The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-23
V~ALLANDIGHAM'S DEATH.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE FATAL
ACCIDENT.
Scenes and Incidents In the Chamber OF
the Dying Tlan-How He,Bore Himself
During his Last Hours.


During his Last Hours.
The Cincinnati Enquirer of Monday pub
fishes a full account of the circumstances O
the accidental shooting OF Mr.. Vallandigham
at Lebanon, Ohio. while engaged in the
Mcclellan murder case, on Friday last, and o.
his subsequent death on Saturday morning
Its correspondent, in a letter dated Lebanon,
June II, says: u.s.
During the delivery of Mr.. Follett's opening
argument yesterday, Mr. Vallandigham was
busily engaged in watching the case, taking
notes, and in the intervals preparing the great
argument that he firmly believed would be
one of the greatest efforts Of his life. andone
that would not only add to his fame as a great
criminal lawyer, but result In the retutatlon OF
the theory OF the State, and the triumphant &C
ouittal of his client. Mr.. Vallandigham may
have been too sanguine in this; but that
he did entertain such opinions is album
dainty evident from what he said to Mr..
williamson and other friends a few hours be-
fore the fatal shot vas fired. Mr.. Williamson
occupied the next seat on Mt. Vallandi-
gham's right at the supper table last evening,
and was engaged in animated conversation
with him on the. subject OF the prospects OF
the case, the theories Of the prosecution and
| QSltuGS, oCs 44C Slh W w
spirits and perfectly sanguine Of victory. Upon
Mr.. Williamson's stating that he Intended TO
90 to his home at Loveland that night, MT.
Vallandigham urged him to stay until the END
| of the trial, and especially until alter the de-
livery of. hls (Yallandlgham's) argument.
During the afternoon and evening he had re-
peated this invitation to a number of acquaint-
ances. ladies and gentlemen, OF the town.sHi
unusually good spirits and lightheartedness
were noticed by many Of his acquaintances.
From your reporter, in attendance at the
Mcclellan trial, who was In Mr.. Y!allandigham's
| room almost continually from the tune OF the
shooting until the death struggle, I have OBJ
| tanned the following detailed account OF The
tragedy:
BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
After taking supper, he procured from the
landlord Of the hotel a ot OF Whlte musna
| cloth, perhaps a foot square, for the purpose OF
| testing to his W satisfaction the question as
to whether q shot fred from q pistol in close
proximity to it would or would not leave q
mark of powder upon 1t. Having provided
himself with this, and put his pistol ID MS
pocket, he and Mr.. MiHiken and Mr.. Hume
went out together to the south edge Of town
beyond the residence of Governor cBurney.
Arriving there, they were joined by.Mr. NC
Burney, and the trio became q quartette.
THE PISTOL
which he took with him for this purpose IS q
new revolver which he had purchased only a
few DAYS before coming to Lebanon. It Is
one of Smith & NELSON'S manufacture, with a
four inch barrel and five chambers, and car
rles a ball Of 32-100 OF an inch calibre. 1t is a
beautiful weapon, handsomely, though not
deliberately ornamented, n Its owner little
thought, when 80 recently purchasing II, that
it would SO soon be the instrument Of his un-
timely death.
HOW THE ACCIDENT CAME ABOUT.
Two shots were fred Into the cloth, and all
were satisfied with the experiment, land
started back to the hotel.
Mr.. Milliken, ever cautious and thoughtful,
said:
"Val., there are three shots in your pistol
yet. You had better discharge then"
s'What for ?" responded Mr.. Vallandlgham.
ssTo prevent any accident" replied the
cautious attorney. ''You might shoot your
self"
.''No danger of that replied Mr.: Vallandl-
CHAM. ''Ihave carried and practlced with pis-
tolls too long to be afraid to have q loaded one
In my pocket"
Mr.. Milliken.
NNever fear me,n was the reply.
They then slowly walked back toward the
town, and, before they had reached the hotel,
separated.
ARRIVING at the Lebanon House alone, Mp.
Vallandigham was stopped on his way up
stairs by the landlord, and q package that had
been left for bin, 10 his absence placed In MS
hands. That parcel contained another revel-
vera weapon that had been exhibited at the
trial In court, and was not only unloaded, but
had had the chambers removed. Proceeding
to his room, he unwrapped the parcel, and at
the same time taking his " weapon from his
pocket, laid the two murderous Instruments
on the table, side By side.
- A ,oouanf lofor Mr. Qn0tt CymmpQ a vNIn1 |
lawyer who has been connected with the pro-
secution OF the case, passed the door,
''Symmes," said he, "Follett ls mistaken. A
man could easily shoot himself as Myers was
shot. Come la and I will show how it's done"
Thus invited, Symmes entered the room, but
q moment later, seeing Judge Pope coming up
stairs, excused himself On The ground that he
wished 10 see the judge before he lett. he
passed out, aud a minute or 80 aflerward Mr..
McBurney came into the room. Mr.. Vallan-
digham, still standing by the table on which
the pistols lay, salt:
''l'l show you how Tom Myers SHOT himself.
FoletL's mistaken when he says 1t can't be
DONE" Saying this, he took up one Of the
murderous instruments In his hands, put it
into his pantaloon pocket, and slowly drawing
1t out again, cooking 1t as he drew 1t forth, he
attempted to place 1t In the exact position
which he believed Myers's weapon to have as
at the moment the fatal bullet was
sped on its mission Of death. The muzzle OF
the weapon still within the lapel OF the
he brought it to an angle OF ABOUT
torly-tve degrees.
where, that's the way Myers held It, only
be was getting up, not standing erect" say
Ing this, he touched the trigger.
4 sudden hash-the half suppressed sound
of a shoC-and Clement L. Va~llandlghdm,
with an expression of agony, exclaimed, my
God, Tve shot myself" and reeled toward the
wall a wounded and dying ma~n-wounded and
dying by his own hands.
AFTERwARD.
This happened at the hour of 9 o'clock, or
five or ten minutes earlier. In o Sec
ond OF time, Mr.. McBnrney, terrified at The
rushed out OF the room and along
the hall o'the apartment where the Jury were
quartered. Rapping at the door, he eagerly
demanded thai some one should come into
Valiandigham's room, as he had shot him.
self. Mr.. Tischnor, the constable having them
In charge, was momentarily absent, but sew
eral of the Jurors hurried into the room.
Meantime Mr.. J. G. Babbitt, whose room mo.
l7) was only next door, had heard the sound,
and, %suspecting It's cause, also came In. He
arrived first, and found Mr.. Yallandigham
leaning against the wall. He asked
what had happened.
" have foelishly shot myself" said the
wounded man as he sank into q chair. 'What
folly it was 10 try such an experiment. By
mistake / took up the wrong pistol" The pis-
tol had dropped from his hand at the moment
he fired, and was still lying on The foor. The