Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-10-06

The Montgomery Advertiser comes TO
us clad in mourning for The uutimely
death of Gen. j. FL. Clanton. 1t gives the
following particulars of the sad occurrence
III kilograms from Knoxville, Tenn:
Tomilson Fort, in his evidence before
the coroner's jury, stated that on the eve
ming of the 9th, soon after six o'clock,
he lad just met Col. D. M. Nelson, and
was walking rm-in-arm with him, be-
ing an cid friend, when he saw General
Clanton with a administered gentle
man, Col. A. s. Prosser, on the other side
of the street. They crossed over and met
them, and he introduced General CIanton
to Nelson, with the remark that Nelson
fought ''us." Fort was in the Confederate
army, and Clanton also, but bad been very
liberal and honorable towards his late
enemies. Nelson or Canton proposed to
go and take drink. Colonel Fort thinks
Colonel Nelson made the proposition. AS
they walked along the talk turned in
some way on amusements. and
Colonel Nelson remarked that he
could show General Clanton something
good If he was not afraid. General Clan
ton said, "Do you think I'm afraid pr
Col. Nelson said 81 don't know whether
you are or not" The same remarks were
repeated several times, Col. Nelson appa.
rently becoming excited, while Gen. Clar-
ton was cool. Col. Fort put his hand on
Col. Nelson's shoulder, who was under the
influence of liquor, and said keep cool
Dave; you are in the wrong; there is no
nse in fighting" Although, as Nelson
repeated, II don't know whether you are
afraid or not" Gen. Clanton said "Well if
you think I'm afraid just try me; name
your friend, tine, place and distance. -
Nelson said, "This is as good time and
place as any," Gen. Clanton then said,
nj "a f07 fr1a
Col. Fort refused to do so as both were
friends, and there was no cause for a quar-
rel. While he was talking with Gen. Clan
ton, Col. Nelson had gone into Eifer's
saloon, and as he was urging Clanton to
go off as Nelson was drunk, Fort heard the
door of the st. Nicholas open. He looked
and saw Col. Nelson with double bar
relied gun coming out. He thought that
Nelson fired the first shot, and as he fred,
Clanton 1evelied his pistol, cooked it and
fired. Nelson at once fired again, and
after the shot. General Clanton fell for
ward, doubling himself up on his hands
and face. He did not know what became
OF Nelson after the fatal shot was fred.
Colonel Fort stated that during all the
conversation General Clanton held his
hands On his coat collar, while Nelson
kept his hands in his pockets
Drs. ". +. Green, from Greenville, and
after making an examination of the BODY,
that fifteen or eighteen shot, or small
balls, had entered the che st near the right
shoulder, fracturing the shoulder Joint and
severing several arteries and veins which
were essential to life. They thought a
portion of the shot had entered the lungs.
Two shots or slugs were taken out of the
back side of the shoulder by them.
Col. Nelson Immediately after the fatal
shot procured horse and fled across the
country. The last heard of him was at
o'clock last night when he was report
ed to have passed the toll. gate on the
Kingston pike three miles ahead of Sheriff
Gossett. The father of Col. Nelson, Hon. |
I. A. Il. Nelson, one of the Judges of the
Supreme Court Of this State. sent out two
of his other sons in company with the
Sheriff to bring him back if they could
find him.
He is the second son OF Hon. T. A. r. |
Nelson, one of the judges of the Supreme
Court of this State. iurist and statesman
Of national reputation. He was a captain |
in an East Tennessee regiment in the Fed |
eral army during the late war, and was on |
Gen. Gillem's staff. Toward the close of |
the war he was brevetted Lieutenant Co. |
lionel he is young man of warm, gen.
orous and 1mpulsive nature, and has host |
OF friends. who will deplore so nntoward