Broderick's seconds wrote the following after the pro-Lecompton Herald decried that Broderick was killed in a duel, but rejoiced in his death:

In the Herald this morning we are reported as saying, 'And if there was any advantage on either side it was surely with Mr. Broderick.' We have not made this statement, nor, at the same time, have we imputed any unfairness to Judge Terry or his seconds. Further, we have passed no judgement on the press and its peculiar views as to the unfortunate affair, our duty being simply to correct statements emanating either from the friends of Mr. Broderick or Mr. Terry not warranted by the facts. This we have done in all cases. The Herald of this morning contains the most serious misstatement we have yet seen. Mr. Broderick had not the choice of weapons nor were his friends aware, until the publication of the Herald, that one weapon was easier on the trigger than the other. Had we believed there was any unfairness there could have been no meeting.

Jos. C. McKibben
David D. Colton
San Francisco, September 16, 1859



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