Street rencontre
--Yesterday morning Jacob Eisenoer and John T. Davidson, engine drivers on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, appeared before the Mayor to answer the charge of being engaged in a rencontre on Broad street the evening before, and with firing pistols at each other in the public streets.When the case was called, the prisoners being present, seven witnesses were sworn and testified concerning the affair, from whose evidence we make up the following statement.
About twelve months since the parties had a difficulty, which had never been adjusted, and though both were employed by the same company, had not spoken to each other. On Thursday afternoon last, a number of the employees of the company assembled at the depot, the prisoners being in the crowd, when Mr. Leary, in a playful manner, drew his knife and pretended as if he was about to stab Mr. Young. Mr. Davidson seeing this remarked to L., "If you don't mind, some one will make you drop your knife." Hearing this remark, and supposing it to be intended for him, Eisenoer said to Davidson, "come on, sire, and we can go and settle our difficulty." With this the parties started up the street, when Leary and Ruth interposed and stopped them for the time. Davidson then crossed the street to his room, but returned soon after and informed Eisenoer that he was ready for a settlement. The two passed up Broad to 7th street, turning 7th towards Marshall. After getting half way the square, Davidson stopped. Eisenoer desired to go farther or into an alley. Davidson declined to do so, stating that was as good place as any. Eisenoer hearing this, immediately advanced, as if to commence a fist fight, when Davidson drew his pistol. Just then Leary caught Eisenoer and Edward Sorrel caught Davidson's hand in which the pistol was held, and prevented the fight. Seeing his antagonist armed, Eisenoer returned to Broad street and borrowed a revolver of Chas. Brady, but without telling him the purpose for which he designed it. Leary in the meantime persuaded Davidson not to return to the depot, but to go home, and induced him to go as far as Marshall street, where he stopped a few moments and then returned to 7th and Broad streets, taking his stand at the lamp post. Davidson had been standing at the corner but a short time when Eisenoer advanced up Broad street towards him. Getting within a few steps of the corner, both parties drew their pistols and the firing commenced. Davidson, it seems, fired but once, his caps failing to explode. Eisenoer fired four shots, one ball striking Davidson's right hand and severing his middle finger, another penetrating his clothing, and the other two missing. During the firing both parties were dodging behind the tree boxes to escape each other's balls; but as soon as Eisenoer fired his last shot he gave Davidson a blow in the face with his pistol. The parties then seized each other and fell, when friends interfered and separated them. Three or four hours after the fight Dr. Trent examined Eisenoer's scalp, and discovered a slight wound, which he supposed to have been inflicted by a bullet.
The Mayor, after hearing all the witnesses, look until this morning to decide what disposition he should make of the parties. So far as Eisenoer was concerned, the case was a clear one. He had shot Davidson in the street, and that was a clear case of felony.--If it could be conclusively established that Davidson had also shot Eisenoer, his case would be equally clear. Pending his decision he felt compelled to send both parties to prison.
