Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-28
A DUEL IN MISSOURI.
Two Leading Legal Lights of Pure
Delight Attempt to Settle a Matter


the county seat of Shannon. In plain
er speech there was blood on the
moon." There had been a lawsuit
over a long-shanked, red-bodied steer
which was claimed by two wealthy
ranchmen, neither of whom cared a
lead nickel about the nondescript ami
NAL. but who would have charged a
bristling battery Of rapid-fire guns
rather than to admit the possibility OF
their being mistaken in any statement
touching steercraft.
But 1t wasn't the vehemence Of the
ranchers that made the citizens OF
Pure Delight talk in whispers and
shrug their shoulders in sinister way
It was a little legal colloquy that oc-
CURED between Colonel Tom More
leigh for the plaintiff and Major Jack
Frisby for the defendant, right at the
close Of the argument
In his peroration, which scared
higher and higher. like an airship as
cending a spiral wind current, Colonel
Moreleigh had voiced the opinion that
a man could not logically claim any
standing as a gentleman If he would
stoop to defend such palpable frauds
as the litigant on the other side Of the
room, whereupon Major Frisby, his
hair bristling and mustache sticking
straight out, had jumped to his feet
and demanded to know II the gentle
man meant to refer to him!
The gentleman who made the state
ment had then coolly informed the
irate major that If his conscience ac-
quilted him he need not take the mat
ter to heart, but" and here occurred
the fatal Observation-Disclosures from
the prompitude with which the gen.
tleman howled when the brick was
cast l have no doubt he feels guilty.
Enough, sir!" cried Major Frisby,
in tones so loud all the assembled
multitude could hear-"l pronounce
the assertion and the assertor liar
and a slanderer! If he is a gentleman
he knows his remedy"
1t was the awfulest thing that had
happened in Pure Delight since 1t had
graduated from the bad man" era.
The jury, impressed as we'll as the
spectators, decided to stand half and
half with their verdict, so that the ac-
cusation Of partiality could not be laid
at their door. In other words, they
hung"
Discussion concerning the merits OF
the steer case was dropped under the
more absorbing topic Of the duel. The
erstwhile glory of the warning ranch
ers sank behind the redder history
promised by their lawyers.
Colonel Morleigh and Major Frisby
were large, looking men. Just
where their titles came from was not
clear, but they were accepted as
worthily bestowed as the fruits Of gal
lantry amid carnage. The colonels
goatee was white and carefully trim
med, as was the handsome mustache
swinging above 1t. Major Frisby was
fiercely grizZled. When his piercing
gray eyes, under their shaggy brows,
were leveled at a jury. and the Ma
jor's long white finger emphasizing
the expression: gentlemen, we de-
mand Of you nothing but justice In
this case, and on your sacred oaths
you dare not give us less" nine times
out of ten that jury thought 1t was In
duty bound to find for the Mao RS
righteous client.
But the steer case had been a mat
ter of Greek meeting Greek. AS re-
marked, the ranchers were wealthy;
that accounts for such eminent legal
talent being in an otherwise trivial
lawsuit.
A number of good citizens had call
ed upon the Sheriff and prosecuting
attorney urging them to keep sharp
lookout that the good name Of Pure
Delight might not be trailed In the
dust by the barbarism Of q duel be-
tween its two prominent lawyers.
The officers had conferred long and
earnestly that night, and next day the
sheriff had several spies OCT trying to
locate when and where the hostilities
would come off. One of these anna
teur detectives finally came rushing In
with the information that everything
had been arranged; the duel was to
occur at eight o'clock in the morning,
in a grove some five miles down the
river, he said The party was to go
down in a motor boat.
The prosecuting attorney, a new
hand on the job, recoiled from the
idea Of putting the belligerent lawyers
under a peace bond; they might shoot
him If such an insult were offered. So
he telephoned the circuit judge, the
Hon. Fitzhugh Hampton, who was
holding court in another county, i'm
ploring him to come forthwith and
stop the carnival Of death.
AS the day waned the rumor sp !ead
around town that the seconds had used
up the greater part Of the forenoon In
trying to arrange an honorable settle
ment, but had failed; that pair of
the biggest revolvers in town had been
purchased, and that the agreed dis
tance was not over ten steps. The
seconds, it was said, were the ranch
ers who had been !itigating each 9TH
er, and that 1t was agreed between
them that they should fight after their
respective principals had fallen.
These rumors, coming from all sorts
of sources, caused the greatest anxi-
ETY. among the officers. Every half
hour carried a frantic message to
Judge Hampton to hasten his coming
to Pure Delight that he might eXer-
else his influence in preventing the
fight. Sheriff Billings was at every
train, in the hopes of meeting his hon
or and acquainting him with all the
details, as far as he had them, of the
"Idt hC
was there for, crowds of citizens kept
him company on the occasion Of each
visit to the depot, anxious to see the
meeting between the judge and the
sheriff, and to learn what steps were
to be taken.
1t was nearly midnight when his
honor arrived.
Where is this affair going to Oc-
cur?" he asked the sheriff.
Five miles down the river-they
say"
"They say" repeated the judge.
who says?"
"Why-er-everyb
We'll, don't you know there's no
place to fight a duel down there?
Well go north"
But"
We'll go north, up the river" said
Judge Hampton peremptorily. I'm
going over to the hotel for a wink OF
sleep, but will be aroused at daylight.
You have a team ready-and get DR..
Yes, SIR"
Tell him to bring his case along
he'll know what. And say, sheriff."
Yes. sir"
Just keep quiet about this-about
the way we're going"
"All right, sir"
L thought of arresting them today
said the sheriff. but the prosecuting
attorney said it might make trouble
for my bond some way"