Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-08-25
An Awful Tragedy.

1t has never before fallen TO our LOT to record a
more melancholy occurrence, than The one which we
are now called upon to publish. On monday evening
last as two young men, James Wilson, son of Joseph
H. Wilson, Esq, and Nathaniel C. Clayland, the son
of Mrs. Mary Taylor, wife Of Nathan Taylor, Esq,
of this town, returning from the Rock Springs
Camp Meeting, in Lincoln County, about % or 50
miles from Charlotte, slight difficulty sprung up
between the two young men, about the loan of some
money, the former asking the latter for the loan Of
two three dollars and the latter refusing alleging
that he had already let him have some, and heeup-
on an alteration ensued. which resulted in ClayIands
slapping Wilson's jaws. This occurred near the
Western Plank Road toll gate short distance from
town, and Wilson remarked to Clayland that he
would see him again in town; the latter responding
that he could be found about the streets during the
evening. Wilson then left the company and ar
rived in town about fifteen minutes in advance Of
Clayland and the rest of the party who were with
them. As soon as he arrived in town, he made IN
quiry of several of his friends for pistol and final,
y succeeded in finding his own in his carpet bag,
the billiard room Immediately the grocery Of
Bryan Thompson, of his friends having brought
his carpet bag from the Camp Meeting for him Thus
armed, he stepped down into the grocery, where he
found Clayland, and walked up to him. and told him
that he had slapped his jaws, and he intended to kill
him for it. Clayland, not thinking that he
rious, pushed. him away, and remarked, in jocuar
manner, that he had nothing against him, and wanted
nothing to do with him Wilson then drew his Dis
tol and presented it. Clayand caught his hand and
held it up, repeating the same remark He then let
60, and attempted to step behind a screen standing
near by, when he received the ball of the pistol in
the left side, about two and half inches below the
breast. Clayand made step two, fell 10 his knees,
and remarked to Wilson that he had killed him.
Wilson answered with some slight remark, threw
down his pistol, mounted his horse, and made his
escape Westward. He was pursued by the Sheriff
and others, but night coming on very soon, no traces
could be heard of him, and his pursuers returned
hpf0rQ and oNUoH
early the next morning, but at this writing nothing
is known of his whereabouts.
Clayland was taken to his mothers room at Maj
Kerrs Hotel, where he has received every attention
from cur best physicians his many friends, and ho
heart broken mother but hope is ndu ged Tor III,
recovery. The range Of the ball could be traced
with probe, but it is supposed to have passed near
the heart, and lodged in the lungs or thoraX.
This melancholy event has thrown pail Of sad
ness upon the feelings of whole community, anu
public sympathy IS divided between the unfortunate
father Of the one, who absent, attending Inc
Supreme Court at Morganton, and the dlsconsoatS
mother of the other, who had recently removed u
Florida, and is here only a visit to her trIehu0
Wilson is only about l9 years Of age, and Ciaylan"
about q. They were raised in the same town. o.
tended the same schools, and had always been fela
ably friendly and intimate with each other; AM
although Clayland had not been ssipated Tor Se'e
al months it is believed that excessive indulgence ~
the bitter waters of that great source OF human 0i|
and misery, lntemperance, stimulated the pau Pc
sons of young Wilson to commit the unioftuh''
deed thai we have just recorded.
We we're we'll acquainted with both of the your
men, and can testify 10 many noble traits IN Wv"
their characters. Both were brave, and generous 4"
a fault and both were kind, warmheared anu ~ ~
markably affectionate to their friends But DI I
were young, thoughtess, and wholly ungoVerlaaD oj
by their friends and it is to be hoped that TINS 5bs
affair may exercise wholesome influence over sn
minds of the many hayward youths OF the PreS''
generation in this vicinity. a.t
! Mr. CIaYland is still alive and there is a pro'P''
that he may recover Charlotte Wing 18th 1"'l'