Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-24
THE LEBANON TRi TRAGEDY. 81,
HOW the Fatal Accident Occurred

From the Cincinnati Enquirer. 0Ht
After taking supper Mr.. Vallandighan
procured from the landlord of the hotel
bit of white muslin cloth, perhaps D foo
square, for the purpose of testing TO hi
own satisfaction the question as L
whether a shot fired from a pistol il
close proximity to it would or would no
leave mark Of powder upon it. Hav
ing provided himself with this, and pu'
his pistol in his pocket, he and Mr.
Milliken and Mr.. Hume went out to
gether to the south edge of the town
beyond the residence of Governor Nc
Burney. Arriving there, they were
Joined by, Mr.. McBurney, and the trio
became q quartette. The pistol which
he took with him for this purpose is q
new revolver which he had purchased
only few days. before coming to Le
banon. tits one Of Smith 4 Wesson'
manufacture, with four-inch barrel
and five chambers, and carries ball OF
32-l00 of an inch caliber. 1t is beau
tiful weapon, handsomely, though NOT
elaborately ornamented, and its owner
little thought when so recently pur-
chasing it, that it would so soon be the
instrument of his untimely death.
Two shots were fired into the cloth,
and all were satisfied with the result of
the experiment, and started back to the
Mr. Milliken, ever cautious and
thoughtful, said. llsa-ssa
VAL, there are three shots in your
pistol yet. You had better discharge
them.pii ll8i8Wll D iHHi itli0 a1 4
What for2 Responded Mr.. Vallan-
digham.
" To prevent any accident" replied
the cautious attorney. lyon might
shoot yourself" ...,s
" No danger of that" replied Mr.. Val
landigham. "I have carried and prac-
ticed with pistols too long to be afraid to
have loaded one in my pocket.
" You had betterbe careful, though ?
said Mr.. Milliken.
" Never fear me" was the reply
They then slowly walked back toward
the town, and, before they reached the
hotel they separated. W&aRn8M Il
Arriving at the Lebanon House alone,
Mr.. Vallandigham was stopped on his
way up stairs by the landlord, and q
package that had been left for him in
his absence placed in his hands. That
parcel contained another reyolver-a
that had been exhibited at the
trial in court, and was not only un-
loaded, but had had the chambers re-
moved. Proceeding to his room he un-
wrapped the parcel, and at the same
time taking his own weapon from his
pocket, laid the two murderous instru-
ments on the table side by side. "
A moment later, Mr.! Scott Symmes, a
young lawyer who has been conneetedl !
With the prosecution of the case, passed
he door. la l sal % a.'i'Te 4
"Symmes," said he, "Follett is mis-,
aiken. A man could easily shoot him
elf as Myers was shot Come in and / |
will show you how it's done"
Thus invited, Symmes entered the
Dom, but moment later, seeing Judge
Pope coming mp stairs, excused himself
IN the ground that he was going to Ham
lton in the morning, and wished to see
he Judge before he left. He passed
nut, and a minute or so afterward Mr..
dcBurney came into the room. Mr.
still standing by the table
IN which the pistols lay, said oKF j
} 'I'll show you how Tom Myers shot
himself. Folletts mistaken when he
ays it can't be done" Saying this, he
ook up one Of the murderous instru-
nents in his hands, put it into his panta-
oons pocket, and slowly drawing it out
gain, cooking it as he drew it forth, he
tempted to place it in the exact posi-
ion which he believed Myers weapon to
ave assumed at the moment the fatal
ullet was sped on its mission of death. !
he muzzle of the weapon being still !
'ithin the lapel of the pocket, he
rought it to an angle of about forty-6ve
egrees. iii .ui
" There, that's the way Myers held it, /,
My he was getting up, not standing
rect. !" Saying this, he touched the
'igger.
A sudden aash-the halfsuppressed ,
1und of a shot-and Clement L. Val :
Indigham, with an expression of agony, :
reclaimed, My God, I've shot myself"
nd reeled toward the wall wounded !
I'D dying man-wounded and dying by :
IS own hands. I'd