Austin Daily Bulletin, 7 Jan 1842

**NOTE:There is some indication that Mayfield was a friend of the editor of this paper

   An attack was yesterday made by Mr. Kaufman, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, upon Mr. Mayfield, the present member from Nacogdoches, in consequence, we presume, of some remarks made by the latter gentleman, in the House, yesterday morning, reflecting upon the political character of Mr. Kaufman.  That Gentleman was within the bar of the House at the time, and the remarks were of a very pointed and severe character.

   Immediately after adjournment, last evening, Mr. Kaufman walked up to Mr. Mayfield, in the passage between the Senate chamber and the House, addressed him by name-- raised a stick in a threatening position, and commenced drawing a pistol.  Mr. Mayfield who had been cautioned some minutes before, and furnished with weapons, drew a pistol.  Mr. Kaufman then retreated, apparently unable to get out his pistol from some cause, passed off the end of the gallery, and got on the ground in front of the railing to the gallery, and made a show of continuing the fight.  Two pistols were discharged, by Mr. Mayfield, in succession, the second of which took effect upon Mr. Kaufman, entering the upper part of the abdomen.  The wound is a dangerous one-- perhaps mortal.  The unfortunate man suffered very much.  We hope he may survive; and we know his opponent hopes so.  There is general regret for the occurrence, but no possible blame can attach to Mr. Mayfield.

Austin Daily Bulletin, 8 Jan 1842

   Journals of the previous day having been read and approved, Mr. Van Ness arose and said that legal investigation was about to be had, of the unfortunate affair of the evening previous, (the rencountre between Messrs. Kaufman and Mayfield) and that several of the members would be required as witnesses, and it would be impossible to retain a quorum, he moved an adjournment to 3 o'clock, which was carried.

   The examination of the unfortunate affair of yesterday has been going on all day and last night, and is not yet concluded.  The House of Representatives ajourned yesterday morning and also at an early hour in the evening, on account of the number of members required as witnesses.   The Republic is represented by Messrs. H.J. Jewett and A.M. Tompkins.  On the part of Col. Mayfield, Judge Webb, Col. Potter, Mr. Van Ness, Mr. Tod Robinson, Mr. Barry Gillespie, Judge Mills, and others, have volunteered their services.
   We are afraid the affair will prove fatal to Mr. Kaufman, for whom a great deal of sympathy is manifested.

Austin City Gazette, 12 Jan 1842

   On Thursday last, an unfortunate rencontre took place at the Capitol, between the Hon. D.S. Kaufman, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Hon. Jas. S. Mayfield, member from Nacogdoches, whereby Mr. Kaufman received a severe wound.  Mr. Mayfield has given bond of $5,000 to appear at the next term of the District Court.

   We, at the present time, forbear any comments on the occurrences which led to this event; as, in the event of the wound proving fatal, the whole matter will be the subject of investigation and decision for a jury, it would therefore be unjust for us to make the columns of the Gazette the vehicle for the promulgation of matter, or opinions, in anywise calculated to prejudice or affect the public mind.

Houston Morning Star, 18 Jan 1842

   We give below an account, from the Bulletin, of the origin and lamentable result of a rencontre between the Hon. James S. Mayfield, member of the House of Representatives from Nacogdoches, and David S. Kaufman, former Speaker of that body.  We learn by a private letter received in this city, dated 5th [sic] inst., that an examination of the affair resulted in the holding of Mayfield to bail, in the sum of $5,000, for his appearance at the next term of the District Court.  Messrs. Jewett and Tompkins represented the Republic; and on the part of Mayfield, Judge Webb, Col. Potter, Mr. Van Ness, Mr. Tod Robinson, Mr. Barny Gillespie, Judge Miller, and others, volunteered their services.  We are gratified to learn, from the same source, that Mr. Kaufman's friends entertain strong hopes of his recovery.

Houston Morning Star, 5 Feb 1842

letter from Austin, dated 29 Jan 1842:
Maj. Kaufman is rapidly recovering.

Austin Democratic Statesman, 4 Apr 1877

A RELIC OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.-- Deputy Sheriff Kirk in looking the other day among the old papers recently taken from the old courthouse found the following, which will be especially interesting to the few Texans now alive who will remember the difficulty at the State House between James S. Mayfield and the speaker of the Houst of the Republic of Texas in 1842, Mr. Kaufman:

The Republic of Texas vs. James S. Mayfield-- subpoena issued January 7, 1842.  M.H. Beaty, deputy clerk.  Executed and returned January 7, 1842.
C.F. King, Sheriff.
The Republic of Texas, }
     County of Travis. }
To the Sheriff of said county, greeting:
  In the name and by the authority of the Republic aforesaid.  You are hereby commanded to summon R.M. Williams, Louis P. Cooke, Joseph Lee, Mark B. Lewis, E.B. Noble, John Brown, John Guile, William Cockburn, William Hart, James Raymond, Thos. Green, John Nowland and William M. Cooke, to beand appear before the Hon. R.E.B. Baylor, Judge of the Third Judicial + District, and his associates now sitting as a magistrate's court at the Orleans House, in the City of Austin and county aforesaid, on this day, 7th January, 1842, then and there to give evidence in a certain case then and there pending, wherein the Republic of Texas is plaintiff and James J. [sic] Mayfield defendant, on the part of the defendant.  Herein fail not, and have you then and there the subpoena under penalty of law.

    Attest:   B.D. Basford,
                  Clerk Dist. Court Travis Co.
                  By M.H. Beaty, Deputy
                  Austin, Texas, March [sic] 7, 1842.

Judge Joseph Lee and James H. Raymond, summoned as witnesses in the case, are still residents of Austin.  James S. Mayfield, who fired upon and wounded Speaker Kaufman, was acquitted.  The Orleans House occupied the spot where Sampson's three-story building now stands.

• David Spangler Kaufman