The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-07-12
The Vallandigham Tragedy-How
tho Fatal Shot Came to be Fired.

tho Fatal shot Came to be Fired
Mr.. Vallandigham had been en-.
gagged for ten days in preparing
for the defence Of one McGehen,
charged with the murder OF Mey.
ers, at Hamilton, Ohio, some
weeks ago. He had go..e to Le-
banon to attend the trial, and his
wife had been summoned to attend
the funeral at Cumberland in Ma.
ryland-tbe Hon. John v. L. Mac.
Mahon, a distinguished lawyer of
that State.
A Lebanon correspondent of the
Cincinnati Enquirer furnishes that
paper with the following details of
the terrible accident Which result.
ed in his death
After taking supper, he procur.
ed from the landlord of the hotel
a bit of white muslin cloth, per-
haps foot square, for the purpose
OF testing to his own satisfaction as
to whether a shot fred from a pis.
toi in close proximity to it would
or would not leave the mark of
powder upon it. Having provid-
ed himself with this, and put his
pistol in his pocket, he and Mr..
Miliken and Mr.. Hume went out
together to the south edge of town,
beyond the residence of Governor
McBurnev. Arriving there, they
were joined by Mr.. McBurncy,
and the trio become sqnartctte.
THE PISTOL
which he took with him for this
purpose is a new revolver which
he had purchased only a few days
before coming to Lebanon. 1t is
one Of Smith & Wesson's manufac.
ture, with a four inch barrel, and
live chambers, and carries a bal
OF 80 100 of an inch calibre.
HOW THE ACCIDENT CAME ABOUT.
Two shots were fired into the
cloth, and all were satisfied with
the result of the experiment, and
started back to the hotel.
MIR. Milikcn, ever cautious and
thoughtful said:
" VAL, there are three shots in
your pistol yet. You had better
Discharge them"
" What for ?" responded Mr.
Vallandigham.
10 prevent any accident" re
Piled the cautious attorney. "Yor
might shoot yourself"
mo danger of that" replied
MIR: Vallandigham, 81 have car
ried and practiced with pistols toe
long to be afraid to have loaded
one in my pocket"
| You had better Le careful
, though" said Mr.. Miliken.
Never fear me-" was the re.
ply.
They tLen slowly walked back
toward the town, and before they
had reached the hotel, separated
Arriving at the Lebanon House
also, Mr.. Vallandigham was stop
ped on his way up stairs Ivy the
landlord, and a package that had
been left for him in his absence
placed i'll his hands. That parcel
contained another rcvulver-a
weapon that had been exhibited al
the trial in court, and was not only
unloadcd, but had the chambers re
moved. Proceeding to his ROOM
he unwrappcd the parcel, and at
the same time taking his weapon
from his pocket, laid The two mur.
derous instruments on the table,
side by side.
a moment later, Mr.. Scott
Symmes, a young lawyer who has
been connected with the prosecu.
ton of the case, passed the door.
"Symmes," said he, 1" Follett is
mistaken. A man could easily
shoot himself as Meyers was shot.
Come i'll and | will show how it is
DONE"
Thus invited, Symmes entered
the room, but a moment later, see
ing Judge Pope coming mp stairs,
excused himself on the ground that
he was going to Hamilton in the
morning, and wished to sec the
Judge before he left. lie passed
out, and minute or 80 afterward
Mr.. McBurney came into the room.
Mr.. Vallandisham, still standing
by the table ON Which the pistols
lay said:
ell show yon how Tom Myers
shot himself. Follett's mistaken
when lie says it can't be done"
Saying this, he took up one of the
murdcraus instruments in his
hands, pnt it into his pantaloons
pocket, and slowly drawing it out
again, cooking it as he drew it
forth, lie attempted to place it III
the exact position Which he believ-
ed Myers weapon TO have assum.
ed at the moment the fatal bullot
was sped on it's mission of death.
The muzzle Of tie weapon still
l. Il a