2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Broadside, 1p. 6”x15-1/2”, August 23, 1833, addressed “TO THE PUBLIC” by Richmond M. Pearson, it reads in part: “...On the 16th of August, 1830, I gave Dr. Smith a gross insult. He afterwards alleged that he had scruples of conscience which prevented him from sending a challenge, but intimated that he would receive one from me. I immediately told him I would send him a challenge. This is the substance of the affair...A short time after I had promised to send the challenge, I was told that Dr. Smith was very expert at the small sword exercise (about which I was totally ingnorant) and it was suggested that he had tricked me into the promise to send the challenge for the purpose of selecting small swords, and not on account of his scruples of conscience. I replied that if Dr. Smith had practiced fraud upon me by procuring a promise from me to send the challenge, when in truth he was the person insulted, he would not profit by his fraud; for I intended to send a challenge to fight with the usual weapons (pistols)...” With affidavit from James Martin stating that he gave the verbal challenge of Pearson to Dr. Smith and Smith declined it. About Good condition. Interesting. The Dr. Smith is mentioned as being Ashbel Smith and there is also mention of Salisbury. Ashbel Smith (1805-1886).Was a pioneer doctor and leader in the development of Texas. He was a close friend of Sam Houston and became Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas. In 1833 he was a physician in Salisbury, North Carolina. Richmond Pearson was a Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court during the mid 1800’s.
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