The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-10-03
KNOXVILLE TRAGEDY.
PARTICULARS OF THE MURDER
% OF GENERAL CLANTON OF
ALBANIA. ..'.
ESCAPE OF THE ASSASSIN,

| From the Knoxville Press ana1Heraldl
| General James H. Clanton, one Of the
best lawyers and most popular men Of Al
ALBANIA, as well as one of the bravest and
noblest of men, was shot and instantly
killed by u. NJ. Nelson, of Cleveland
| Tenn.
Gen. Clanton IVES attending upon the
/ United States Court to guard the interests
| of Alabama in the Alabama and Chatta-
nooga railroad case, and had never met
| Col. Nelson, who was interested in case
now pending in the Supreme Court, until
five minutes before the ARRAY occurred.
After the fatal shot had been fred, the
| body of Gen. ClaDton was taken into the
| back office of the confectionery store under
| the Lamar House, where every effort was
made to restore life, but in vain. bro
After the jury were sworn in, Tomlinson
Fort, Esq, being sworn, stated to the jury,
| that about ten or fifteen minutes before
six o'clock pm. he was standing at the
corner of Gay and Cumberland streets.
having Just come out Of Elders saloon.
He had just met Col. ID. NJ. Nelson al d
| was walking arm in arm with him, being
an old friend, when he saw Gen. Clanton
with 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 10 Nelson with
| the remark that Nelson had fought "us'
(Fo,t was in the Confederate army and
Clantcn also), but had been very liberal
and honorable towards his late enemies.
Col. Nelson or Gen. Clanton proposed to
90 and take drink. Col Fort thinks Col.
Nelson made the proposition. AS they
walked along the talk turned in some way
an amusements, and Col. Nelson remarked
that he could show Clanton something
good if he was not afraid.
Gen. Clanton said: ado you think Tn
afraid 2"
Col. Nelson said, II don't know whether
| you are or not" H.s
The same remark were repeated several
times, Nelson apparently becoming excited
but Gen. Clanton was cool. Fort put his
hand on Nelson's shoulder, who was under
| the influence of liquor, and said Keep
cool, Dave. You are in the wrong. There
is no use in fighting"
At length as Nelson repeated, ~ don't
know whether you arc afraid or not" Ger.
eral Clanton said:
"Well, if you think I'm afraid just try
me. Name your friend, time, place and
distance, any time or any place"
| Soi. Nelsoh ahiu this WIS us Soou tlihe
and place as any. ... .
Gen. Clnnton said Fort, step off the
ground for yorc friend
Col. Fort refused to do so, as both were
= friends and there was no cause for quar-,
rel.
While he was talking with Gen. Clan,
ton Col. Nelson had gone into Eilers sa
loon, and, as he was urging Clanton to e
of as Nelson was drunk Fort heard thu
/ door of the st Nicholas open. he looked
I and saw Col. Nelson with double-barr,
a gun coming out. He thought Nelson free
:. the first shot, and as he fired, Clantor
0 leveled his pistol cooked it, and fired
5 Nelson at once fled again, and after tn
b shot Clanton fell forward, doubling him
a self up on his hands and face.
We learn that Col. Nelson, immediatel,
after the fatal shot, procured horse anC
fed across the country. The last hearl
from him was at II o'clock last night
: He was reported to have passed the toll
gate near Judge Temples house, on tn
Kingston pike, three miles ahead of Sheriff
Gossett.
, The father of Col. Nelson, Hon. T. A
: II. Nelson, one Of the judges ofthe Suprem
y Court Of this State, sent out two of hi
other sons, in company with the sheriff, t
bring him back ifthey could find him.
Nearly every ono in Eat Tennessee,
, knows Col. N elson, but for the informat,ol
u of those at distance, it is proper that W
should state that he is the second son o
Hon. T. A. r. Nelson, one fthe Judge
: of the Supreme Court Of this State, u ju
y rst and statesman of national reputation
: He was Captain In an East Tennessee
> regiment in the Federal army, during tn
late war, and was on Gen. Gilem's staff
Toward the close of the war he was breve,
ted Lieutenant Colonel. He isa youn
. man of warm, generous and impulsive ma
. ture, and has hosts of friends who wi
deplore SO untoward an event in hi
career. Ia
4 THE DECEASED.
i From the P.ess and Herald EDITORIAL
Gen. James II. Clsnton, the deceas q
y was about fOrty-two years of age. Flo
), several years he has been lawyer @
n prominence in Montgomery, Alabam,
Is where his family reside. At the breakin
d out Of the war he entered the Confedrat
If service rs Il Captain of cavalry. He wa
l. several times promoted for distinguishe
j. service, and was, at the close of tho wa
Brigader General OF cavalry. For som
70 time past, and up to the hour Of his deatl
10 he was Chairman ofthe Democratic Excel
is tive Committee for the State of Alabama
d He leaves u widow with six children
l. Montgomery. His wife is a daughter {
D. the late Hon. james Abercrombic, forml
y q Representative in Congress from Alaba
ma.