The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-28
From Leslie Illustrated weekly.

M/ attorney of Richmond, and one
w of the most picturesque charac-
ters in the south, who died recently at
the summer home of his daughter in
Trenton, N. j., was the last participant
in and witness Of the McCarty- -Mordecai
affair to pass away. He was Mordecais
second In the duel Shortly before his
death Mr. Royal concluded that II was
proper to break the silence he had consls-
tently maintained and to make public the
facts in the case. His is the only authen-
tic story of the famous encounter and
he told it substantially as follows;
Mary Triplett, one Of the most beauti-
! fdl women ever created by the Almighty,
was at that time reigning belle in Rich
mond. Page McCarty, an attractive, devil
nay-care sort of fellow, fell desperately
In love with her. 1t was generally under
sood that they had become engaged. All
at once Miss Triplett broke off with him
and went to Europe. When she returned
she would not speak to McCarty and
Tould never afterward have anything to
do with him.
I'VE had a German club in Richmond
that met once in two weeks. The club
was usually led by a reckless, bright,
audacious fellow named sprfg Campbell.
At one of the meetings Campbell con-
trived figure that would throw McCarty
end Miss Triplett together for dance.
It was a wanton act, intended for clever
ress. They met and commenced to dance,
but after a turn or two Miss Trfplett dis
engaged herself and walked to her seat.
Everybody knew she intended it as a
slur on McCarty. 1t threw him into a
violent rage.
among the young men in Richmond at
that time was John b. Mordecai. He was
six feet two about 80 years of age. He
had served galantly through the war as
private soldier In the Richmond Howit-
zers. Handsome. gallant, chivalrous. af-
fectionate and witty, I have never met
lis like. lie, too, was desperately In love
with Miss Triplett. The night of the GER
| man, and after it was over McCarty went
TO the Enquirer newspaper and offered
the following verses which the paper
published next morning:
"'When Mary's queenly form I press
In Strauss latest waltz.
| | would as we'll her lips caress
Although those lips be false.-
. For still with fire love tips his dart,
| And kindles up anew
| The flame which once consumed my
hear
When those dear lips were true.
" OF form so fair. of faith SO faint,
II truth were only in her;
! Though she'd be then the sweetest saint,
I'd still feel like a sinner.
| Il was than a bachelor, and took my
ireals usually in Gerot's s. restaurant. The
next morning after the german was
in Gerot's getting my breakfast, and had
just read those verses in the Enquirer.
when John Mordecai came in. Ne took
| up the paper, and his eye fell on the
verses. l saw mis- face get as black as
midnight Laying down the paper he
said, I shall kill that fellow l remon-
strated with him, telling him that ne had
no right TO interfere that Miss Triplett
| had grown BROTHER who would do what
ever was proper. He would not be quieteo,
| however, and went off to our mutual
friend. Willie Trigs to consult with him.
Trigg told him exactly what I had told
him. and between us we got him to prom
! Use to let McCarty alone
The next night met him at the Rich
raond club fashionable organization of
which McCarty and Mordecai were both
members and, being seated together ON
sofa, he proceeded to denounce McCarty
| in the most unmeasured terms. A rela-
| tiye of Mccarty overheard him and ire
ported the denuncation to McCarty. At
| that time duelng in Virginia was dying
iut 1t was very far from dead. McCarty
sent a friend to Mordecai. demanding =