The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-12
Gen. james H. CIanton Killed by Col. Da.
yid NJ, Nelson. % si a71fr9

Gen james H. CIanton Killed by Col. Da.
vid M. Nelson. % "l salohr9
From the Knoxville Press and Herald of the 2sth
| One of the most deplorabe ARRAYS that ever
took place in Knoxville, happened last evening.
Gen. James H. Clanton, one of the best law
| yers, and most popular men of Alabama, was
! shot and instantly killed by Col. D. NJ. Nelson
| of Cleveland, Tenn, - ~ 5sAs :
Gen. Clantnn was attending upon the U. S,
| Court to guard the interest of Alabama in the
A. & G. r., r. case, and had never met Col. Mel
son. who was interested in case now pending
in the Supreme Court until FIVE minutes before
the ARRAY occurred So 81 1lo8 EsA II
After the fatal shot had been fired, the body Of
Gen. Clanton was taken Into the back office Of
the Confectionery store under the Lamar House,
where every effort was made by competent sur:
geons to restore life, but in vain. iti0 7tt'E
As soon as life was ascertained-to be extinct,
the body war removed to the reading room of the
Lamar House. and Esq, J. P. Ally, acting CoFoE
ner, summoned the following jury: W. r. Nc:
Bath, E. W. Adkins, A. c. E Cullen, ]. N. Hack
er, J.. H. Renshaw, John Crowley and J. A,
Brakebill. - $500 stiIs 50s IS
After the jury were sworn, Tomlinson Fort,
Esq, beingasworn, stated to the Jury that about
en- or fifteen minutes before sig c'olocl, p. M,
he was standing at tie corner of Gay and Cum
berland streets, having just come out of Eiher's
Saloon. so - %i-sls&
He had just met Col d. NJ. Nelson and was
walking arm in arm with him, being an old
friend, when he saw Gen. Clanton with a dark
whiskered gentleman (Col. A. S. Prosser) on the
other side of the street. They crossed over and
met them and he introduced Gen. Clanton to Mel,
son with the remark that Nelson had fought u.s..
Fort was in the Confederate army cpd Clanton
alsol but had been very LIBERAL and honorable
towards his late enemies. Col. Nelson or Gen.
Clanton proposed to so and take drink. Fort
thinks Col. Nelson made the proposition. as
they walked along the talk turned in some way
on amusements, and Col. Nelson remarked that
he could show Clanton something good if he was
not afraid.
Gen. Clanton said "Do you think am afraid?s,
Col. said: al don't know whether you are or
not" i1.lf san ks
The same repeated several times. Nelson ap-
parently becoming excited but Gen. Clanton was
cool Fort put his hands on Nelson's shoulder,
who was under the influence of liquSr, and said,
"Keep cool, Dave. You are in the wrong. There
is use in fghting."ie| 6E ifa SD
At length as Nelson repeated. 81 don't know
whether you are afraid or NOT Gen. Clanton
said :4 49, ,5i,, ~. IS ~. - 80
ssWell, if you think Tn afraid just try me-
Name your friend, time, place and distance any
time or any place. I'D 81 aff b6r gin97
sSc0l. Nelson said this was as good TING and place
as any. offffox 3S
Gen. Clanton then said, s.Fort,. step off the
ground for your friend.' n'7 81
Col. Fort refused to do SO, as both were friends,
and there was no cause for quarrel. II
/ While he was talking with Gen. Clanton, Col.
Nelson had gone into Efers 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 5arrelled gun coming out. He though,
that Nelson fred the first shot, and he fred,
Clanton leveled his pistol cooked it, and fired.
Nelson at once fred again, and after the shot Gen.
Clanton fell forward, doubling himself up on his
hands and face, &}'E.ts 1900
He did not know what became of Nelson after
the fatal shot was fired. SSH fs
Ia Col. Fort stated that during all the converse,
ton Gen Clanton held his hands on his coat col
lar, while Nelson kept his hands in his pocket
Judge G +. Trigg being sworn, stated that he
had just laid down in his room, No.. 10, in the
Lamar House, and heard loud talking on Cumber-
land street, and got up and looked out of the
window and saw Clanton and Fort standing in
the street. Clanton said to Fort he told me to
take my position. Very soon Nelson came out
of Eifer's with double barrell;gun in his hands,
and rested the gun against the right hand side
Of o post, and fired at Clanton, who had no weap-
on in his hands, at the time. Soon after, Clans
ton drew pistol and fred. Nelson then fired
again at Clanton, who stood quartering to Nelson,
Talock, of this city, stalled to the Jury.on oath,
after making examination of the body, that
Is or Is shot or small balls had entered the chest
near the right shoulder fracturing the shoulder
joint seyering several arteries and veins which
are essential to life. They thought that portion
Of the shot had entered the lungs Two shots or
slugs were taken oAt or the back side uof7 the
shoulder by them.
The Jury cosulted a few minute 8 and adjourn
/ ed 70 meet this morning at nine o clock, when
they willirender their verdict sad 9Tiaa11 III
aa ltia but justice to Mr.. Eier TO state that the
weapon was not obtained in his house, but from
some of the houses Gay street. to whose back
doors ACCESS can be had from his back door.
We learn that Col Nelson, Immediately after
the alishot procured horse and fed across
the country. The last heard from him was at
II o'clock last night. He was reported to hay-
ing passed the toll gate near Judge Temples house
on the Kingston pike, three miles ahead OF sles-
if Gossett. 7f1 'ff-
u The father Of Col. Nelson Hon. T. A. r. Nell
son, one of the Judges Of the Supreme Court OF
this State, sent out two of bis other sons, in com
pany with the Sheriff, to bring him back if they
could End him.
We have elsewhere stated who Gen.. Clanton,
the deceased, was. s-.{g