Pistol Duel Between Lawyers.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 148, 25 June 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

Pistol Duel Between Lawyers.

A DESPATCH;,to the "New York Herald," dated Charleston, S.C., March 20th, says: —At Newberry to-day the orderly proceedings of a trial in Justice Blpaso's office were somewhat interrupted by an exchange of nine pistol shots between two of tho distinguished lawyers of that rural village. The case before Judge Blease was an attachment suit, the parties of which were two North Carolinians. George Johnstone and John B. Jones were two. of the lawyers engaged in the case. They were both high strung, and both of them meant business. While the trial was going on some words passed between them, whereupon they drew their shooting iron and opened fire on each other. Nine shots Were exchanged. J'ohnstono was shot through the light ear, in the left arm, and in tho thigh, and seriously hurt. Jones was shot through the body and perhaps fatally wounded. Lawyer George B. Cromer, who tried to ■stop the shooting, narrowly escaped being killed, three shots passing through his clothing. The courtroom was crowded when the firing began, and it is almost miraculous that there was not sonasbedy killed outright. Jones is a prominent lawyer,and of one of the best families in the country. Johnstone was educated at Edinburgh, and is a public man of considerable local prominence. He had been a member of the State Legislature for several terms, and was a candidate for Congress from the Third District in the last campaign. He is the son of old Chancellor Johnstone. It is said that there has been bad blood between Jones and Johnstone, and it is inferred that they went into court to-day with the expectation of having trouble. It is not known what will be the end of the melee to-day. Perhaps both parties will be fined if they don't die. It ought to be mentioned that the attachment case was "mutually settled" by tho parties to the sxiit, and that all the proceedings have been stopped.