The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-08-16
The Fatal Accident 10 EIOn. Clement
l.. VaIIandiGham.

l.. VaIIandiEham.
The Lebanon correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Enquirer gives the following particulars of the
wounding and death of Mr. Vallandigham:
In the evening after supper he procured from
the landlord Of the hotel piece of white muslin
cloth about foot square, for the purpose Of test
ing to his own satisfaction the question as to
whether shot fired from pistol in close prox-
unity to it would or would not leave mark of
powder upon it. Having provided himself with
this, he put his pistol in his pocket, and IN com
pany with Mr. Milliken and Mr.. Hume went out
to the south edge of the town beyond the resi-
dence of Governor McBurney, and upon arriving
there, they were Joined by MIR. McBurney. The
pistol which be took with him was a new revolver
which be had purchased only a few days before
coming to Lebanon, and is one OF Smith & Yves
sons manufacture, with four-inch barrel it has
! FIVE chambers and carries ball of 32-l00 of an
inch calibre 1t is beautiful weapon, handsome
/ ly though not deliberately ornamented, and its
owner little thought, when so recently purchasing
it, that it was to be the instrument of his untime
ly death.
Two shots were fred into the cloth and all
were satisfied with the result of the experiment
and started back to the hotel. Mr.. MillkeD,
ever cautious and thoughtful, said
wal, there are three shots in your pistol yet
you had better discharge them"
"What fOr?" responded Mr.. Vallandingham.
"To prevent any accident" replied the cautious
attorney. "YOu might shoot yourself"
mo danger of that, replied Mr.. Vallandigham.
q have carried and practiced too long with PTS
tolls to be afraid to have loaded one in my peck
ct"
you had better be careful, though, said Mr..
Millikeu.
"Neyer fear for me" was the reply.
They then walked slowly back toward the
town and separated before they had reached the
hotel. Arriving at the Lebanon House alone,
Mr.. Valadigham was stopped on his way up
stairs by the landlord, who gave him package
that had been left for him during his absence
The package contained another revover-the one
that had been exhibited in court at the trial, and
was not only unloaded but the chambers had been
removed. Proceeding to his room he unwrapped
the parcel, and at the same time taking his own
weapon from bis pocket laid the two murderous
instruments on the table side by side.
A moment later, Mr.. Scott Symmes, young
lawyer who had been connected with the proselz
cution of the case, passed the door. "Symmes, ~
said he, "Follet is mistaken man could easily
shoot himself as Meyers was shot. Come in and
I'll show you how it's done"
Thus invited, Symmes entered the room, but
moment later, seeing Judge Pope coming up the
stars, excused himself on the ground that he was
going to Hamilton next morning and wished to
see the judge before be left. He passed out and
minute or two afterward Mr.. McBurney came
into the room. Mr. Valandigham, still standing
by the table on which the pistols lay, said:
an show you how Tom Meyers shot himself.
FOlletis mistaken when he says it can't be done.
Saying this, he took up one of the murderous
weapons, put it into his pantaloons pocket and
slowly drawing it out again, cooking it as he drew
it forth, he attempted to place it in the exact po
sition which he believed Meyers weapon TO have
assumed at the moment the fatal bullet sped on
its mission of death. The muzzle of the weapon
still within the lapel of the pocket, he brought
it to an angle of about forty-fve degrees.
There, that's the way Meyers held it, only he
was getting up, not standing erect" Saying this,
be touched the trigger.
A sudden fash-the half suppressed sound of
shetland Clement L. Valladigham, with an ex-
preston of agony, exclaimed, my God, I've shot
myself" and reeled toward the wall wounded
and dying man-wounded and dying by his own
hand.
This happened at the hour of nine o'clock or
perhaps FIVE or ten minutes earlier. In a second |
oftime, Mr.. McBurney, terrified at the occurrence,
rushed out of the room to the apartment where
the jury were CHARTERED, and rapping at the door
he eagerly demanded that some one should come
into Mr.. Vallandigham's room, as he had shot
himself The constable having them in charge
was momentarly absent, but several of the jurors
hurried into the room. Meantime, Mr.. Rabbit,
whose room was only next door, had heard the
sound and suspecting its cause, also came in. He
arrived first and found Mr. Valandigham alone,
leaning against the wall He asked what had
happened.
Il have foolishly shot myself" said the wound
ed man as he sank into a chair. "What folly it
was to try such an experiment. By mistake l
took up the wrong pistol" The pistol had fallen
from his hand at the moment he fred it and was
still lying on the floor. The other one, empty
and harmless, lay on the table.
The three reporters who were attending the
trial for the Cincinnati morning papers were i'm
mediately on the scene, and upon learning the
nature of the occurrence sped the news on light
nings wings to the journals they represented.
An hour later, the news of that occurrence was
being heralded under the waves of the broad At
lantic to the people Of the old world.
LOUISVILLE boasts Of an eighteen-year-old belle
who cal lift tub of clothing from the ground to
an elevation of four feet, and have the clothe line
white with the results Of the labor Of her own
little hands in short while Meantime her
mother sits in the parlor taking her ease in her
old age. As soon as this becomes generally
known, the railroads running into that city will