Danbury Times

Murderous Affray. A fearful rencontre occurred at the Galt House, in this city, on Saturday night. Various conflicting rumors in regard to it are afloat, and, to avoid errors, we shall only make a general statement of the occurrence.

On Saturday evening a difficulty took place between Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson, and Mr. Murdough, all of Mississippi, and Mr. Redding, merchant tailor of this city, in regard to some coats which had been made by the latter for some of the first named individuals. Redding appears to have been roughly used, and he went to the Galt House after night to get redress, accompanied by three or four of his friends. In the bar room he met Judge Wilkinson and some words passed between them. The Judge retired, and in a short time returned with Dr. Wilkinson and Mr. Murdough, all armed with Bowie knives. A general fight almost immediately ensued. Mr. Meek, a bar-keeper in the Wall street House, was struck dead by a Bowie knife. A similar knife was passed through the lungs of Mr. John Rothwell, a hatter in this city, who died last evening. Mr. Holmes, a steamboat pilot or engineer, was also badly cut. In a short time a crowd had collected around the combatants, and the Mississippians retired up the steps of the Hotel, and one of them received a wound in his shoulder from a pistol that had been dropped in the contest. He returned the fire without effect. We learn that Mr. Redding and his friends were unarmed—at least, they displayed no arms during the conflict. Judge and Dr. Wilkinson and Mr. Murdough were arrested and placed in confinement.—Louisville Journal.

The Journal of the following day says:

Judge Wilkinson, Dr. Wilkinson, and Mr. Murdough, who took part in the bloody affray at the Galt House on Saturday evening, were taken from the jail, yesterday morning amidst a very large concourse of people and carried before the Examining Court. The examination, however, at the solicitation of the prisoners, was deferred till to-morrow. Judge Wilkinson spoke for a considerable time in behalf of himself and his fellow prisoners, earnestly deprecating violence on the part of the multitude. The prisoners were then remanded to jail. Mr. Rothwell, who fell in the affray, was buried yesterday, his body being followed to the grave by the military, the fire companies, and an immense procession of citizens. There was evidently a powerful excitement amid the assembled throng—almost too powerful to be repressed. We fervently trust that no violence will be permitted on the present occasion, to bring disgrace upon Kentucky. Every good citizen will lend his strength and influence to uphold the supremacy of the law, and to prevent an infuriated multitude from usurping the fearful prerogatives that belong alone to the judicial tribunals of the country.