LAW REPORTING IN AMERICA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1128, 9 March 1872, Page 3

LAW REPORTING IN AMERICA.

In South Carolina the ordinary run of a newspaper reporter's business appears to be occasionally varied by deadly street encounters with learned judges. One inch is reported in the Charleston Courier, without any comment that would induce us to believe it was an exceptional circumstance. It appears that as Mr Whaley, of iheNews, was passing the corner of Broad and Meeting streets, on his way to the Police Court, he came under the observation of Mr Trial Justice Mackey, who was standing under the porch of the Guard House. Mr Mackey confronted the reporter, and calling upon him to . defend himself, took out a six-barrelled *- revolver, and "blazed away at Whaley." r Just as in England a reporter might on - being asked produce a pencil, Mr Whaley brought out from his pocket a Colt's revolver, and returned the judge's fire. The hour was between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, when we may presume a street in the locality of the Charleston Police Court would be somewhat crowded. Nevertheless, the judge and the reporter continued firing at each other until ten shots had passed. The judge, finding his revolver empty, brought out "an extra pistol," and had fired a shot from it " when his attention was called to the fact that Mr Whaley had raised his weapon in token of having exhausted his means of defence," whereupon the judge honorably desisted. At this juncture there being no further prospect of anyone being killed, Trial Justice Levy ordered the arrested of the parties, who were conducted before the Mayor and bound over in the sum of lOOOdol. each to keep the peace. The Charleston Courier observes that "considering the number of shots exchanged, it is wonderful that no injury resulted to the antagonists." What appears to us to be a still more marvellous matter is that a judge, sunning himself in the porch of the Guard House, should think it necessary to cany about with him, in time of - profound peace, a six-barrelled revolver and " an extra pistol," and that a reporter who chanced to pass by should, on being challenged, be able to produce from his pocket a Colt's revolver, loaded and capped.