Bedford Independent, Volume 2, Number 30, Bedford, Lawrence County, 12 August 1857 — Page 2

of business since he commended pub-1 lie life. Hut he says lie is u man of peace. Clod preserve u»nil from such, a peace-maker!

The truth is, there was a regular running down process adopted by Mr. Hughes and his man Friday, to induce persons to sign his certificates, and a number of <>nr host citizens refused

Bloom inuton, Aug. 10, 1857. Editor Bedford Independent: In the Lawrence County Democrat ■(of the 4th of August, I find a coin-1 ' munication signed by Mr. .lames Hughes, in relation to a diflieulty that recently took place between that gen-

|Up|ui and myself. In that commityjClaHbt and the mj : ' <■ ' i - ore s . i.. uy & £ 3&fe*lon-.. tf...t I f. ■•! <■ upnBHBBct tin i it va«i ■ • , i ! '> 80 • aMaBpes. a >i dtfnnfflf, (as I am informed,) publicly announced, in tlio court house, his intention to prosecute me to the extremity of the law, to satisfy, 1 suppose, his petty revenge. When these threats came to rny knowledge I determined to refrain from talking about the matter, and to give Mr. Hughes the greatest latitude, the fullest scope that his malice and hatred could desire, to persecute. me, content with the reflection that he had permuted scores of others, as I will hereafter show, as good, or better than myselfThe reasons that induced me to take this course, were, I did not wish to subject myself to tbo charge of attempting to manufacture public opinion in my favor. All I desire ns a justification of my conduct is an investigation of the whole matter, and that the public shall be put in possession of the facta.

I bad supposed that this case was to be governed by the ordinary rules : that extraordinary measures, such ns Mr. Hughes's publication, were not to be resorted to for the purpose of prejudicing im.- before the public, and that too in advance of his threatened prosecution. But Lad I reflected one moment with reference to tho man I had to deal with, 1 would have come to a different conclusion, for high minded, honorable, upright conduct, is not one of his characteristics. I am perfectly w illing that any case that he can oven manufacture against me, shall be tried by an impartial jury, and by tbeir verdict I am willing to stand or full.

What is the duly of that class of men who are influential, and who possess j more than ordinary power in giving tone to public sentiment for good or evil? What is the duty especially of those who have taken an oath to support the constitution and faithfully,! to the best of their ability, to make] and execute (he law s i!k pi'" "i t n, pi ace, "f li." <■• ti.imiiiity '< JtUBBBSBBSm Is It ( ' I' ■ I! _ ' i til I' 1 I ■ ‘ : : ' . ' . I lie i t:'i !.. is I."I .1 iTgulat^HHQHH not .'ip| i-.ive or encourage flHHHHj . lice — that he stand with arms m^Pi|| No. This is not enough to fill tnef humble measure of his duty. How much more below the measure of duty for the second class, the influential men of a community?

As to that class of government officials who aro acting under the solemn obligations of an oath, there is no comparison between their obligation and that of tbo other classes referred to. The humble or the influential man may, with more reasonable excuse, stand still, and say to himself, I am not an officer of the governnot a conservator of the peace, tnwre arc persons elected for the pur-j I pose of preserving tbo peace, and of apprehending and bringing o/Tenders to justice, whose sworn and imperative duty it is to step forward and exert themselves to the best of their ability, particularly in times of riot and violence, and when the lives and property of the weak, and otherwise j defenseless, would be at the mercy of the mob. Suppose, fur example, in the midst of the excitement! and fury of the riots in our eastern cities, and • * those of Cincinnati and Louisville, the officers were to fold their arms . and wait for somebody to call upon (them at tbeir houses or offices, and complain by affidavit, and until a war- : rant is issued and placed in their bands, before they would stir a peg, hundreds would ho murdered. This is not what officers arc made for.— . They are made sentinels upon the willh-tower. They have no more ' right to go to sleep than the sentinel ip w anpy. Suppose aninoy without sentinels, and suppose it is eurprised and great disaster befall it. Is it sufficient for |bo officers to say, Wo were asleep in our tents, no messengers came to inform us that tin Indians were advancing. It is their business to know the character of the In- ' dians, or other enemy. I

It is the business of government officials to know the character of the vicious, and the tendency to violate the law. It is their duty not only to seek the offenders and to punish them, | hut is a still higher and nobler duty to endeavor to prevent crime. An ounce , of preventive is better than a pound of cure.

