Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-01-22
DUEL FOUGHT IN 800
Only Meeting In illinois on tho. so-caiied
Field of Honor.


The only record of duel i'm Illinois
dates rs far back as 1920. two wear.
after the young state had been adj.
United TO the union, and even then the
affair was of such a character that ii is
doubtful If ii should be classed with
bona-fide meetings on the souealled
field of honor.
Inc duel was in the nature of q prac.
teal Joke and was designed to bring rid.
tease on one of the combatants. Like
many another practical joke it had q
tragic ending. The fight was to be
with rifles and the seconds took care to
snpr.y only blank cartridges. One OF
the principals suspected the deception
aud. unobscrved, dropped ball into
his gun. When the order 10 fire was
given he saw his adversary fall fatally
wounded.
.FordS 'H;story 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
Bellevilie. st. Clair county, between
Alphppsa Stewart and William. Ben
nett. two obscure men. The seconds
hat mndc 1t up TO be n sham duel, to
throw ridcule upon Bennett, the chal4
Tnging party. Stewart was In the Sc,
"ret, but Dcnpett, his adversary, was
left to believe ii reality. They were
So fight with rifles, the guns were
ioaded with blank cartridges; and
Bennett. somewhat suspecting trick,
rolled ball into his gun without the
knowledge of his seconds or of the
other party. Tho word fire was given,
end Stewart fell MORALLY wounded.
BENNETT made his escape, but two years
a!terwsrd was captured in Arkansas.
brought back to the state, indicted,
tried, and convicted of murder. A
great effort was made to procure him "A
pardon, but Gov Bond would Weld to
no entivatics in his favor, and Bennett
suffered the extreme penalty of the
law by hanging in the presence of a
great multitude of people.
This was the first and last duel ever
fought in the state by any of its citi-
zrns. The hanging of Bennett made
dnel'ng discreditable and unpopular,
and laid a foundation for that abhor-
renee OF the practice which has ever
since been felt aud expressed by the
reonlc of Illinois"
There were nfterward some pre-.
senses at duels between some of the dis
nguished men of the state, notably
that of 1912, between james Shields and
abraham Lincoln. which was caused by
the publication of an article in news
piper, the Sangamon journal, reflect
ing on the official conduct of Shields
While auditor of state; and between
Shields ard William Butler, growing
out uf the sane matter. But the franz
'rs OF the constitution of 1913 put an
cn'l to the barbarous practice, in
summary manner, in the adoption of
section 25 to article 10, which Is in these
words:
Amy person who shall, after the adop-
ton OF this constitution, fight duel
Or send or accept 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 in such Aanner as is or may
he prescribed by law"
The trainers of the constitution OF
's7o. doubtless believing that the civil
zation of the age was against dueling.
did not carry that provision into tn,
now constitution. thus leaving public
opinion to frown down the code,-Chl-
caGo Times Herald.