On 10th September 1814, the last recorded pistol duel in Wales took place, near Newcastle Emlyn, in which Thomas Heslop was killed by solicitor John Beynon following a drink-fuelled quarrel over the affections of a barmaid.
The story goes that Heslop, a mysterious man of West Indian origin and a recent arrival to Wales, who lived in Carmarthen, had been invited to a partridge shoot by Beynon. At the end of the day, the shooting party retired to the Old Salutation Inn at Adpar, for an evening of drinking and it was here that the two men fell out, resulting in Beynon being challenged to a duel by Heslop.
They stood with their backs towards each other on either side of a stream, armed with flintlock pistols and were supposed to walk 10 paces before turning and firing. However, it is said that Beynon only walked five paces before turning and shooting Heslop in the back. Heslop died instantly and was buried at nearby Llandyfyriog Church, with the inscription "Alas Poor Heslop" being engraved on his grave stone.
Beynon was initially convicted of manslaughter, but a number of powerful and well-known county figures spoke up on his behalf and he escaped with a fine.
On 10th September 1814, the last recorded pistol duel in Wales took place, near Newcastle Emlyn, in which Thomas Heslop was killed by solicitor John Beynon following a drink-fuelled quarrel over the affections of a barmaid.
The story goes that Heslop, a mysterious man of West Indian origin and a recent arrival to Wales, who lived in Carmarthen, had been invited to a partridge shoot by Beynon. At the end of the day, the shooting party retired to the Old Salutation Inn at Adpar, for an evening of drinking and it was here that the two men fell out, resulting in Beynon being challenged to a duel by Heslop.
They stood with their backs towards each other on either side of a stream, armed with flintlock pistols and were supposed to walk 10 paces before turning and firing. However, it is said that Beynon only walked five paces before turning and shooting Heslop in the back. Heslop died instantly and was buried at nearby Llandyfyriog Church, with the inscription "Alas Poor Heslop" being engraved on his grave stone.
Beynon was initially convicted of manslaughter, but a number of powerful and well-known county figures spoke up on his behalf and he escaped with a fine.
No comments:
Post a Comment