Patriotism, humanity, love of couni try and of justice, impose upon the law maker, and the ministerial and executive officers of the government, obligations of themselves of great solemnity. To these are added the express, positive, solemn ob'igation of their oaths of office and the power and influence of their position and official -character.

Our inquiry as to the course of the 1 'government officials of Old Monroe, * was not intended to implicate them ns * ( r j acting trilk the, Nryttlaton. The point 1 of inquiry to which we would respect- 1 fully call the attention of the gentle- ' manly government officers of Monroe, 1 law makers, and ministerial officers, is a very different thing. Have they ! been acting at/ainnt the Hrffulaton 1 Have they stopped forth and dislin- | guished themselves—what has been their course ef action? Have they, 1 as upon the liquor question, actively and as a unit exerted themselves to * arrest the evil of mobocracy? Is it not belter for the Regulators, . that leading men, hy union, which gives strength, give such tone and j force to public sentiment, and that the ( officials should manifest such a disposition to enforce the law, as will at once deter offenders and arrest the .. n practice :

The object of the law jg reformation, and not vindictive, cruel, or unusual punishments. lienee, it seems , to us that it is complimentary, and not we hope, offensive, that wo express now, as heretofore, a strong anxiety | that the good law makers and other officials of Monroe, whatever may be minor differences of opinion in politics, morals, or religion, would step forth with united energy and courage, ( in support of the great, essential, and general principles of eligioti andmoralify; and especially in support of the laws, the good order, protection 1 8 and pence of the Community against ’ invasion, violence, and outrage, coma, 1 from whatever source they may. ip

! If in my communication it shall be , 1 necessary to say severe things in reference to Mr. Hughes, I wish the public to bear in mind, that this is a controversy of his own seeking, that he has thrown the first stone, that in his publieation I am grossly misrepresented. This I plead as a sufficient apology for what I may say. I have not sought a newspaper controversy with him—it has been thrust upon me, and ! w hat I now do shall le strictly in defense of my character. I would • be truly a proper object of scorn and contempt, if I should let his taunting and uncalled for insults puss without reply. I stand ready, on all proper occasions, to defend myself from all attacks by whomsoever made, and whatever may be their character.— This much I have always done, and always intend doing.

Mr. Hughes, as an excuse for his unprovoked attack upon me, refers to certain newspaper articles in circulation, for which I am in no way responsible, and which I have reasons to believe he knew, before he made his publication. In view of these facts, I ask a candid public to say who is responsible for this unnecessary controversy and the results that may follow it? I imagine the public are but little henefitted by bis or my personal matters, hut this gentleman is very remarkable for his impudence in thrusting his private affairs under the nose of the public, and demanding universal sympathy, even going so far as to drag his personal quarrels into politics, and causing trouble and dissensions in his own party.

It will doubtless bo observed, that in his communication he has not referred to the origin of the difficulty, but contents himself with assuming that 1 was the aggressor. Let us see w ho was to blame.

I Some two or three mouths since, a man by the namo of Kdiuund Bingham, a citizen of this county, was murdered in the night time, by a band of men styling themselves Itegulators. Ah might be expected, there wag great indignation felt in this community by i nil good citizens. Meetings were held in various portions of the county, by the law-abiding portion of our citizens, denouncing Bingham’s murder as a great outrage. Prosecution a 1 were commenced against four persons, j three of whom were recognized to answer at court. Subsequent to this, another prosecution was commenced against three other persons, and it | was at this trial that the difficulty between myself and Mr. Hnghcs took place. A few days prior to the trial i

UK I jV D UPEND ENT.

a circular signed by tlio defendants, w us put into circulation, in which myself and associate counsel, were denounced us robbers of widows ami or-

stick, made a motion at II iighes with it. I thought 1 saw the stick spring as if it hit him. If it did, it was across the arm or breast, or both Hughes drew u pistol and fired. The ball struck in the ceiling, missing Buskirk at least live feet. Had Hughes hold the pistol level it would have missed B. about the same distance. They were about eight feet apart. The pistol was not knocked up at the time of firing. I was looking at him at the time, and am certain. Huskirk wont rapidly the instant the pistol fired, around the stov.. toward Hughes, dropping the stick. Hughes threw up both hands and cried murder, retreating backward toward the east door of the court house. Huskirk crushed him down with his left hand. Hughes took out a second pistol, and Bus kirk wrenched it out of his hand, but did not appear disposed to hurt him, although completely in his power.— When B. was lifted off of H. the latter continued his retreat out of the east door of the court house and the door w as closed after him. B. went from the inside of the bar in the same rection a few feet, and urged by Ins friends turned and went out at the west door and in the direction of his office. About this time the cast door was opened and Hughes returned into the Court House.

