A meeting with pistols took place near Caen, in Normandy, between M. Calmel and M. Luard, both of that town; in which the latter fell, and died almost immediately. M. Calmel and the four seconds were indicted for murder, and brought to trial on the 22d, before the Court of Assizes at Caen. The jury, notwithstanding the repeated reversals of such decisions by the Court of Cassation, returned a verdict of acquittal against all the parties.
BETWEEN LORD CASTLEREAGH AND M. GERARD DE MELCY.
June 16, 1838.
The attentions of Lord Castlereagh to Madame Grisi having attracted the observation of her husband, M. Gerard de Melcy, he took measures to stop them at the threshold. In consequence of his precautions, a letter, addressed by Lord Castlereagh to Madame Grisi, came into his hands, before it could reach the lady for whom it was intended. M. de Melcy instantly went to the residence of the noble Lord, with the intention of demanding satisfaction; but, not finding him at home, he repeated his visit on the following day, with the same result. He thereupon addressed a note to the noble Lord, informing him that his letter was intercepted, and calling for the only reparation that it was in the young nobleman’s power to give. Lord Castlereagh lost not a moment in offering the required satisfaction, and gave the name of Mr. Bentinck as the gentleman in whose hands his character would be placed. M. de Melcy called to his aid his friend M. de Cottreau; who undertook that the weapons should be pistols, and the distance twelve paces.
These preliminaries being arranged, the meeting was fixed for Saturday morning, at half-past four. Both the gentlemen were in readiness; but, previous to that hour, it was arranged between the seconds, that the parties should not use the pistols they had been accustomed to practise with, but that two pair should be taken at hazard from a gunsmith’s shop. This circumstance so delayed the meeting, that it was not till ten o’clock that the principals were in a condition to take the ground. At that hour they met at Wormwood Scrubs, one surgeon being in attendance. They were placed at the distance agreed upon, and instructed that the words to be given were, “Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire!” accompanied by the dropping of a handkerchief. Previously to the signal, Lord Castlereagh caused his second to deliver into the hands of M. Cottreau a paper signed by him, declaring that Madame Grisi had not, in the slightest manner, encouraged his attentions, and that he had never corresponded with her before. The word was given, and the signal dropped. They fired at the same time. M. de Melcy’s ball passed through his antagonist’s right arm, near the wrist. His Lordship discharged his pistol in the air. Mr. Bentinck, on seeing the condition of Lord Castlereagh, declared that, as his friend was wounded, the affair could not be carried further.
BETWEEN MR. MIRFIN AND MR. ELIOT.
August 22, 1838.
A duel, arising out of a dispute which took place at the Saloon in Piccadilly, was this day fought on Wimbledon Common, in a ravine about two hundred yards from the mill, between Mr. Mirfin, formerly a linen-draper residing in Tottenham-court Road, and Mr. Eliot. The parties fired at a distance of twelve paces. At the first shot the ball of Eliot went through Mirfin’s hat. The seconds immediately interfered; but the latter objected, and insisted on having a second shot. The pistols being reloaded, the parties again fired, when Mirfin fell. He was immediately attended by Mr. Scott, a surgeon. His death was nearly instantaneous. The body of the deceased was then placed in a cab, and, at the dusk of the evening, brought to his residence in town. An inquest, which lasted four days, was held on the body, at the Tankard Tavern, Brooke Street, Kennington Road, Lambeth, before the coroner, Mr. Carter, and a jury of fifteen of the principal inhabitants of the district. The following are the leading points of the evidence that was adduced.
