“Within a few days a man was shot in an affray in the upper part of the town, and has since died.  The perpetrator of the violence is at large.  We need hardly speak of another scene which occurred in Royal street, when a fray occurred between two individuals, a third standing by with a cocked pistol to prevent interference.  On Saturday night a still more exciting scene of outrage took place in the theatre.

“An altercation commenced at the porquett entrance between the check-taker and a young man, which ended in the first being desperately wounded by a stab with a knife.  The other also drew a pistol.  If some strange manifestations of public opinion, do not coerce a spirit of deference to law, and the abandonment of the habit of carrying secret arms, we shall deserve every reproach we may receive, and have our punishment in the unchecked growth of a spirit of lawlessness, reckless deeds, and exasperated feeling, which will destroy our social comfort at home, and respectability abroad.”

From the “Huntsville Democrat,” of Nov. 7, 1837.

“A trifling dispute arose between Silas Randal and Pharaoh Massingale, both of Marshall county.  They exchanged but a few words, when the former drew a Bowie knife and stabbed the latter in the abdomen fronting the left hip to the depth of several inches; also inflicted several other dangerous wounds, of which Massengale died immediately.—­Randal is yet at large, not having been apprehended.”

From the “Free Press” of August 16, 1838.

“The streets of Gainesville, Alabama, have recently been the scene of a most tragic affair.  Some five weeks since, at a meeting of the citizens, Col.  Christopher Scott, a lawyer of good standing, and one of the most influential citizens of the place, made a violent attack on the Tombeckbee Rail Road Company.  A Mr. Smith, agent for the T.R.R.  Company, took Col.  C’s remarks as a personal insult, and demanded an explanation.  A day or two after, as Mr. Smith was passing Colonel Scott’s door, he was shot down by him, and after lingering a few hours expired.

“It appears also from an Alabama paper, that Col.  Scott’s brother, L.S.  Scott Esq., and L.J.  Smith Esq., were accomplices of the Colonel in the murder.”

The following is from the “Natchez Free Trader,” June 14, 1838.

“An affray, attended with fatal consequences, occurred in the town of Moulton, Alabama, on the 12th May.  It appears that three young men from the country, of the name of J. Walton, Geo. Bowling, and Alexander Bowling, rode into Moulton on that day for the purpose of chastising the bar-keeper at McCord’s tavern, whose name is Cowan, for an alleged insult offered by him to the father of young Walton.  They made a furious attack on Cowan, and drove him into the bar room of the tavern.  Some time after, a second attack was made upon Cowan in the street by one of the Bowlings and Walton, when pistols were resorted to by both parties.  Three rounds were fired, and the third shot, which was said to have been discharged by Walton, struck a young man by the name of Neil, who happened to be passing in the street at the time, and killed him instantly.  The combatants were taken into custody, and after an examination before two magistrates, were bailed.”