Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-09-29

of Montgomery, after remaining in the
Reading Room of the Lamar House,
where they were visited by numbers of
our citizens, till ten and q half o'clock,
were placed in mahogany enauelled
casket. Accompanied by 9 number of
friends they were conveyed to the depot
and left for Montgomery on the twelve
o'clock train in charge of Col. j. H. Gin
drst, of Alabama.
From the Press and Herald-Editorial.
Death Of GEN. James HI. Cianton, OF
Alabama
The tidings of the melancholy event
recorded in our local columns this morn
ing, and which has cast the deepest gloom
over our entire community, will carry
sorrow throughout the State of Alabama
Gen. James b. Clanton, the deceased,
was about forty-two years of a.e. For
several years he has been lawyer of
prominence in Montgomery, Ala, where
his family reside. In 1866 he was q
member of the Alabams Legislature In
1860 be was the Bell and Everett Elector
for his district. At the breaking
out of the war, he entered the
Confederate service as a Captain
of cavalry. He signally distin-
guishea himself as cavalry leader at
Shiloh, Bonneville, and many other
points where gallantry alone commanded
promotion. He was several times pro-
moted for distinguished service, and was,
at the close of the war, Brigadier General
of cavalry. For some time past, and up
to the hour of his death, he was chair
man of the Democratic Executive Com
mittee for the State of Alabama He
was in Knoxville, in the capacity of
attorney for the Governor and State OF
Alabama, in the litigation now pending
in the United States Court in regard to
the Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad.
he leaves widow with six children in
Montgomery. His wife is daughter of
the late Hon. James Abercrombie, for
merly Representative in Congress from
Alabama.
Gen. ClantOn was q universal fsvorite
in Alabama, and the death of no man ip
that State could be more deeply lamented.
His personal friends who are here with
him, on the occ asion of his professiona,
visit to our city, seem stricken with an
overwhelming sorrow. Manly tears fill
the eyes of brave men as they recount his
virtues, and bewsil his untimely death.
The hearts of strangers are saddened in
sympathy and our whole community,
hardly recovered from the shock, lament
the melancholy tragedy.
We have neither time, nor space, nor
the heart to indulge in comment this
morning, upon 30 appalling and heart
rending an occurrence, which has brought
unlocked for mourning into many house
holds, and awakened the tenderest sym
pathies of our community, not alone for
the bereaved friends of the slain, but also
for the near kindred of the slayer, whose
hearts are bowed beneath the stroke of 60
great q calamity.
From the Knoxville Chronicle.l
FrfghtfuI Homicide.
1t is our painful duty this mori ing to
chronicle most distressing murder, and
one which has thrown our community
into intense excitement and been the
subject of painful, earnest, and we might
say, universal lament. The affair is
doubly lsmentable, because the deceased
was at the time of the killing visitor in
our city, IS the agent in a 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 promi-
nent man.
The MEETING.
The facts as gathered at the Coroner's
inquest shall be briefly told: Gen. ]. 81.
Clanton, of Montgomery, Alabama, was
killed Yesterday evening about six o'clock
on Cumberland street near Gay, by Col.
D. NJ. Nelson, of Cleveland, Tennessee.
About the time mentioned General
Clanton, while conversing with A. s.
Prosser, Esq, near Bells stables, was
introduced to Col. Nelson by Tomlison
Fort, ESQ.,, and upon the invitation of
Col. Nelson the party proceeded toward
the st. Nicholas saloon to drink.
THE DIFFICULTY.
Immediately after being introduced,
Messrs. Nelson and Clanton began con-
yersation and continued it while walking
towards the saloon. Nelson remarked to
| Clanton that he could take him to visit q
certain place in the city, if he, Clanton,
was not afraid to 90. Clanton seemed to
misunderstood Nelson, as he asked him
several times what he meant by his
being afraid Nelson said he did moi
know. According to the testimo-
ny of Col. Fort Clanton then
remarked that, ii Nelson thought he was
afraid, be might pick his ground and they
| would settle 1t then and there. Cantor
then stepped into the middle of Cumber
land street, looking toward the st. Nicho
las saloon, which by this time he haC
passed. Clanton called on Fort to meas
ure off the ground, which he declined do
ing, at the same time telling Clanton thsi
Nelson was drunk and he ought not tC
mind him. During these efforts of Fort,
| Nelson ran into the saloon and was gone
| a minute or so-where, no one positively
knows. When next seen he was coming
| out of the saloon with a double-barreleC
shot gun in his hand ready to be raised tC
an aiming position.
| READY TO SHOOT.
| On seeing this Fort left Clsnton 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 cit
izen 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 l am here" Then al.
tracted by the noise of the saloon door
he looked over there and saw Nelson aim-
ing his gun against the awning post.
Nelson fred the first shot. Clanton saw
him coming out and drew his pistol and
fired immedistely after Nelson. Nelson
still resting his gun against the awning
deliberately fired q second shot, which
took effect about the right should, which
| he had turned towards Nelson preparing
| to return .he first fire.
HIs DEATH
Clanton dropped down slowly, and as
he fell over Unmarked to q colored boy,
the first to get to him, "Taks my hat and
pistol have Gone all / san.n he
lived but few minutes, as will readily