The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-02
THE MURDER OF CLANT0N.
TIE CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING
THE BLOODY DEED.
Tie Slayer Escapes, But Afterwards
Surrenders Himself, and Is Bailed.

Knoxville advices give the following par
ticu!ars OF the killing OF the lamented General
J. H. Clanton, OF Alabama, by Co.oae! D. M.
Nelson, of Tennessee
Tomlnson Fort, In his evidence before the
coroner's Jury, stated that on the evening OF
the 27Lh, soon after six O'Clock, ne nau Just
met Colonel D. M. Nelson, and was walking
arm in arm with him, being an olo Iriena,
when he saw General ClantOn with dark
whlskered gentleman, Colonel A; 5. prosser,
on ihe other side of the street. They crossed
over and mel them, and he introduced Gene
Ta, Clanton TO Nelson, with the remark that
Nelson ..fought u.s." Fort was in the Confede.
rate army and Clanton also, but had
been very liberal and honorable toward
his late enemies. Nelson or Clanton pro,
Fort thinks that Colonel Nelson made the
proposition. AS they walked along the talk
turned in some way on amuseRents, anu
Colonel Nelson remarked that be could snow
Cla6ton something good if he was not afraid.
General Canton said, do ycu thlnk I'm
know whether you are or not" The same re,
MARKS were repeated several times, Colonel
Nelson apparently becoming excited. while
General Clanton was cool. Colonel Fort put
his hand on Colonel Nelson's shoulder. who
was under the influence of liquor, and said
is no use In fghiing." At length, as Nelson
repeated VI don't know whether you are
afraid or not" General Clanton said, swell,
if YOU think I'm afraid just try me; name your
friend. time, place and distance" Mel
Rn said, ''this is as good time
and place as any," General Clanton
S1er goHr ia,u, irien,dn Colonel Fort refused to do
so a. 10th were friends. and there was no cause
for quarrel While he was talking with Cen
era, Clanton. Colonel Nelson had gone INTO
EifIers saloon. and as he was urging Clanten
to GO off as Nelson was drunk, Fort neala s .ns
door of the st. Nicholas open. He looked and
saw Colonel Nelson with double barreled
gun coming out. Hethought that Nelson fired
the first shot, and as he fired Clanton levelled
his pistol, cooked IL and fired. Nelson at once
fred again. and after the shot General Clanton
fell forward. doubling himself up on his hands
and face. He did not know what became OF
Nelson after the fatal shot was fired. Colonel
Fort stated that during all the conversation
General Clanton held his hands on his coat
collar, while Nelson kept his hands In ms
Judge C. F. Trlgg, being sworn, stated that
he had lust laid down In his room. No. 10, IN
the Lamar House, but hearing loud talk on
Cumberland street, got up and looked out OF
the window. He saw Clanton and Fort stand.
irg in the street, and heard Clanton say 10
Fort. "He told me to take my position" very
soor Nelson came out OF Ei1ers, with q double
b$frel gun In his hands. and rested the gun
AGAINST the right hand side OF post and fired
at Clanton, who had no weapon In his hands
Soon after Clanton drew pistol and fred:
Nelson then fred again at Clauton. who stood
ouartering TO Nelson. Drs. w. +. Green, from
Greenvile, and ]. B. Tadlock, Of this city,
stated TO the jury on oath, alter making an
examination OF the body, that fifteen or eisa.
teen shot, or small balls, had entered the chest
near the right shoulder, fracturing the sho'il,
der Joint and severlng several arteries ana
VEINS which were essential to life. They
thought that portion Of the shots had enter
ed the lungs. Two shots or slugs were taken
ont of the back side of the shoulder by them:
Colonel Nelson Immediately after the fatal
shot, procured horse and ned across tne
I kcountry. GThelast heard OF him was at eleven
O'Clock last night, when he was reported to
have passed the tollgate on the Kingston pike,
three miles ahead ofSheriff Gosseit. The faith.
or OF Colonel Nelson, Hon.T. A.. T. Nelson,
one of the Judges Ut the Supreme Court OF this
State. sent out two Of his other sons IN COM
pany with the sheriff, TO bring him back II
they could Aad him.
son, one OF The Judges of the Supreme Court of
this State, a jurist and statesman OF national
reputation. He was captain In on East Ten
nessee regiment in the Federal army during
the late war, and was on General @Giilems
staff. Toward the close of. the war ne was
breveted lieutenant-colonel. He Is young
man OF warm, generous and impnis,ve nature,
and has host Of friends who will deplore SO
untoward an event In his career. The remains
of General CIanton, clad in new suit OF gray
cashmere, with a bouquet Of evergreens and
flowers on the breast, from the hands OF Mrs.
J. A. Rea, OF Mont. .omery. remaine1 Tor some
time in the reading room at the Lamar House.
The Murderer Bailed.
KNOXVILLE, September 30.
Nelson gave himself up this afternoon, and
gave bond in s25, 600 to answer indictment for
killing General Clanton. His father, William
G. Brownlow, R. C. jackson and Joseph
Jacques are his bondsmen.