Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-10-05
A FRIGHTEUL HOMICIDE.
General Clanten, Of Alabama,
Murdered.
Gel. David M. Nelson, Of Bradley,
County, Sheets Him.

Gel. David M. Nelson, Of Bradley,
County, Sheets Him.
From the Knoxville Chronicle of the 2sth
1t is our painful duty this morning to
chronicle most distressing murder, and
one which has thrown Our community in
to intense excitement and been the SUBJ
ject of painfully earnest, and we might
say, universal lament. The affair is doubly
lamentable, because the deceased was at
the time of the killing a visitor in our
city, as the agent, in high capacity, of
the State of Alabama. Our people feel
keenly the effect the unfortunate affair
must have upon the community. and share
the general sorrow that must exist over
the killing of such prominent man.
THE MEETING.
The facts as gathered at the Coroner's
inquest shall be briefly told: Gen. j.
H. Clanton, of Montgomery, Alabama,
was killed yesterday evening about 6
o'clock on Cumberland street near Gay,
by Col. D. M. Nelson, of Cleveland, Tenn.
About the time mentioned General
Clanton, while conversing with A. S. Pros
ser, Esq, near Bells stables, was intro
duced to Col. Nelson by Tomlison Fort,
ESQ.,. and upon the invitation of Col. Mel
son the party proceeded toward the st.
Nicholas saloon to drink.
THE DIFFICULTY.
Immediately after being introduced,
Messrs. Nelson and Clanton began a con-
versation and continued it while walking
toward the saloon. Nelson remarked to
Clanton that he could take him to visit a
certain place in the city, if he, Clanton,
was not afraid to go. Clanton seemed to
misunderstood Nelson, as he asked him
several times what he meant by his being
afraid. Nelson said he did not know.
According to the testimony of Col. Ford.
Clanton then remarked that if Nelson
thought be was afraid, he might pick his
ground and they would settle it then and
there. Clanton then stepped into the
middle of Cumberland street, looking to-
wards the St. Nicholas saloon, which by
this time he had passed. Clanton called
on Fort to measure off the ground, which
he declined doing, at the same time tell
ing Clanton that Nelson was drunk and
he ought not to mind him. During these
efforts of fort, Nelson ran into the saloon
was gone minute or so-where no one
positively knows. When next seen lie
was coming out of the saloon with a
double barreled shot gun in his hand
ready to be raised to an aiming position.
READY TO SHOOT.
On seeing this Fort left Clanton in the
middle of the Street, out of the way of
the terrible weapon. Just here we take
up the statement of a very prominent
citizen who witnessed the killing from his
window in the Lamar House. He says as
Nelson came out of the saloon he saw
Clanton in the street stamping down his
foot and saying he told me to take my
position. and [ am here" Then attracted
by the noise of the saloon door he looked
over there and saw him coming out and
saw Nelson aiming his gun against the
awning post. Nelson fired the first shot.
Clanton saw him coming out and drew his
pistol and fred Immediately after Nelson.
Nelson still resting his gun against the
awning deliberately fred second shot,
which took effect about the right shoulder
which he had turned towards Nelson pre-
pairing to return the first fire.
HIS DEATH.
Clanton dropped down slowly, and as
he fell over remarked to colored boy,
the first to reach him, take my hat and
pistol have done all can." He lived
but few minutes, as will readily be un-
derstood when it was found by the sur
geons that there were twenty wounds,
some fifteen to eighteen shot or slugs en-
tering his chest. Nelson ran back into
the saloon with the gun, and in the ex-
oitement made his escape, going from the
back of the saloon through store to Gay
street, thence-no one knows where.
Gen. Clanton was taken into the Lamar
House dead.
| THE EVIDENCE.
The evidence before the Coroner's jury
showed that when Nelson came out with
the gun, Clanton had not drawn his wea.
pom, but was evidently waiting fer Nelson
to take his place and give him some chance
before shooting.
This evidence bears upon itself suffi
cient comments. There is nothing We
could say half as severe as the plain fact.
sworn to by the witnesses. Nelson had
been drinking freely during the day, and
was very much under the influence o.
liquor at the time of the murder.
ENTIRELY PERSONAL.
AS we said at the beginning, this un
fortunate affair occurring here betweer
two persons not residents of our city il
lamented by all our citizens. 1t can safe
ly be said of this case that it was not, il
any respect. political prejudices tha
brought about the sad tragedy. Colone
Nelson has been for some years promi
nently connected with the same politica
party as Gen. Clanton, and there wa
therefore, no such provocation.
Gen. Clanton had made many warn
friends here by his genial manners, ant
for the short period he had been in ou
midst was very popular.
His remains were taken to his home IL
Alabama by Gen. Gindrat. Judge Ric'
and other friends on the train at IL : A!
last night.
Gen. James Ell. Clanton was born il
Georgia, in the year 1927, and was in tn
45th year of his age. He served tern
in the legislature Of Alabama, and was
Whig elector in 1860.
He was one of the most popular men il