R. H. WEIGHTMAN.
One of the most interesting and romantic early-day characters in Atchison county was Maj. R. H. Weightman, an ex-major of the United States army, who was associated with a famous frontier tragedy. Major Weightman was a violent pro-slavery man and had been reared in the South. Before coming to Kickapoo, where he was connected with the land office, and subsequently to Atchison, he was the editor of the Herald at Santa Fe, N. M., and also a delegate to Congress from that Territory.
F. X. Aubrey, the other party to the quarrel, was a French Canadian, of great pluck and energy, and had made a reputation on a wager in 1852, riding from Santa Fe to Independence, Mo., in a few hours over eight days. The next year he wagered $1,000 he could go the same distance in less than eight days. His bet was accepted and Aubrey covered the distance in less than five days. Following these rides he engaged in the freighting business over the plains and he and Major Weightman became warm personal friends. Aubrey later made a trip to California, taking a herd of sheep, which he sold at a fine profit. It was upon his return from this trip that he and Weightman had their famous quarrel. The fairest account of this incident appeared in the Missouri Republican, September 28, 1854, which was in the form of a communication from a correspondent of that paper, and was as follows:
“THE CASE OF MAJOR WEIGHTMAN.
“Mr. Editor: The deplorable event by which F. X. Aubrey lost his life and which deprived the West of one of its most energetic and able pioneers, will not be passed lightly over. The name of Mr. Aubrey had become too closely identified with all that is gallant, preserving, and—in a western sense, at least—brave and chivalrous, that his memory and his sudden death should not awaken painful emotions among all those to whom his name had become a household word; emotions too painful to expect that, under his influence, full justice would be done to both parties concerned. When, therefore, an opportunity is afforded by which the facts, as nearly as we can approach them, may be investigated, it would seem injustice to withhold these facts from the public.
“Though, perhaps, less historically known (if the expression be permitted) than Mr. Aubrey, Major Weightman has peculiar claims upon the citizens of Missouri, and especially of St. Louis, for demanding full and impartial justice in this behalf. Without wishing to anticipate the judgment of your readers, or at all commenting upon the evidence which will be found below, your correspondent, in view of the grave charge in which Major Weightman is involved, and the melancholy importance of the event, deems it his duty, notwithstanding, here to state what may be known to most of your readers, that Major Weightman, for years, formerly, was a resident of St. Louis, beloved and respected, almost without any exception, by all with whom he came in contact.
“Amongst the many of Missouri’s citizens who participated in the late Mexican war, Major, then Captain Weightman, at the head of his Light Artillery Company, won laurels which placed his name foremost among the bravest and most gallant in that war. His fellow soldiers still in our midst will cheerfully bear your correspondent testimony, that Captain Weightman’s gallantry as a soldier and officer was only surpassed by his urbanity and true kindliness of feeling as a gentleman; and if the evidence adduced upon his preliminary examination before the examining magistrate should sustain Weightman’s plan of self-defense in the premises, his former friends here and abroad, and his fellow soldiers, will be glad to learn that the qualities of heart, for which they used most to prize Captain Weightman, in former years, remain untainted even now, when his name has become unfortunately coupled with a most grave and serious charge. May the public judge, and may not the unquestioned enviable renown of Captain Aubrey’s name tend to warp calm judgment in pronouncing upon the guilt or innocence of the accused.
“The following evidence, being a synopsis of the process verbatim at the preliminary examination before Judge Davenport, at Santa Fe, have been transmitted to your correspondent from New Mexico by a third person, and, as your correspondent has every reason to believe, may be fully relied on. It is in the main supported by your former notices published in the Republican concerning this same transaction.
“The circumstances are these: Major Weightman, hearing of the arrival of Aubrey, and that he was at the store of the Messrs. Mercure, merchants at Santa Fe, crossed the plaza to see him, and was one of the first to take him by the hand and greet him as a friend. When Major Weightman arrived at the store of the Messrs. Mercure, several persons had already arrived to pay their respects to Mr. Aubrey.
“Aubrey and Weightman met kindly, shook hands, and conversed pleasantly for a short time, when something having been said by a third person about the route by which Aubrey had arrived from California, Aubrey asked the major if he had yet published his paper in Albuquerque. The major said, no; that it was dead—had died a natural death from want of subscribers. Aubrey then said it should have died, because of the lies with which it was filled. This was said without excitement. When Weightman asked ‘What lies?’ Aubrey remarked: ‘When I returned from California last year you asked me for information in respect to my route, and afterwards you abused me.’ This Weightman denied, saying, ‘No, Aubrey, I did not abuse you.’ Aubrey then said, more or less excited, ‘I say you did, and I now repeat, it is a lie,’ at the same time bringing his hand down with force upon the counter.