15 K 1> FOB D

WEDNESDA.V MORNING. AUO 12. Lynch law In Brown County—tenoral Observations. We are in Formed that recently the Regulators in Brown county held a Lynch court and punished » Mr. Holms upon a charge of adultery, by severely scourging him, as tbo manner is. with rods. At a session a short time previous, this Spanish. Inquisition, within and for tbs body of the state of Brown, put two of their citizens to the tortare. The mode was by hanging them b J tho neck until apparently dead. On* ofthc-ae unfortunate men was, after being taken through the process of torture, with difficulty restored. By some miscalculation as to time, or xniafnituce of tbo Regulators, the torton exceeded his capacity for cndarnoe. la one (near the last) JIo. of tho jfliekorjj Tf'iVAe, edited by Jambs S. Hum, Gsc|., wo observed a rebuke of Mftoroe county,for tho commission of tbo outrages by her Lynch courts. if we Jo not forget the history of the «f Brown,.it is with aa ill grace Jlther a mockery of that solemn!-, •jack ought), to have tlutiMki im.,, ''dying dvalaratieus of tho Withe, want of Hxe'lfusticc of regulating. st»— the 1! - • With sore of *‘th* (Mnp •nil oiroum.sswsatwss •oawtluog likftTlw artful cirouulocusurrender of t>.: k r T5 arSwf a hi equipMo tin —that upon ontcrtg the principal street of tho city •nd spproaching the residence of the City Magistrate and barrister, the

aforesaid Mr. Hester, they menaced and awed the authorities into a formal surrender, among the terras of which tbo principal one was the dismissal of the State prosecutions against a portion of them for surety of the peace, and indemnity for the future against prosecution • for riots.

A friend in the south part of Monroe informs ns that an editorial of oars upon the subject of regulating, is pretended to bo construed into an effort to throw the odium of the practice upon or connect it with the Monroe democracy. This construction is «Uhtr feigned, or is attributable to the fact that the Senator, Representative, Sheriff, and others of Monroe referred to in the editorial, or a majority of them, are called democrats. We assure the gentlemen referred to that nothing was further from us than the thought of party politics at the time the article was penned. The gentlemen referred to, we take plcasjiirejfl, JtAVing, ire unsurpassed for their kind, polite, dignified, peaceable mid orderly deportment. They never yverr, never could be presumed to .. *vs wi'fully, deliberately, and ex- ■ tressly, or intentionally encouraged i/fke of regulating, especially observing its recent excesses. 4 But is this enough ? Ought wc not Jtf able In truth to say more? It; Lb out of season now for one county, or the citizens of one county, to upbraid another. Immaterial where or how the evil originated and has continnedto exist. Suppose we,ns many good citizens have, in sonic instances, speaking of these lynching!,admitted! that they were deserved by those w ho received them, Buppose good men ware Regulators at its origin or past period, good man can now engage in it or countenance it. Those | who may thus inadvertently have admitted that in certain notorious and extreme cases, the necessity or justice of the punishment, did not properly consider the manner ami character of the infliction, and above all, the evil and laiaeu table tendency of tiie example.

Notunfrequsntly when a measure or practice is proposed, its operations in all its i job rings and consequences,! are not foreseen. So it has been, no doubt, with many as to thauf regulating. The only appropriate imjuir'oiirs—Wlmt is the duty of orn oa|«V baud ale, good private citizens?,

phans, and plunderers of dead men’s estates; simply because we hud accepted a fee of the w idow to prosecute the, murderers of her husband. I am informed, however, thut Mr. John Martindalo, one of the persons whose names were attached to the circular, disavows signing it, or authorizing Mr. Hughes to sign it for him. I leave the public to draw their own conclusions as to how the name got there.

By ids publication he has attempted to accomplish two tilings; namely, to prejudice me before the public, and to prove to tho world that lie is a brave, cool, chivalrous man, to manufacture for himself a character for courage that will enable him to bully through Congress. I am sure 1 do not care how well he may succeed in the latter object; but I will say this, that such manufactured heroes in the hour of danger and great extremity,

to sign them, alleging as a reason, that the statements were not in accordance with their knowledge of the facts.

