The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-26
When .Mary's form divine ! press
In Strauss sweetest waltz.
Those lips l, too, would fain caress,
Although those lips be false,

The piece met the eye of Mordecai. The
event at the ball flashed through his
mind and in a fury he swore that the
author. whom he believed to be McCarty,
should answer to him for the insult to
Miss Triplett.
The advice of friends. however, dis
suaded him from his purpose. but still
the matter weighed on his mind, and when
some time later he met McCarty in the
cafe Of the Richmond Club he was in
mood for a quarrel. The men had been
drinking and soon dispute arose over
trivial matter. Mordecai struck McCarty
in the face, knocking him down.
The blow was not returned, for when
McCarty, calm and cool. declared that
blood only could avenge the insult all
present understood what must follow. A
challenge was sent by McCarty and
promptly accepted. 1t was to be duel
TO the death. The spot selected was near
Oakwood Cemetery, where sleep the re-
mains Of twenty thousand Confederate SOL
diers.
On beautiful afternoon in May, 1873.
two carriages left the city by different
routes. bound for the place chosen. Nor
decai was accompanied by William Tabb
and John S. Meredith as seconds. while the
surgeon was DR.. Hunter Mcclure. famous
as the physician who attended Stonewa,l
Jackson in his dying hours McCarty's
seconds were William R. Trigg head of
the W. r. Trigg Shipbuilding Company, OF
this city, and William L. Royal. now q
leading lawyer here.
The sun was just sinking below the hori-
zon as the men were placed in position.
both cool and calm. At the word both
fired. and when the smoke lifted. each lay
on the ground apparently lifeless.
hurried examination by the surgeon
revealed wounds Of terrible nature. Nc
Carty's right thigh had been shattered.
while the bullet from his pistol had pierced
Mordecai's abdomen.
The duel took place on a Wednesday, and
on Friday Mordecai died, peritonitis hav-
ing set in. while McCarty was confined to
his bed desperately i'll. The seconds were
arrested and lodged in jail. where they re-
manned for six weeks. At the end of that
time McCarty. having partially recovered.
was placed on trial. All concerned declined
to testify except DR.. MCGUIRE. McCarty
was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine
of $500, as well as serve a sentence of six
months in jail. He paid the fine. but was
pardoned few days later by Governor
Kemper on the statement OF physicians
that he would die II confined.
Since that day to the time Of his death
McCarty was a miserable man. He avoided
women. and was inclined to shun all man
kind. He re-entered the newspaper field.
doing work on the Washington, Alexan
dria, and Richmond papers.
He achieved greatest fame as editor OF
the Campaign" published during the
"readjuster days of Virginia. when his
utterances were so violent that it seemed
that he would be challenged to another
duel.
MA nrfx HnI
lar work. but walked the streets of Rich
mond an ill-clad, broken, miserable man.
Miss Triplett married Capt. Philip Hax-
all a short time after the duel. She died
suddenly of heart disease few years ago
To the last she was leader of society.