History:  Columbia County.  John Wynne, Dr. Walsh, Ned Bacon  
  Reminisces of Dr. H. R. Casey
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	 This file was contributed by: Stephanie Harrison
                                  info@conquestmusic.com 

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Articles written for the Columbia Sentinel in 1883.

Permission granted by the Columbia County News and transcribed by 
Stephanie Harrison.

The articles were written in 1883 by Dr H. R. Casey for the Columbia 
Sentinel. He writes about many of the early pioneers of Columbia County 
who arrived in Georgia in the late 1700's and early 1800's."

January 24, 1883
Columbia has had her Burnsides from that day to this; and along through
those eventful years - years pregnant with temptation of all sorts no
stain has ever attached to any one of the name that I have ever heard
of. Some of the late descendants have gone upon the gory field, not the
bloody duel, but responding to their country's call, they now fill
soldiers' graves and Columbia has written their names upon her
"Monumental Tablet" dedicated to "Our Dead".
Looking back through the dim vista of a half century, I would not
exhume this unfortunate and bloody tragedy, long buried in the
ivy-covered tomb of the past but for one reason only. Here were two
rising young men--men of talents and good habits--and each giving
promise of future usefullness to their families, friends and country. 
But the demon of party spirit was abroad in the land "like a roaring
lion, seeking what it might devour". A sacrifice was demanded, and
that each party might show "foreman worthy of their steel", a bright
shining mark was selected, with little or no preparation for the coming
event, either of a temporal or spiritual nature, and mayhap, with
little or no real heart-bitterness toward each other; yet, under a false
conception of what insulted honor demanded, and under the influence of
outside pressure, the "Blood Code" is held up as the only arbitrament. 
They met and the duel ended in the death of one bringing grief and
anguish of his family and friends, while the survior is perhaps in after
life, a victim to corroding care. What did either party gain by this
sad catastrophe? Is it not time to put a stop to the duello?
JOHN WYNNE
a brother of Mrs Moon, who was grandmother of A. M. Crawford, was a
stout, stalwart man, brave, fearless and ever ready to enter the ring
and "knock off the chip" for a fisticuff. He belonged to the Crawford
party. He and a young man by the name of Stewart got into a fight and
Wynne being the better man, gave Stewart a good trouncing. Wynne was
told by some friends that Stewart was a brave man and would not be
content to let the matter drop. Wynne replied that he would whip any
man who should bring him a challenge.
There lived in Appling about that time a
DR WALSH,
from New York, a man of decided talent and a great medical skill, but of
very intemporate habits. As John Wynne was walking to the grocery he
was halted by Dr Walsh, who said to him, "I have a note for you" "What
is its purport?" inquired Wynne.
"Read it, and you will see" replied Walsh.
So as soon as Wynne had finished reading the note he threw it
violently to the ground and struck Walsh a stunning blow. The doctor,
anticipating this, had put an open knife up his sleeve, and with it
inflicted a fatal stab. Walsh fled the country, but was pursued and
brought back and put on trial. The law then was, I believe, to hold
Court for two weeks and on Saturday night the Judge (notwithstanding
the jury was in doors on this case) adjourned the Court. In an hour
thereafter the jury brought in a verdict of murder.--But it was too
late; the Court had passed by the result was a mistrial. At the next
term of the Court Dr Walsh was acquitted. Ed. Bacon, alais.
NED BACON
of the Georgia Scenes appeared for the defence and is said to have made
a fine speech.
None of the parties' to these transactions (except Dr. W. A. L.
Collins) are now alive to read these lines. Let the good they have done
live after them, and may the evil be buried with their bones.