The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-25

HOW He Met the GRANDSON Oh OraNos oA
Kentucky who Killed the Maine Con-
gresham In Duel-A CHASTITY Death
Bed Utterance,
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PREss)
Washington, D. c., April %.
On the journey to this city your corre'
spondent happened to learn the follow
ing singular experience of Maine man,
which will perhaps be of interest TO
Maine people. The Maine man is Mr..
James d. Lazell, formerly of Roekland,
but now of Philadelphia. He is grad
uate of the Maine State College in the
class Of 'S7. Soon after his graduation
he located in Roanoke, Va, where he re-
manned several years. He is a grandson
of the Hon. Jonathan Cilley, of Thomas
ton, who represented Maine in the Ma
tional House of Representativ and who
was killed by Representative Graves of
Kentucky, in duel, the quarrel result
ing from the bitter discussions that pre-
vailed before the war. Mr.. Cilley being
an unoompromising Hbolitionisu.
Mr.. Lazell had been in Roanoke for
two or three years, had become one of
the prominent young business men of the
place, and we'll acquainted in business
circles, when on on one occasion, at
banquet of some Importance the follow
ing event occurred; In making speech
one of the older men closed his remar ks
with comments upon the friendly rela-
tions that had been established betwee
the North aud South since the war, and
said:
"We have with US tonight q young
man from Maine Mr.. James Lazell,
who has established himself in our city
and whom we are all glad to welcome as
fellow citizen ana friend yet he is q
grandson of that stern abolitionist from
Maine, Congressman Jonathan Cilley,
who before the war was killed in a duel
by Graves, of Kentucky, the quarrel re-
sulting from the fierce abolitionist de-
bates in Congress-
The speaker sat down and Immediate
" there arose just across the table from
Mr.. Lazell, tall, lank man, whom he
had known as simply an acquaintance
for some time.
Yes" said this man, land I am
grandson Of Graves, of Kentucky"
He said it with the slow Southern
draWl and an air of triumph. The effect
upon Mr.. Lazell can be imagined.
1t has always been believed by the rel
atiyes of Jonathan Cilley that the duel
was the result or conspiracy to bring
about tie death of the stern abolitionist,
and since Graves was known to be sure
shot the quarrel with him WAS melted In
hope of the result that occurred. The
chief instigator was Southern3r whose
w hnVa bn xEh
death bed confession Mr.. Lazell heard of
in the following unexpected manner:
1t was while IN Roanoke that he went
on an excursion with some newspaper
men, and in the conversation and remin-
iscences among them the Cilley Graves
duel happened to come up None of them
knew of Mr. Lazell's relation to Cilley.
One otsthein said that he happened to bs
present at a strange death bed scene anu
confession that bore connection with
that famous duel The dying man was
he who had been somewhat generally &C.
cused of being CilIey's murderer. because
he instigated the duel with Graves in
hopes Of Cilley's death. He had reached
a great age, and was wasted almost to
skeleton by disease. He was grim,
CHASTITY spectacle, and seemed ten fold
more SO when he uttered his last fierce
words.
He drew his bony hand across his thin
lips to wipe away yellow froth that
murdered Cilley. And 80 / did. md I'd
do it again, for he was a Cd d-n abo-
litionist."
AT the conclusion of this story the
establishment of the newspaper men can
be imagined when Mr.. Lazell announced
to them that he was the grandson of the
murdered Cilley. Il. H. e.