The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-13
One Of Jackson's Duels.

None of Gen. Jackson's biographers
gives the details of his first duel, and
h. himself never cared to speak of the
matter in later years; but some years
ago granddaughter Of Col. Waitstill
Avery told me the full story.
Waitstill Avery was Massachusetts
man who went to North Carolina,
carrying with him letter Of recon-
mendation from no less parsonage
than Jonathan Edwards. He soon
acquired reputation and influence, and
in time became Attorney General Of
the State. 1t was his custom to take
students of law into his family, who
became tutors of his children.
In 1884, when Andrew Jackson was
but II years old and ambitious to be-
come lawyer, he applied for this
situation. The tradition is that he
was refused because daughter Of
Avery's took a dislike to his ulcouth
appearance.
Young jackson next applied to
Spruce McCay, lawyer in Salisbury,
N. c., in whose Office he was fitted for
the Bar, and he shortly made his ap-
pearance in the Courts. When Jack
son was 81 years Of age he and Avery
met in the trial Of case at Jonesboro,
Tenn.
1t was Jackson's habit to carry in
his saddlebags a copy Of Bacon s
Abridgment," and to make frequent
appeals to it in his cases. This pre-
cious book was always carefully done
up in coarse brown paper, such as
grocers used before the neat paper
bags of the present day were invented.
The unwrapping Of this much-prized
volume before Court was very
solemn function as performed by
Jackson.
Now Avery had by this time drop
ped whatever of Puritan sedateness
had commended him to Jonathan
Edwards. and was uncommonly fond
of a Joke. He procured a piece Of
bacon Just the size of the book, and
while Jackson was addressing the
Court he slipped out the volume from
it's wrapping and substituted the
bacon.
At length Jackson had occasion to
appeal to Lord Bacon. 1t was an i'm
proper case, and he would not trust to
his memory. He would confound his
opponent by reading from the book
itself. While still talking he raised
the bearskin flap of his saddlebags,
drew out the brown 1paper package,
carefully united the string, unfolded
the paper with the decorous gravity of
priest handling the holy things Of
the altar, and then, without looking
at what he held in his hand exclaimed
triumphantly, eve will now see what
Bacon says y
The Court, Bar, Jury and spectators
we're convulsed with laughter before
Jackson saw the trick that had been
played on him. Of course, he was
furious. He snatched a pen, and on
the blank leaf of law book wrote a
peremptory challenge, which he de-
livered then and there. He asked for
no apology, nothing but blood would
do. He commanded Avery to select a
friend and arrange for meeting at
once.
Avery made no answer to this pe-
remptory demand, thinking his pep
perry antagonist would laugh, rather
than fight, as he grew cooler. But he
did not know the young man. Jackson
grew hotter instead of cooler. Next
morning he sent this note, which was
full of bad spelling. My North Caro-
lima friend had seen the original, and
in copying it had corrected the or
biography; but these are the exact
words:
Sir: When il mans feelings and
character arc injured he ought to seek