G FORCE A. BIS KIRK.

Bi.oomix oToN, Aug. Htli, 1857. I am requested to state the facts attending the difficulty between Judge 'George A. Buskirk and James Hughes, M. C. at (he Court House in Bloomington on the 15th of July lust. Some time previously I had issued a warrant against several persons charged with the murder of Bingham. The • defendants had been taken and bad given bail on a previous day, Process had been served by special constables appointed by me. Dunning, S. H. Buskirk, and Hughes, were counsel for Rogers ami Taylor, and Dunning alone for Martindalc. Lowe, Hunter, and George A. Buskirk w ere for the state. Dunning asked a separate trial for Martindalc, and stated that by a previous agreement with Lowe, Martindalc was to have his trial first, which was assented to by the counsel for the stale. The parties ! had announced their consent to proceed with the trial of Martindalc, and the witnesses, or a portion of them, had been called. No objection having been made by Martindalc or Dun* ' ning, his counsel, to the special constables. At this stage Hughes came into the Court House, and made objections (apparently without any coni saltation) to special constable East, on the ground that he had made the affidavit upon which the warrant had issued. Hunter replied that there was no legal ground in the objection. Hughes urged his dismissal and the appointment of some other person, or the procurement of a regular constable. Much line was occupied by Hughes, Dunning and S. II. Buskirk nut participating. I overruled Hughes's motion. Lowe at this point, remarked that Fust was not the acting constable in attendance, but that it was special constable Collins. Hughes then objected to Collins upon the ground that there was no emergency for the appointment, there being regular constables in the township.— i Lowe here said that all the services w ere already performed, that the warrant and subpoenas were served, deft., i witnesses, and counsel all present and ready for trial, and that it had been so announced. Hughes pressed bis motion as to Collins, which 1 overruled, Hughes then indulged in severe invective remarks and and persisted in occupying the time. Among other I things, in finding fault with my appointments of special constables, charging the meetings an<l the persons ■ composing them, which had been held a few days previously at Kctchnm’s Mills, ami Bloomington, especially the persons who had taken the lead •at them, stigmatising them as mob trials of the defendants, got up principally by the counsel for the state to excite prejudice against the defendants.

I'pon the morning of the trial, in the course of n preliminary discussion, this circular w as alluded to, and

stand before us in their true colors, pale, bleached , shivering, supplicating corear <1*.

Mr. Hughes avowed himself the author of it, and stated that ho expected it to give offense—said that was the reason he did not consult Gov. Dunning, one of his associate counsel, who he knew to he n personal friend of mine.

He says that there was a combination by myself und others to assassinate him. This assertion proves tho man to be either crazy or more malicious than I had supposed a human being capable of being, after lie had forfeited his life and Iliad spared it,

Hero then was the commencement of this matter. After I had been slandered and denounced by Hughes in the most vile manner, I did use strong language to him, and under excitement and passion, struck at him once with a stick, for tho reason that I wai not in a striking distance with my fist. lie gave the first offense— I resented it—a difficulty ensued—the public can judge who was to blame. Mr. Hughes, ns an attorney, has the right to defend whoever he may please, but I submit w hether he is justified in placing himself upon a level with these Regulators, and coming into court armed to the teeth, to bully the court and opposing counsel.

Mr. Hughes says it fills him with disgust to see his name trumpeted all over the State in connection with mine. This is an assertion very easily made. The grandest scoundrel unhung could make the same remark about the most exemplary man living. I am willing that in this community, where I was born and raised, and where, in some sense, it may bo said Hughes has lived —where both of us arc intimately knowrn, the public shall determine the amount of damage his fair name has suffered by the association. 1 want our neighbors ami friends to decide this question.

The gentleman terms me nn “overgrown hero of many brawls.” It is true that in the course of my life, like other men, I have had difficulties. But does not this chnrge come w ith bad grace from Mr. Hughes, the very princt of brawlers—a distinction which he has so manfully contended for, so fairly won, and graced with such marked ability ? I think that 1 am safe in making the assertion, that he has had more brawls than any man of his age living or dead. What man in this portion of the State of any prominence, has he not quarreled

to charge mo with attempting to assassinate him. If it had been my intention to have done .Mr. Hughes any harm, did I not have any opportunity that I could have desired? After I had disarmed him, ho was ns completely' in my power ns a child, and 1 could have killed him with his own pistol, and public opinion and the law would have justified me. I might, at least, have struck him w ith my fist, and have done him serious bodily harm. Hut instead of hurting him, I let him go; and then ho charges me with an attempt- to assassinate him! No sensible man can take an impartial view of my conduct, and como to the conclusion that I intended to injure him. If I ilid, why did I not do it when it was in my power V hot Mr. Hughes answer.

