Cheraw Gazette And Pee Dee Farmer

INNOCENCE MADE MANIFEST.—Those who have always contended that duelling settled no point in which character was implicated said right, and that it could only be justified where great wrongs had been inflicted; and even then it was doubtful whether the guilty was punished, and, consequently as a test of innocence, duelling was doubtful and precarious. We have now a case before us which forcibly illustrates this position.

In the early struggle in Texas, a young man of great promise—an assistant editor of the Star—by the name of Laurens, was determined to seek his fortune in that country under the most flattering auspices. He found on his arrival there a number of young gentlemen, from various sections of the Union, who were actuated by similar motives, and with whom naturally an intimacy was formed. One stormy night, when their cabins in the new town of Houston were overflowed by the rain, a Dr. Goodrich, of Mississippi, invited the party of five or six to repair to his quarters for the night, which was accepted. Some slept on benches. some on the floor; unfortunately poor Laurens—a great favorite among them all— slept in the bed with Dr. Goodrich. In the morning the Doctor missed his wallet with a large sum of money. All demanded to know of him whether he suspected any one in the company with having robbed him. He fixed his suspicions upon poor Laurens, and accused him of the theft, Horror struck at the accusation, he protested his innocence with tears in his eyes, and appealed to his well known character for his integrity. It was of no avail; he must redeem his honor by challenging his accuser. He did so ; they fought with rifles, and poor Laurens fell, It now turns out that a young man by the name of Stanley was the thief and as a commentary on dueling, or an appeal to honor, this Stanley actually was second to poor Laurens, and stood by to see him fairly shot down in defending his innocence.