A new article has been added at Newspaper Abstracts > United States > California > San Joaquin http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=592 Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?id=31830 Submitted by: deesar Article Title: Stockton Daily Argus Article Date: May 1861 Article Description: May 27-31, 1861 Article Text: >>Monday, 27 May 1861THERE WAS MUCH surprise and no little indignation yesterday, exhibited among our citizens that a verdict of “guilty” should be brought against us on the charge of assault and battery upon CRENSHAW. It is evident that the jury has confounded the terms assault and battery -- that the proof of battery was necessarily the proof of assault, as one of the jury said yesterday, “CRENSHAW’s face was proof of the batter, and no other verdict could be rendered.” This was the error that no doubt was the cause of the verdict. We might batter a man and not commit an assault -- he himself being the assailant. As simple as is this rule of law, there are thousands who are ignorant of the fact, and on account of it give verdicts against their feelings and in many instances against their common sense -- believing the law requires them to do s. On first going out, the jury were divided, but it appears that finally the “battery” part quite covered up with rubbi! sh the “assault.” ------------------------------------------------ FATAL DUEL -- A duel took place in Marin county on Saturday between Hon. Chas. W. PIERCEY, from San Bernardino, and Hon. Dan SHOWALTER, from Mariposa, both members of the late Assembly. The weapons used were rifles and the distance 40 paces. PIERCEY was shot dead on the 2nd fire. The difficulty originated in a debate on the Union resolutions which passed the Assembly on the 17th inst., in which personal remarks were made by SHOWALTER. On account of this language, after the adjournment of the Legislature, Mr. PIERCEY sent a challenge to Mr. SHOWALTER. H.P. WATKINS, Senator form Yuba, and Sam. SMITH of the same county, acted as friends of Mr. PIERCEY; and F. SORREL, Assemblyman from Siskiyou, and Thos. LASPEYRE of San Joaquin, filled the same office for Mr. SHOWALTER. Mr. PIERCEY was a young man, single, a farmer, and lived at Gorgonia Pass in San Bernardino. He was from Illinois, 26 years of age, and a Douglas Democrat. Mr. SHOWALTER is also single, 30 years of age, a resident of Horse Shoe Bend, a miner, a Breckinridge Democrat, and hails from Pennsylvania. ------------------------------------------------ >>Tuesday, 28 May 1861>Wednesday, 29 May 1861>Thursday, 30 May 1861AT A STATED MEETING of Stockton Chapter, No. 28, of Royal Arch Masons, held at their hall on Tuesday evening, 28th ult., the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: J.A. JACKSON, H.P. F.C. ANDREW, R. R.B. PARKER, S. R. PORTERFIELD, C.H. D.F. McDONALD, P.S. E.D. ELDRIDGE, R.A.C. James LITTLEHALE, M. of 3 V. L.C. VAN ALLEN, M. of 2 V. W.H. NEAL, M I V. A. BURKETT, Treas. Chas. GRUNSKY, Sec’y Sam‘l ELDRIDGE, Guard >THE HON. THOMAS LASPEYRE of San Joaquin, member of the Legislature, was called by the Hon. John CONNESS, on the floor of the house, a “dirty dog,” and he flung an inkstand at his head. No challenge followed. Mr. LASPEYRE, however, accepted the position of 2nd in the SHOWALTER duel. >>Friday, 31 May 1861