, 1870-08-02
4 GEORGIA TRAGEDY.
Representative Claiborne, ut Brooks.
shot By bentley, Messenger OF the
House.

House.
fron. sAs Atlanta Ma Era, Juiy g.
The legislative halls were the scene Of
bloody murder yesterday At about 9:55
o'clock. when both houses "e1e about to COM
merce the labors Of the day, three pistol ahota
were fred in rapid succession and cap was
heard TO snap denotiug that fourth attempt
bad been made to fire. On rushing into the
lobby, Il coloEed man was eeen about half way
down the stsirs lesdlng up from Nassetts
members from Brooks County. II was OBJ
vious that he was dying; he nerer spoke after
he fell, being shot through the heart. His
assass1n waa Bentley, the colcred Messenger
Of the HouHe.
Benllev, IL Messenger OF the House, had
under his charge and control the psgrs, and
recently discharged one OF them, colored
Icy named .Alonzp, who was ward Of Senator
Wallace This discharge created q good deal
OF excitement and indignation among the col
the boy bad been discharged without cause,
and Senator Wailace e1postulated and finally
qus1felled With Bentley, the result Of which
was the arrest OF the Senator for unins opp1o-
brious language. This was answered BY Mr..
Wallace by pleA Of privilege, and tais tHues-
Pittman, Who discharged III. WAllacc. We
heard it asserted that BeEtley wore his
pistol in case Of = collision with Wallace.
Claiborne, gcinG into the House this morning,
letters. Dently stepped up aud made some re-
mark. when Claiborne eAid: II don't want
Eou to speak 10 me, you E. Of \ b.; doh't
want anything to do with yon." Bentley re-
Piled that be would see him outside about that
cd towards the Senate Chamber, With friend,
Bentley following him. Il ia said that
bentley called to him to take that back, and
That When he refused the shooting commenced
49, ahe hsss shot MISSED Claitorue, passed through
wall about two feet from the tloor 1sadinS
fem the lobby 10 the Senate giaucvd to the
wall at the end Of the lobby, aud finally re-
bounded some ei1 feet Tie eecoud shot
found lis way into poor Claihorne's heart. The
third missed and went through the door OF
the nfs:sc II Public Works. i fourth tina the
t1ist,'r : is pulled, but it missed fire. The
va ps'>d man went steadily down the steps
~ :! c.. distance, but fell on his back about
Esi1 Ray Gown: he never spoke again. He
was earned acIoss the street to Dr. Nessmors-
lands Iooms- The Doctor was out, but Dr..
u. '. u. Miller and Dr. Orue were quickly GU
the man dead.
Tie excitement which followed WIS mos. in
tense, and had not ceased when the L,ci,la-
tn.e adjourned At the TINA the SHOOTING
took place tho members OF the House roae
and scattered in every direction, and in the
senate the excitement was scarcely less. and
II was not until nearly half an hour after tho
regular time that the Senato wAs called to
order.
The murderer, after committing tue deed,
wallei calmly into the House aud went to his
aesl, holding lis pistol in his hand. Mr.. Fitz-
panick requested him to sivs up tue weapon.
and lie did 70. and waited uut,l Lieutenant
Queen, Of the city police, camo and took him
iuto custody.
The preliminary trial will be conducted by
Judge Spencer III tie Civ Hall. at 10 4 M
this nerning. 1t il believed that afr. Senator
Nunnaily vii assist Mr. Solicitor General How
ell IN the prosecution. The prisoner viii be
defended ~ SivErrs. Hnaley and Tiguor, a.
siet.d by AIr. S. r. Spencer