The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-16
And His Early
Experiences as

that DR.. Merrymnn and Mr.. Butler mad.
passed Us In the night and got there
before us. We arrived IN fremont ON the
18th ult. and Mr.. Shields addressed a note
10 MI. Lincoln Immediately. Informing
him that he was given UP as the author
or some articles that appeared In the
sangainon Journal Zone more over tho
SIGNATURE having maGe It's Appearance Mt
ms timel and requesting him to retract
the Offensive ailusions contained In said
article IN relation to his private char
acter. Mr. Shields handed this note to
me TO deliver to Mr.. Lincoln and directed
me nj the same time not 10 enter Into
any verbal communication or be the
bearer OF any verbal explanation, as such
were always liable 10 MISREPRESENTATION.
ms note vi delivered BY me TO Mr..
Lincoln. stating Mt the same time that /
would call ct his convenience for an
answer. Mr. Lincoln Ia the evening or
the same day handed me a letter address.
ed to MI. Shields. In this he gave or,
offered no explanation, but stated therein
that he could not submit to answer fur.
ther. on the ground, that Shields' note
contained an assumption of fncts and
also a menace. Mr.. Shields then address,
ed him another note. in which he dis.
avowed all Intention to menace and re-
Iduested to know whether he CMr. LincoIn)
was the author Of either Of the articles
which appeared in the Journal headed
Lost T~ownships- and signed "Rebecca;'
and. $50. he repeated his request dtia re-
traction of the offensive matter in relation
to his! private character; II not, his denial
would be held sufficient. This letter was re-
'urned to Mr.. Shields unanswered. with n
-erbal statement 'thnt there could he no
''irther negotiation between them until
he first note was withdrawn sfr.
Aields thereupon sent a note Designating
no as his friend. to which Mr.. Lincoln
spllei by designating Or. McrrSman.
These three lest notes passed on Monday
morning, the 10Th. DR.. Mcrrynan handed,
me Mr.. L.inco'n's last note when by our
Ecfves. remarked to DR.. Mcrrymnn that
The matter was now submitted to us and
mt would propose that he and myself
tlhould pledge words OF honor to ench
other to try to agree upon terms of
itnicable arrangement and compel our
readily asseuted. and We shook hands
upon the pledge. II was then mutually
agreed that we should adjourn to SPRING.
Held md there p~rocrnatInnte the mnttnr
for the purpose Of efrectIng tina secret
arrangement between him and myself.
All thissI kept concealed from Mr.. Shields.
Dur horse had got a little lame in going
to fremont. n DR.. Merryman Invited
me to take a seat In his buggy. I accept
ed the Invitation the more readily ms j
thought that leaving Mr.. Shields In Tre-
mont until his horse would be In better
kVNe IS W lWohlt fdTlltLlAte IHt
private agreement between DR.. Merry
man and myself. travelled to Springfield
part OF the way with him and part with
Mr.. Lincoln. but. nothing passed between
US on the Journey in relation to the mat
tor In hand. We arrived In Springfield on
Monday night. About moon on Tuesday. to
my astonfshment. a proposition was made
to meet in Missouri. within three miles of
Alton. on the mex Thursday; the weapons.
cavalry broadswords of the largest size:
thep artien to stand on each side OF a bar
rier n to he coptrsd to a Limited spuce,
As 7 had not been sconsuitedsatSall on the
subject and considering the 3prfvnte UNI
derstandtnsS between DR.. Merryman2nn d
myself and itetbefng known thatssMr.
Shields was left mt fremont. such a prop
oslton took me by surprise. However,
being determined not to violate tho laws
OF the state. 1 declined agreeing upo the
terms until we should meet in Missouri.
Immediately utter ! called upon DR.. Mcr-
rymnn and withdrew the pledge OF honor
between him and myself IN relation TO a
secret agreement. 1 started after this to
meet Mr.. Shields and met him about
late on Tuesday night when we both
reached the city and learned that DR..
Mcrrymau had left for Missouri. MIR. Lin
coin having left before the proposition
was made. us DIR. Merryman had himself
informed me. The time and place made
- tt$tNr& ~ ktth ~ IN = w ktkk
Springfield at II o'clock on Tuesday night,
travelled all night and arrived in Tillsbor-
ough on "Wednesday morning, where we
took In General Ewing. From there we
went to Alton, where we arrived on
Thursday. md. Us the proposition re-
Joined by General Ewing and DR.. Hope
as the friends of Mr.. Shields. We then
crossed to Missouri, where a proposition
was mnde by General Hardin and Dr..
English twho had arrived there in the
meantime MS mutual friends) to refer the
matter to. I think. four friends for a set
'tiement. This I believed Mr.. Shields
would refuse and declined seeing him. but
DR.. Hope. who conferred with him on the
subject. returned md stated tina Mr..
Shields declined settling tho matter
through any other than the friends he
had selected to stand by him on that
occasion. Tho friends OF both the parties
finally agreed to withdraw the papers
temporarily to give the friends OF Mr..
Lincoln nm opportunity to explain. Where
upon the friends OF Mr.. Llncoln-to wit,
Mcssrs. Merrynan. Bledsoe and Butler.
made q full n satisfactory explanation
In relation to the article which appeared
In the sangamon Journal Of the Cd. the
only one written by him.. This was all
done without the knowledge or consent
Of Mr.. Shields. and he refused to accede
to It until DR.. Hope, General Ewing and
tAN tfVttSS anu
that we could not sustain him IN going
further. I HIM Il necessary TO state fur
Their that no explanation or apology had
been previously offered on the part OF sfr.
Lincoln to Mr.. sfftelds and hat none was
ever communicated by me to him nor
was n ever offered to me. unless a
paper read TO me by DR.. Merryman after
h. had handed mn the ~broadsword propo-
si:ion on Tuesday. I heard SO little OF the
reading OF the PAGER that I do not know
fully what It purrorted to be. and I was
the less inclined to inquire as Mr.. Lin
coin was then gon to Missouri and Mr..
Shields not yet arrived from fremont. In
fact, I could not entertain any offer OF
the kind unless upon my own response
btffty. and that I was not disposed to DO
after what had already transplred.
I make this statement as / am about to
be absent for some time. and / him It
due 10 all concerned TO give q true YER
sion Of the matter before I leave. Your
obedient servant,
JOHN D. wH1TEstDE.
(To be Continued Monday.)