Illinois. This took place in
Belleville, st. Clair county, between
Alphonso Stewart and William Ben
nett, two obscure men. The seconds
had made it up to be a sham duel, to
throw ridicule upon Bennett, the chal-
longing party. Stewart was in the Sc
cret, but Bennett, his adversary, was
left to believe it a reality. They were
to fight with rifles; the guns were
loaded with blank cartridges; and
Bennett, somewhat suspecting trick,
rolled a ball into his gun without the
knowledge of his seconds or of the
other party. The word fire was given,
and Stewart fell MORALLY wounded.
Bennett made his escape, but two years
afterward was captured in Arkansas,
brought back to the state, indicted,
tried, and convicted of murder. a
great effort was made to procure him
pardon, but Gov. Bond would yield to
no entreaties in his favor, and Bennett
suffered the extreme penalty of the
law by hanging in the presence Of a
great multitude of people.
"Yhis was the first and last duel ever
fought in the state by any of its citi-
zens. The hanging of Bennett made
dueling discreditable and unpopular,
and laid a foundation for that abhor-
renee of the practice which has ever
since been felt and expressed by the
people of Illinois,"
There were afterward some pre-
lenses at duels between some of the dis
tinguished men of the state, notably
that of 1912, between James Shields and
Abraham Lincoln, which was caused by
the publication of an article in o news
paper, the Sangamon Journal, reflect
ing on the official conduct Of Shields
while auditor of state; and between
Shields and William Butler, growing
out of the same matter. But the franz
ers of the constitution of 1s4s put an
end to the barbarous practice, in a
summary manner, in the adoption of
section 25 to article 10, which is in these
words:
"Any person who shall after the adop-
ton of this constitution, fight duel
Or send or accept n challenge for that
purpose, or be alder or abettor in fight
Ing a duel, shall be deprived of the right
of holding any office of honor or profit
in this state, and shall be punished
otherwise in such manner as is or may
be prescribed by law"
The trainers of the constitution of
1870, doubtless believing that the civil
lization of the age was against dueling,
did not carry that provision into the
new constitution, thus leaving public
opinion to frown down the code.-Chi-
| caUo Times Herald