25th March, 1891

Mr Crouch,

You do not know me, nor do I think we have ever crossed paths, but I discovered today that you and my son Elmer are to enter into a duel tomorrow and I simply cannot allow this to go ahead. I do not know the reason but surely whatever it is there is another way to resolve it? I implore you as a civilised man to consider that my son is barely beginning his life and sometimes speaks before he thinks and if you were to relate to me the cause of all this I am sure my husband and I could supply adequate recompense.

Yours,
Helena Macmillan.