The Somerset reporter., 1900-09-13

ly certain that Mccarthy had written
them. nobody had any proof that be
was the author
Half of the beaus of Richmond start.
ed out to run down the man who had
written and printed the cowardly lines.
determined to call him to account on
the field of honor. Among them was
John Mordecai, a newcomer TO Rich.
mond and a young lawyer of great
brilllancy and learning. Mordecaj
made It his business to visit all the
clubs frequented by Captain Nc
Carthy and in the presence of the fire
eating captain and other club members
TO forcibly express his opinion of the
coward and cad, whoever he may be-"
who wrote the offensive lines.
Finally Mccarthy Turned to Morde-
cal, with WHOM he had been on init
mate terms. and said. with a threaten
ing manner. ~ wrote those verses, Mr.
Mordecai."
Mordecal bowed, mocklngly across
the table.
Your admission. Captain Mccarthy,
does not alter my opinion in the least"
Friends interfered before Mccarthy
succeeded in his attempt to strike Nor
deca and forced him to leave the club
house The same day Mordecai enter
ed another club in which Mccarthy
was playing billiards. The latter COM
menced at once in loud voice to COM
ment on the fact that some people are
unable to mind their own business. and
Mordecai finally walked over to the ia
BILE at which he was playing and asked
If he meant to refer to him.
who are you. sr? sneered McCar-
thy. staring Mordecai in the face.
In an instant Mordecai had seized a
| billiard cue. with which he struck Nc
Carthy to the floor, saying as he did
SO, I'll show you who | amp
OF course a duel followed. The two
men, with their seconds, met at day
break next morning just outside the
| lakewood cemetery, below the city. So
deadly was the spirit which animated
them that they fought with duelng
pistols, heavily loaded. at ten PAGES.
At the first shot both men missed. Nc
Carthy demanded second shot. This
time the aim was better on both Sides
and 10th men fell. McCarthy's right
thigh was broken, and Mordecai was
fatally wounded, with bullet through
his abdomen.
AS Mordecai lay dying he raised him
self on his elbow and whispered to hie
second Present my compliments to
Captain Mccarthy and tell him he can
have another shot If he wishes"
Just as the second shots were fred
the police arrived on the scene too late
to do more than arrest the seconds.
Mordecai lived but six hours. but Nc
Carthy finally recovered after spend
ing months in terrible agony.
Mordecai's seconds were William NJ.
Royal. now leading lawyer of Rich
mond. and William r. Trigg, now a
shipbuilder. DR.. Hunter Mcclure, the
personal physician of Stonewall Jack
son, was one Of the attending surgeons.
The whole party was locked up In the
Richmond Jail. where they were con-
fined for several weeks. During the
period of their Imprisonment the wom-
en- of Richmond who felt that Morde-
cal had fallen In defense of one of their
number. paid them every attention.
Fresh flowers and delicious dishes
were brought each day to the cells of
the prisoners, and on their release they
were welcomed back with demonstra-
lions of joy.
Captain Mccarthy, after his re-
cosery. became reclpse and a mis-
anthrope. He lived most of the time
in Richmond and was looked upon as
misanthrope, who avoided men and
hated women And the killing of
young Mordecal went far toward
breaking up the vogue of the duel in
the south
AS for Miss Triplett, she married
Richmond lawyer and died suddenly
at her home several years ago.-Chi.
cago Tribune.