THOSE LITTLE PISTOL AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 3821, 24 May 1875, Page 3

THOSE LITTLE PISTOL AFFAIRS

One or two “ little pistol affairs ” which have just occurred are reported from America. On the 22nd of last month, Dr Benjamin Lay, actuary of the Grangers Life and Health Insurance Company, met Colonel Tardy, the insurance agent, of Mobile, Alabama, in mortal combat. The quarrel arose in consequence of a letter written by Colonel Tardy “in a prominent Northern insurance journal,” making some comments of an unpleasant nature on the company with which Dr _ Lay is connected. Colonel Tardy having admitted the authorship of this letter, Dr Lay slapped his face, and a duel was the result. The combatants fought at ten paces. As the word to fire was given a sharp report was heard. Tardy’s pistol dropped from his band. He clasped his breast convulsively md fell a corpse. Dr Lay was met on Government street, Mobile, about an hour later by a gentleman who, not knowing that the dual had been fought, playfully asked him “whom he was going to shoot.” Bursting into tears, the Doctor, with much good feeling, exclaimed, “My God don't ask me anything about it.” Another pistol affair occurred at Jefferson, Nevada, on Sunday night, the 9th ult., between a man named M‘Donald and a man known in the locality as “Texas.” The two were spending a quiet Sabbath evening together engaged in a game of of “poker.” Texas won the pot “fairly and squarely.” M‘Donald did not like losing his money, and slipping two cards into the pack claimed a “foul.” This led to an altercation, in the course of which M‘Donaid attempted to choke Texas. Texas said he was not prepared to fight, and M‘Donald told him to go and heel himself. Texas accordingly “ heeled ” himself with a navy revolver and came back. M‘Donald fired two shots at him before be was ready, but missed. The firing then became so lively that those not directly interested got behind the bar or out into the street. Finally, M‘Douald received a bullet in his head ami fell. Texas then stepped up to him and shot him twice again. When M‘Donald was taken np dead, Texas, pensively regarding the corpse, and unable to repress his remarked, “ Boys, I hated to do this, but I had to.”