The statement that his hand was knocked up when he fired, and that he was tripped and caused to fall, is equally foolish, which the accompanying certificates abundantly prove.— But let us see if the facts do not justify me in asserting that there was a combination formed against me. Hughes, on the morning of the trial, came to the court house armed to the teeth, there having been no previous difficulty between us, and from the first showed a readiness for a controversy. Sheriff Mitchell also informs me that some days previous to the trial, Hughes requested him to be present, giving as a reason that he anticipated a difficulty. This goes to show he had premeditated the whole matter. We also find him, during the trial, surrounded by a gang of his ruffian clients, completely armed, and ready to give him any aid in their power, and that two of his clients attempted to show foul play hy interfering during the rencounter, but were prevented from doing so by the bystanders.

There was no signs of a combina-J tion to injure Hughes nor any appearance at any moment of his being overwhelmed by numbers. My position on the .Judge's seat overlooked the crowd. I am requested to give my opinion as to the coolness and selfpossession of one of the parties. I pre r er to excuse inystdf. The standard of bravery may not be precisely the same here, as over in Kentucky where I formerly lived. IS. ADKINS, [J. P.] We were present and concur in the foregoing statement.

J. H. LOWE, ALBERT ADAMS, J. P. POTTER, J. W. FAST. WALLACE HIGI1T.

1 concur in the above statement of facts up to the point where Dunkirk crushed him down—after they were down 1 could not from my position see what took place. MOUTt >N 0. HUNTER. ”

I could not bcc from my position who made the first attack, but I fully concur in the above statement nftrr the point where it says that Buskirk struck at Hughes with a enne.

B. I. SEWARD.

Having boon present at the difficultly between George A. Huskirk ami r James Hughes, which took place at i- the court house in Bloomington on •- the loth of July lust, I make the fols lowing statement as to the manner in ,1 which Mr. Hughes went out at the g east door of the court house durkig y the difficulty, ami what took place afd ter he got outside of the house. So b soon as Mr. Hughes got released from . Mr. Ruskirk, he started toward the o east door, which was standing open, - in a quick pace, and drew his knife ns ho went. As he passed out of the y door Mr. Collins, who was acting as 0 special Constable, closed it. I heard s Mr. Hughes swearing and saying that - the door had been closed upon him. i. I then said to Mr. Collins to open it - and let him come in if he wanted to. - Mr. Collins then opened the door part- ; ly, and said to Mr. Hughes to go away t and have no further difficulty. Mr. e Hughes replied to go and take the . other roan away, or hold the other 1 man, or some such remark. Mr. , Collins replied, there were enough - a-hold of him now. Mr. Hughes con- - tinned to swear and flourish his bowie I knife as though he wanted to get in • ■ I then threw open the door and told him to come in. After the door was ! thrown open he stood outside of it for i about one minute, and until Mr. Buskirk bad passed outof the court house i at the west door; he then came in slowly and walked to near the center of the bar, and commenced speaking in reference to the difficulty. WALLACE IIIGHT. I hare henrd the above statement road, and it is true. GEORGE II. COLLINS.

with? Let me enumerate some of them. And I here take occasion to i say, it is not done with a view to cause unpleasant recollections, or to stir up strife. 1 leave that for him to do, satisfied that he will do it effectually. I know that some of the persons 1 shall mention arc at present on seeming terms of friendship with Mr. II., but 1 do it to confirm his statement 1 that he is n man of peace, I

f When it is further taken into con- > sidcration that I went to the trial unarmed, without even a pen knife, and i that Hughes was fully armed, does it not come with an ill grace from him, to talk about assassination! Hut on the other hand, the facts do, I think, conclusively show a preconcerted arrangement to draw me into a difficulty, which he finally succeeded in doing-

I login s denies that the certificates accompanying his communication is his statement of tho transaction, but are the statements of impartial men, unbiased in every way. I will leave it to every candid man, whether those certificates read like an impartial statement of facts. They certainly do not. It is plainly to he seen that they are a one-sided, partial vindication of Mr. Hughes and his conduct. I further state, that these certificates were dictated by Mr, Hughes, and that they were signed at his urgent and repeated solicitation. I am also .informed that Mr. .Tcsso T. Cox has stated, since Mr. Hughes's publication, that there are matters stated in , the certificate to which his name is j attached, that he docs not know to he true, and that the facts as set forth therein, were not all known to any one person, hut that jointly they did know all the facts. Mr. Stinson has been heard to say that his statement doen mt just read like he thought it did when ho signed it.

