Public Ledger

A Desperate Duel,

A correspondent of the Chicago Times writes as follows from Fort Bayard, N. M., Feb. 21: A startling episode of life on the border occurred in Arizona, about forty miles from here, last week. A short time since a quarrel arose between a notorious desperado named Patrick Mutherway and William Clark, a young man who recently came from Illinois. To settle the ill-feeling, it was proposed to fight it out with fists, and that the winner take a purse of $400. The fight came off as agreed, and Mutherway, being much the strongest, punished Clark severely. Smarting under the disgrace and loss of his money, the latter challenged Mutherway to fight a duel with pistols, which was accepted, distance fixed at 20 paces, fire and advance, continuing firing until one or both were killed. The duel took place as agreed, Mutherway winning the choice of positions. Taking their places, the word to fire was given, and on the instant, both weapons were discharged. For a moment neither antagonist showed signs of being struck, when Clark's pistol dropped from his hand, and clasping his hands over his breast, he fell into the arms of his second, who laid him upon the ground. His coat and vest were opened, and it was at once seen that he had received his death wound. The ball from Mutherway's pistol had entered in the neighborhood of the heart, severing an artery, and in less than ten minutes the young man was a corpse.

Mutherway, who escaped without a scratch, is well known in this section and elsewhere as a desperate character, a horse-thief and highwayman. He is the keeper of a dance-house just across the border, in Mexico, the resort of the cut-throats who infest that region. It is understood that, prior to his advent in this country, he was chief of a gang of train-robbers, now led by the James and Younger brothers, and operated largely in Missouri, Kansas and Texas.

Of Clark I know but little, except that he formerly lived and has relatives in Illinois.