The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

I liiESS years OF age anu one OF lIlS AellO-
soonest men have ever seen. He had
/ served gallantly through the war as a
/ private soldier in the Richmond HowiIz-
ers. was q fellow Of the most delightful
/ wit. and. take him all in all, / think rs
vas about the most charming companion
I have ever known. Handsome. gallant,
chivalrous. affectionate. and witty. have
Tever seen his Ike. He too. was desper-
siely in love with Miss Triplett.
/ The night OF the german and after It
was over McCa-ty went 10 the Enquirer
/ newspaper and offered them the follow
/ ing verses. which the paper published
next morning:
When MsTy's eueenly form press
In Strauss latest waltz.
J would vel her lips czre1
Although t>ose HDs be false.
For stu with FIRE Love tips bis dart.
And kindles Up
The flames thai o1ce oonz1ned ny hsa-t
When those dear lips were true.
o. form 50 fair. of faith 50 faint.
II ruth were only n her;
Though she'd be then TIE sweetest saint.
/ I'd SIN feel Ike sinner.
7 Nas s bachelor then and took my
meals usually at Gerot's restaurant. The
next morning after the german was In
/ Gerot's getting my breakfast. and had
/ Just read these verses IN tae Enquirer
when John Mordecai came in. He took
/ up the paper and HIS eyes fell on the
verses. He understood the whole situs-
/ ton at once, and saw his face get as
black as midnight. Laying down the pa
/ Per. he said. perceiving that understood
the case. 7 shall kill that fellow
/ 7 demonstrated with him. telling him Il
was a matter that he had no right to IL
terfere with; that Miss Triplett had a
grown brother who would do whatever
was proper 70 be done IN such a case. and
that he did not know whether she or her
family wanted anything done. He would
not be Quieted. however. but went OF 20
our mutual and very dear friend, Willie
Trigg. to consult with him. Trisg told
Kim exactly what had told him. and be-
tween US We got him TO promise to let
AeCarty alone.
That night I net him at the Richmond
Club. and being seated together on a sofa
he proceeded 10 denOunce 0IcCarty IN the
most unmeasured terms a relative OF
NIcCsrty overheard him and reported the
denunclation TO McCarty At that time
dUeIing vas dying in Virginia, but il was
very far from dead McCsrty sent a
friend 20 Mordecai demanding a retrac-
ton and apology, which Morjecai refused
70 make. I knew that McCarty said he
had not written the verses about Miss
TripIett. but about another lady named
Mary. and I interviewed as a friend. and
got the matter patched up upon the basis
Of the verses having been written about
another person. Thereupon the matter
was supposed 10 be closed
But there we're gossips In Richmond,
and one. a singularly beautiful and intel
llgent girl, made her tongue busy with in
situations that McCarty had backed out
because he was afraid. These things came
TO McCarty's ear and put him in a terri
ble fury.
i short time afterwsrd Mordecai en-
tered the barroom OF the Richmond Club.
where McCarty and Charley Hatcher
were. Mordeeai ordered drink, and
while it was being prepared McCarty
walked up and down the floor right by
Mordecai. making reference to the affair
end making threats CT what he would DO
the next time he got a chance. Presently
Nordecai walked I'D 10 him and said:
do you mean those remarks for me7"
McCarty replied in the most insulting
manner. And who are you. sir?''
Mordecai answered. Il am a gentleman
al least
McCarty said. as extensively as possible.
All
And MOTdecai instantly struck him a
powerful blow in the face which cut all
the skin from over his left eye and felled
him TO the floor. Mordecai then jumped
on him. seizing both his wrists. and had
Kim pinned TO the floor, when 1 rushed in
and separated them
McCarty az once sent Mordeeai per
emptory challenge By Col William B
Tabb and it was agreed that the duel
should come of at once near Oakwood.
McCarty to be represented by Col. Tabb
and John s. Meredith; Mordecsi by my
self and Willie Trigg. The terms were
that they were 10 fire at ten PAGES The
command would be, Fire - one. two,
three" They could fire at any time after
the word 'hre,' but not after the word
three The weapons TO be used were
Colts army revolvers. all six chambers
loaded
We placed the men. the word was
given, both men fired and both missed
Tabb said to McCarty. Are you salts
fed2" McCarty replied: "oh, no. I de-
r1and another FIRE" Again the word was
given, both men fred. and both fell Nc
Carty was badly wounded by a shot in
the hip. Mordeeai had been struck near
the navel the ball penetrating the intes-
tines. He died on the fourth day after
the duel McCarty fingered a long time.
but finally recovered, and in a trial was
fined 500 and sent 10 jail for SIX months
The governor RENTED the Jail sentence
on the doctors certificate that Il would
enGanger his life.
think MoTdecai was one OF the knight
lieSt gentlemen that ever lived on this
earth. An hour before his ending he sent
for me. Putting MS arms around my
neck. he pulled my ear down to his mouth
and whispered. Remember, Royal, what
told YOU I answered: 7 certainly
shall, John 1t was a message to his
sweetheart