The public will readily perceive howlittle reliance can be placed in Mr. Hughes's publication. Why did not the gentleman publish the statement Gov. Dunning furnished him, or give sumo reason for not doing so? Gov. Dunning saa one of Mr. Hughes’s associate counsel, saw the whole transaction, and at Iiis (II.’s.) request furn ncd him w ith a statement of hit own. after he lind repeatedly refused to sign Hughes's statement; but we find that ho makes it convenient to 1 suppress it. J

First he quarreled with the vencra ble and lamented Doctor Wylie, Hon David M'Donald, Hon. John S. Walts Hon. G. O. Dunn, Hon. Geo. II Munson, Dr. Denson, Gov. Dunning Hon. W. A. Gorman. Hon.C. P. He*' Ur, Hon. J. S. Hester, Hon. S. Man ville, Hon. T. M. Adams, Hon. W. C Tarkington, Gen. J. D. hone, Morton C. Hunter, Dr. J. O. Mcl’heetcrs, Dr James 1). Maxwell, Her. Mr. Tibbets Jonathan Rogers, George Smith, C, Farmer, Charles Hanna, Gov. Jos. A, Wright, Hon. J, G. Davis, Hon, Aquilla Jones, Hon. W. F. Pidgcon, Hon. Frank Smith, Hon. Mr. Wilson, Senator from Jennings; Hon. S. E. Perkins, Hon. W. J. Drown, Judge Quick, W. II. Harrison, Hon. 1). 11. Eckels, Judge F. T. Brown. Judge Franklin, W. F. Drowning, Ambrose D. Cunning, Esq., L. Q. Hoggatt, Hon. G. F. Cookerly, Hon. Win. E. McLain, James W. Cookerly, (three lust his cousins,) Judge Butler, C'. Q, Derry, John and .Samuel Orchard, John Wampler, Isam Sanders, Moses Hall, Rev. Eli P, Farmer, Joshua 0. Howe, Son., and nearly or quite all the Democratic editors in the State, •and lonti• vthen. I don’t protend to give the names iu the order iu which the difficulties occurred, for anyone will see l»y a glance at the list, that it would bo impossible to do so, on account of thegreat number of them. When wo take into consideration the fact that Mr Hughes, in ago, does exceed forty, it will nt onco he periceived that he has had his bands full

G. A. Hnskirk remarked that my rulings were correct, and in reply to the charges of Hughes of outrageous conduct on the part of the prosecution or the counsel, as to the meetings, they came with an ill grace, and re- i ' furred to band hills which had recently been put in circulation, containing 1 offensive and false assertions, against i the meetings and the counsel for the 1 state, and pronounced the author, i whoever he might be, a liar and a i coward. I lughes here made a speech, ( manifested increased agitation and re- > pealing the charges, hut not yet dis- t closing that he was the author. I I hero stated that at the time of the 1 filing of the affidavit, I had. after ma- 1 king out the warrant, sought to place t it in the hands of some one of the a regular constables, but could not pro- I cure their services. That there was n in my judgment an emergency, ma- s king it my duly to make thespecial n

appointments. 0. A. Buskirk, said lie didnothold the defendants accountable for the Iiuud bill. Everybody of any sense knew that they were not the authors.— Hughes here avowed himself the au-

thor. Buakirk then applied the language previously used before knowing that Hughes was the author, directly to him, that ho was a liar and a coward. 1 requested Busk irk to sit down, which ho did, Hughes persisted in the use of offensive language nmong other things calling Buskirk a “ruffian and fool.” At which Buskirk catched up » walking stick standing near him, mid bending forward across the stove, with the small end of the,

I have read the statement signed by Mr. Might and Mr, Collins, and the sumo is true, from the point where it states Judge Hughes came out of the east door. I came up to that door from my office, and upon the sill of the door I met Judge Hughes, who was coming out of the court house, with a bowic knife in one hand and scabbard in the other. I stood [and talked to him some time on the step at the door, I then went with or