Washington telegraph., 1850-06-26
MELANCHOLY AND Fatal ArrRAY AT

MELANCHOLY AND Fatal AFFRAY AT
MEMPHIs.-Rumors had reached us of
this shooting affair in greatly exaggerat-
ed form, and we are led to believe that
the death of Gen. Coe was certain; but
the Memphis Appeal, of the l1th instant
gives the subjoined account of it, which
we presume is correct:
On Saturday morning last, about II
o'clock. serious affray occurred between
some or 8 Of our citizens, in which
MIR. Alanson Trigg was instantly killed,
and Gen. L. H. Coe, Maj VIM Connell
and P. G. Gaines, Esq. were seriously
and severely wounded
The different accounts of this affair
are so conflicting that we have found it
almost impossible to give correct version
OF it, though, from the best information
we can gather, the following will probably
be found to approximate the truth:
On Friday evening, General Coe re-
ceived note from Judge E. w. M. King
and Alanson Trigg, to the effect that they
had heretofore entertained no unkind feel
ing towards him, but that if, for the graf
iication of his personal malice against
Doctor Fawlkes, he should oppose the
removal OF the books, papers, assets, &C.,
of the Farmers and Merchants Bank
out of the hands Of Receiver Owen, they
would regard such action his part,
acting in his professional capacity as an
attorney, as an interference with their
private and personal matters, and would
notice it as such, although they had rre-
vously forborne; stating, moreover, that
it was a matter Of vital importance to
themselves and families, that the assets
Of the Bank should be taken out of the
hands of the Receiver.
This note was naturally regarded by
Gen. Coe as threat OF personal violence;
still not hesitating in what he conceived
to be performance of his duty, he op-
posed the motion to remove the Receiver,
and the argument upon the motion was
deferred till Monday. Before leaving the
courthouse Gen. Coe exhibited the note
he had received, to the Judge and several
other friends, expressing his belief at the
time that he would be attacked, and in
company with Ma jor Connell and Mr..
Hightower, started for his Office. Having
reached the corner of Main and Poplar
streets, Trigg emerged from grocery,
(where he was in company with Gaines.
Williams and Arrington,) and attacked
Connell. What demonstration was here
made by Trigg's friends, we have been
unable to learn, but Coe supposing that
the contemplated assault was about to be
made upon him, Immediately drew his
pistol and shot Trigg, killing him instant
ly. AT this stage of the affair the fight
became general. and as far as we can
learn indiscrimnate, Trigg's friends ad-
vanclng upon Coe and Connell. Gaines
shot Connell in the hip, when they closed
in with their knives: and before they were
separated both were severely wounded.
During this time Williams, Arlington and
Thompson, are said to have closed in
upon Coe, who, having discharged three
pistols, discovered that the fourth, re-
volver, had slipped through his pocket
behind the lining Of his coat, and being
unable to get at his knife, made an effort
to get into the door of the nearest house
until he could get hold of them, and just
as he vas entering, Williams shot him,
the ball entering so near the spine as to
paralaZe the lower eXtremities.