The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-06-07
NOTED DULL!ST bEkI
Captain Mccarthy, Who Killed His
Bosom Friend.

Richmond. Va May 27.-Captain
Page Mccarthy, editor of Richmonds
leading newspaper, and known asthe
last OF the Virginia duelists. died re-
emily at the Retreat for the sick. after
a long illness.
There wa> one episode IN his life
which surrounded him with excep-
tional romantic interest. That was
the duel over the noted beauty. Miss
Mary Triplrtr. who was called Belle
of the South" McCarty was one ot
her many admirers. Another was
John Mordecai
Both men belonged To cultured
Virginia families, and were once bos-
ON friends. They had rollicked and
had studied together in the Uuiver-
>ity of Virginia during the sixties.
and after their graduation had enter
ed into the gay and facinating social
life of Richmond. Both were favori-
ties in society. end We're devoted tn
each other until stronger love filed
their heart.
McCarty was dashing. fearless and
quick TO aVenge an insult. His col
lege chum was equally courageous
and hot-tempered. Miss Triplett, the
reigning beauty showed nopartiality
for either of the bosom friends until
one night i'll April. 1873. when ball
was given in Richmond. Mordecai
and Nc Carly were there Each pres
sed his suit for Miss Triplett's hand.
The caprecious beauty showed all
her favors that night on Mordecaf
and her other admires, sighting Me
Carly in so marked Il manner that he
left the house in rage, vowing he
would see her no more.
There appeared IL few days later in
one of the local news papers poem
in which the name Mary" appeared.
Those who were aware of the incident
at the ball knew at once that the
Mary was Miss Triplett. Morde-
1 fdl WIS dl III a. ifFAahi
with a friend when he read the pub
Iication. Crumpling the paper in
his hand he exclaimed: Page Me
Carly wrote these verses, and shall
hold him personally responsible"
| The two young men met soon af-
ter in the Richmond Club one night.
Both had been drinking. There was
"A quarrel, and Mordecai knocked Me
Carly down. The latter Immediate
| w arranged fora duel to the death.
Colonel W. H. Tabb and John s.
Meredith acted as McCarty seconds.
| Mordecai's seconds were W. X. Trigg
president of the ship-building com
pany which is now building war YES
sells for the government, and W. l..
ROYAL, now Richmond banker.
McCarty and Mordecai fought their
duel the next day on the outskirts of
Richmond. They stood twenty PAGES
apart and raised their pistols. Both
fred about the same time and both
fell To the ground.
| Mordecai received fatal wound in
the stomache and died in two days
later.
McCarty had a serious wound in
the right thigh, which kept him in
bed for several weeks. After his re-
covery he was sentenced TO six
months imprisonment and TO pay a
fine of $500. McCarty served only a
few days. He was pardoned by Gov.
kemper on the statement of physic-
ians that he would die il not released.
Miss Mary Triplett was married
soon after 10 Captain Philip Haxall.
She continued social fayorite until
her sudden death from heart disease
; "A few years ago.
: McCarty never was cheerful and
happy after the duel and stunned
the society of women. His last ex-
! plot occurred some years ago, when
he served notice on John ;. Wise that
he must leave the state of Virginia.
Wise, fearing that Mccarty would
kill him. moved TO New York.
I If the predisposition to WORMS ia