The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-06-24
Tragic Death of Hon. Glenn en-
l.. Vallandig ham.

l.. Vallandig ham.
While we are writing these few lines,
(Tuesday) the sad and mournful prepara>
tions are being made at his late home to con-
sign to their last resting place all that is
mortal of Clement L. ValIandigham. His
sudden and tragic fate will cause profound
feeling of regret throughout the country, in
which those who widely differed from him in
political sentiment will participate, in COM
mon with his most enthusiastic admirers and
friends. He has been cut dewn by a most
strange and singular accident, in the pride of
his manhood and the full vigor Of his intel~
lsct. The manner of his death was most
remarkable. Being professionally engaged
in the defence of a man accused Of murder,
and with u pistol in his hand, which ho sup-
posed to be unoaded, he was endeavoring
in his own room and in the presence of one
of the counsel associated with him to illus
trats his theory that the man who was
said to have been murdered, might accident
ally have caused his own death. His at
tempted proof unfortunately cost him his
own life.
Mr.. Vallandigham has acted a conspicu>
oIs part in the polit ical affairs of the coun-
try ever since his first appearance in Con-
gress, in 1856. No public man has been
more prominent and certainly no one has
been the subject Of more bitter denunciation
on the one hand, OF warmer eulogium on the
other. Although not great man, he pos
sessed all the essential elements of true great
ness, aud, if his life had been spared, would
undoubtedly have attained a much higher
distinction than he kad yet reached. He
was a man of strong and earnest convictions,
and being possessed of great moral courage,
was always ready to avow and defend them.
If he was ambitious, he was free from all the
low arts of ths political demagogue, by the
skillful use of which SO many of our public
men have rapidly risen to fortune, if not to
fame. Above all else he was pure, unsel-
fish and noble-hearted man, and has left be-
hind him a reputation for personal integrity
without blemish or reproach. His untmely
death forcibly recalls 20 memory the express
sive words of Burke on like melancholy
occasion, "What shadows we are, and what
shadows we pursue"
The particulars of Mr.. Vallandigham's
sad and shocking death are given in the de-
spatches published below:
CINCINNATI, June ia special to the Ga
zette from Lebanon, states that Clement l..
Vallandingham, one of the counsel of Thos.
M'Gehan, accidentally shot himself o-night
at 9 o'clock, at the Lebanon House. He was
in room in company with Gov. McBirney,
and while showing, with pistol, how Myers
the murdered man might have shot himself,
tho pistol discharged, the ball ent ering
tie right eide of the abdomen below the ribs.
What direction the ball took is not known
The surgeons making examination.
DIR. Reeves, of Dayton, has been dispatched for.
The latest word is that the ball did not enter
the intestines, and the wound is not mortal.
He has perfect possession of his faculties. The
pistol used was Smith Wesson. No one
knows how it came to be discharged. The
accident produces intense excitement in Leba-
non.
CINCINNATI, Juno l7.-Mr. Vallandingham
died at eighteen minutes before ten this morn
ing. He sank very rapidly after three O'Clock,
having no pnlse scarcely after that hour. DR..
Dawson of Cincinnati, arrived at three o'clock
but was too late to do any good for the dying
man. Judge Haynes, mis- law partner from,
Davron, reached Lebanon this morning with
other personal friends, and who were with him
in his last hours. Mcclellan, i'll the prosecu-
ton of whose case he lost his life, was taken
from Jail this morning to his bedside, and shed
tears as he beheld his dying friend. who had
appeared during the progress of the trial to
summon all his energy and legal acumen in his
defense. Mr.. Pollett made the argument for
the State yesterday, and was to have heen fol-
lowed this morning by Mr.. Milliken, ard it
was expected Vallanding CHAM would finish his
argument this evening or on Monday morning.
Judge Pope, before whom the trial was pro-
ceedng, adjourned the Court this morning
until Monday. Mrs. Valandngham started
tor Baltimore last evening, called there by a
dying brother Mr.. Vallandingha body
will be taken at once TO Dayton, reaching
there about o'clock.
From detailed accounts published it to-day
appears that Dir. Vallundingham With his as
sociate counsel, had been out on Friday even
ing experimenting with view OF ascsrtaining
how near the muzzle of pistol could be held
to cloth without burning it. The test was
made and they were returning, two balls hav-
ing been fired from the pistol. Milliken, as
sociate counsel, urged him to discharge the
remaiDg three balls, but Vallandingh ham said:
mo, never mind" and though Milliken re-
peated the suggestion, Vallandingham de-
clined To- discharge them. and took the pistol
upstssfs. and laid it beside an empty one,
which he intended to use in the argament on
Saturday. This led to the tragedy, which
soon followed. The Enquirer this morning
prcnounces his loss to the Democratic party
in Ohio almost irrepara5le. A public meeting
rooms, to take action in regard to his death
aud funeral.
ERIE the oil regions and possibly Niap.