Thomas Dunn, the owner of the mill on Wimbledon Common.—“The first thing I saw, when the parties arrived in the ravine, was a carpet-bag, from which was taken a box containing some pistols. Five persons were standing together, and another alone on my left, and a second about two hundred yards more to the left on the hill. While the pistols were loading, the one on my left, who was the person who shot the deceased, came up to me and said, ‘Good morning!’ I said, ‘It appears to me those gentlemen have some difference to decide.’ He answered, ‘Oh! damned nonsense, it’s only a bet for a hundred pounds.’ I replied, ‘That will not do for me;’ on which he passed on whistling. In a minute or two he again passed me, on which I remarked, it was a pity gentlemen could not settle their differences in a better way; when he said, ‘Oh! damned nonsense, I am used to it, and am one who is going to fight.’ A halfpenny or penny-piece was then tossed up, as I suppose, for the choice of pistols, or the ground. As the man who shot the other was going to the place, one of the party went up to him and said, ‘You are all right: you have nothing to fear.’ I saw both parties present their pistols, and heard two reports. Shortly after, I again heard the pistols discharged. Directly after, the gentleman who had spoken to me came towards me, and said, ‘I have done for the ——.’ I at that moment saw the deceased falling. I went to him and saw him stripped; when I saw a wound resembling that from a ball. All except one, who was engaged in pinching up the wound, left the ground. I said to him, ‘I fear he is a dead man.’ The carriages all left, except the hired cab. The deceased was dead when I left the spot.”
George Clark, the cabman.—“I was on the stand at the Elephant and Castle on Wednesday last, about a quarter past five in the afternoon, when I saw two gentlemen in a gig, and one standing on the path. I pulled over, when the latter gentleman, Mr. Scott, surgeon, of Rockingham Row, got in. On reaching Wimbledon Common, we saw a carriage drawn up; it had post-horses: and there was a stanhope as well. The gentleman then got out of my cab. In a few minutes, I heard the report of fire-arms; on which, I and the postillion ran towards the spot. When we reached it, the deceased had fallen, and the parties had all left, except Mr. Scott and the deceased. The gig came up with a gentleman, who, jumping out, ran down the hollow. On his return he said, ‘He’s dead!’ and again jumped into the gig. I seized the horse’s head, and said. ‘You must not leave him so; what can I do?’ when he said, ‘It’s my horse and gig;’ and, on my trying to prevent him, he struck the horse and forced himself away. Mr. Scott told me to bring my cab. I said I could not bring it down the hollow; on which, the body was brought up, and placed in my cab. Mr. Scott then got in; and I said, ‘Where am I to go to?’ He said, ‘Across the common, to a friend’s house.’ I refused, however, to drive him, unless the body was taken to the deceased’s residence: when he told me to drive to Pleasant Place; where, on my arrival, it was taken into the parlour.”
Mr. Scott, the surgeon.—“After the first fire, the seconds both interfered, and wished to reconcile the parties. Mr. Mirfin said, he would receive nothing but a written apology; which Mr. Eliot refused to give. Mr. Mirfin then insisted upon a second fire. After he had fired, he walked about six paces towards me, and said, ‘I am wounded!’ I said, ‘Where? I am exceedingly sorry to hear it.’ He then raised his finger to show me where he was wounded. I then shook my head, and said, ‘Good-b’ye. God bless you!’ and he said, ‘Good-b’ye, old fellow!’ Mr. Broughton came up, and said, ‘What shall I do?’ I said, ‘Leave as quickly as possible.’ The other parties quitted the ground, without rendering any assistance. After they had been gone about five minutes, a tall gentleman returned, and asked how he was going on? I replied, ‘He is dying.’ This was one of the parties who had been present. Mr. Mirfin died ten minutes after he had received the shot. I asked him to wait, observing, that he could not be in a worse situation than I myself was. He promised to remain; but quickly ran or walked away towards the mill. I never saw him afterwards.”
The room was cleared, and, after about fifty minutes’ deliberation, the foreman announced to the coroner, that they had come to a verdict of “Wilful murder” against Francis Lionel Eliot, as principal; and John Young, Henry Webber, Edward Delves Broughton, and two other persons unknown, as principals in the second degree. Warrants were immediately made out and issued for the apprehension of the parties.