Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-01-22
DUEL FOUGHT IN 1870
oaiS MeetiRs In Illinois on the sO-cailed
field OF Honor.

Yield OF Honor.
Thc only record of duel i'm Illinoi,
dates - far back as 1870. two wears
after the young state had been adj.
united 20 the union, and even then the
affair was OF such a character that il is
doubtful if il should be classed with
bona-fide meetings on the sorealled
field of honor.
he duel was in the natere of q Drao.
teal Joke and was designed to bring rid.
sSSse or one of the combatants. Like
nany another practical joke il had q
tragic ending. The fight was TO be
with rifles and the seconds took care TO
su2r.y only blank cartridges. One OF
The principals suspected the deception
end. unobserved. dropped ball into
his gun. When the order TO fire was
given he saw his adversary fall fatally
WOUNDED.
FordS History OF Illinois" gives this
account OF the affair:
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
Alphopso Stewart and William. Ben
nett. two obscure men. The seconds
hat made 1t up TO be sham duel, to
throw rid:cule upon Bennett, the chal4
Rnging party. Stewart was in the Sc.
rrct, but Denaett, his adversary, was
left to believe IL reality They were
so fight with rihess the guns were
ioaded with blank cartridges; and
Bennett. somewhat suspecting a trick,
rolled ball into his gun without the
! NJ, r1..rlr 1t L =
other party. Tie word fire was given,
end Stewart fell MORALLY wounded.
Bennett made his escape. but two years
a!terward was captured in Arkansas,
brought back to the state, indicted,
tried, and convicted of murder \
great effort was made to procure him a
pardon, but Gov. Bond would yield to
no entrCatics in his favor, and Bennett
suffered the extreme penalty of the
law by hanging in the presence of
great multitude of people.
This was the first and last duel ever
fought in the state by any of it's citi-
1enS. The hanging of Bennett made
duel'ng discreditable and unpopular,
and laid foundation for that abhor-
renee or the practice which has ever
since been felt and expressed by the
reoplc Of Illinois"
There were nfterward some prc-
'cnses at duels between some of the dis
tnguished men of the state, notably
that Of 1912, between james Shields and
abraham Lincoln. which was caused by
the publication of an article in a 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 0f the same matter. But the franz
'rs OF the constitution of 1913 put an
cnh 10 the barbarous practice, in
summary manner. in the adoption of
section - TO article 10, which Is in these
words:
ANY person who shan,aftcr the adop.
ton OF this constitution, fight duel
or send or accept a challenge for that
purpose. or be alder or abettor in fight.
Ing duel, shall be deprived of the right
Of holding any Office of honor or profit
IN this state. and shall be punished
otherwise i'm such manner as is or may
he prescribed ny law"
The trainers of the constitution of
iSTo, doubtless believing that the civi-
IGNITION of the age was against duelinC.
did not carry that provision into tn,
NOW constitution. thus leaving public
opinion to frown down the eode,-Chi-
Can.o Times Herald