BETWEEN MR. STEPHENS AND MR. ANDERSON.
Margate, Sept. 21, 1790.
Yesterday a duel was fought at Kingsgate, between Mr. Stephens, son of Philip Stephens, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty, and a Mr. Anderson.
It originated in such a trifling circumstance as a dispute about the shutting of a window in the public rooms. The parties fired each a pistol without effect; but at the second fire Mr. Anderson’s ball entered between Mr. Stephens’s under lip and chin; and passing to the jugular vein in the neck, occasioned his almost instantaneous death.
Mr. Anderson was apprehended soon after; and this day the coroner’s inquest sat on the body, and brought in their verdict “manslaughter.”
The bill of indictment afterwards presented against Mr. Anderson for murder, in his unhappy meeting with Stephens, was unanimously thrown out as frivolous and unfounded, by the grand jury at Dover.
BETWEEN CAPT. H. ASTON AND LIEUT. FITZGERALD.
June 25, 1790.
A duel was fought between Captain Harvey Aston, and Lieutenant Fitzgerald of the 60th Regiment of Foot. The cause of the dispute happened at Ranelagh; but so long before the challenge, that it was imagined all idea of hostility had ceased. A field belonging to Chalk Lodge Farm, near Hampstead, was the chosen spot, and break of day the time appointed. Lord Charles Fitzroy was the second to Captain Aston, and Mr. Hood was second to Lieutenant Fitzgerald.
Ten yards was the ground measured; and Mr. Fitzgerald had the first fire. He rested his pistol on the left arm, and took aim accordingly. The ball took a direction so as to glance on Mr. Aston’s wrist, and passed from thence under his right cheek bone, and through the neck. On receiving this wound, Captain Aston called to his antagonist,—“Are you satisfied?” The answer returned was, “I am satisfied.” Captain Aston then retired from the ground, and was assisted to his carriage. Happily the wound is not likely to prove mortal.
BETWEEN MR. GRAHAM AND MR. JULIUS.
July 19, 1791.
An unfortunate rencontre took place this morning upon Blackheath, between Mr. Graham, an eminent special pleader, of the Temple, and Mr. Julius, a pupil in the office of Messrs. Graham, attorneys, of Lincoln’s Inn, who are brothers of the former.