BETWEEN MR. COLCLOUGH AND MR. ALCOCK.
In the preceding year, another fatal duel, of a political or rather an electioneering nature, took place at Wexford. Mr. John Colclough, of Trulom Abbey, had declared himself a candidate for the representation of the county, which he had sat for in the previous parliament. For many years certain noblemen had monopolised the representation of Wexford, and Mr. Colclough determined on this occasion to put the sense of the county to the proof, and therefore proposed Mr. Sheridan as joint candidate with himself. With these gentlemen Mr. Alcock, supported by the interest of certain influential electors, contested the county. The election commenced, the poll proceeded, and the independent party was rapidly advancing to success, when one of the most melancholy events terminated the contest.
Several tenants of a person who had given his interest to Alcock, absolutely refused to vote for that gentleman, declaring that, at every risk, they would support Colclough and the “great Sheridan.” Mr. Alcock’s partisans ascribed the conduct of these persons to seduction on the part of Mr. Colclough. The latter protested in the most solemn manner that he had not even solicited their votes. Alcock insisted that they should not vote for him. “How can I prevent them?” naturally replied Mr. Colclough. After much discussion Mr. Colclough was required to decline the votes, or receive them at his peril. Of course he disregarded this threat; open war ensued, and it was determined, that before the opening of the next morning’s poll, the candidates should decide by single combat the contested question.
Early on the following morning many hundred people assembled to witness the affair, among whom were several magistrates. Both candidates were remarkably near-sighted, and Mr. Alcock determined upon using spectacles. This was resisted by the friends of Mr. Colclough, who would not follow the example. The partisans of the former, however, persevered, and he did wear them. The ground at length was marked, and the anxious crowd separated on either side, as their party-feelings prompted them. The seconds handed to each principal a couple of pistols, and placing them about eight or nine steps asunder, withdrew. A dead silence and a pause ensued—the crowd stood in motionless suspense—the combatants presented—the word was given—Mr. Alcock fired first, and his former friend and intimate companion fell shot through the heart, his pistol exploding without effect.
The bystanders were almost petrified with horror, when on a sudden a loud and horrible yell burst simultaneously from every quarter of the field. Alcock was hurried by his friends from the ground; while those of Colclough raised the body and mournfully bore it to his native home. Within two hours after the fatal duel Mr. Alcock was returned duly elected. At the next assizes he was tried for murder, before Baron Smith, who openly declared against a capital conviction; and the jury, without a moment’s hesitation, pronounced a verdict of not guilty.
The acquitted duellist, however, suffered much in mind, and ended his days in a great measure deprived of his intellectual faculties. Two other duels were fought on the same occasion, but with little injury.
To this melancholy affair there was another sad corollary: Miss Alcock had known Colclough for a considerable time; she was an amiable and sensible person—her brother’s absence, his trial, and his subsequent depression deprived her also of her reason, and in this state she did not long survive the dreadful fate of her brother and his friend.
BETWEEN MR. HARRISON AND ——.
May 9, 1811.
A duel was fought on Tuesday morning, at daybreak, in a field, about a mile and a half from Totteridge, between two gentlemen, who had alighted from post-chaises, at the King’s Arms public-house, near the spot. In an hour after one of the parties was brought in mortally wounded in the abdomen, and he died in four hours after. An inquest was held, and the fact of the duel being proved by some husbandmen, a verdict of “wilful murder” was returned. The body was owned after the inquest. The deceased was a Mr. Harrison, a young man about twenty-two years of age.