The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-05

Men talked with each other on the ter,
rible ARRAY and regretted its occurrence
Though neither of the actors were resi-.
dents of our community, and the sub
ject of their quarrel was a personal diff
ference, yet it was felt that the odium
of the homicide would be reflected upon
Knoxville, and that the failure OF the
authorities to promptly arrest the muir
derer was stigma upon the fair fame
OF our city.
Though the dead man had been a
Genaral in the Confederate service, and
his slayer a Colonel in the Federal
army, men felt relieved to know that
politics had nothing to do with the mat
ter, and the tragedy was not repetition
of the scenes of five and six years ago
THE PRovocATIoN.
Many different accounts were in cir
culation on Wednesday evening, of the
manner in which the tragedy occurred
and during the excitement it was i'm.
possible to arrive at correct version Of
the affair. During yesterday, however,
we made every effort, by hearing the
statements OF different witnesses OF the
tragedy, to arrive at correct account
of the bloody deed, and give the follow
ing as beir3 20 near the true one as 1t is
possible to obtain.
When Clanton and Nelson were in.
troduced, on the sidewalk, on the north
side of Cumberland above Gay street,
Clanton, after the interchange OF few
pleasant greetings, remarked that he
'had now got through his law business
and was ready to see the town"
Nelson said, 81 can take you where
there is something very nice, if you are
not afraid"
Clanton said, pleasantly "Do l look
as if l was afraidT'
Nelson replied, 81 do not know
whether you are or not.
General Clanton replied, 81 am moi
afraid OF anything or any man"
Nelson again repeated, 81 do not
know whether you are or not" in a
manner which Clanton seemed to think
du'l hC ICtOltSu.
"If you think l am, try me; name
your friend, time and place, any time or
any place"
Nelson, very excitedly, said, This
time and place is as good as any. Take
your stand"
This conversation took place on the
sidewalk, in the presence Of six OF
eight gentlemen, both parties talking
rather loudly. Nelson had his hand in
his right side pants pocket.
After Nelson made the last remark,
above quoted, Clanton stepped out into
the street. Facing toward the sidewalk
he said to Mr.. Fort, Step off the
ground for your friend"
STRANGE CONDUCT OF NELSON.
In the meantime, Nelson ran into the
St. Nicholas saloon and tried to borrow
a pistol from a gentleman then in there
He had nothing of the sort, and said
so. Nelson then said to another gen.
tleman: IL want my gun; where il
it?" He was told that he could moi
get it, but seeing it in one corner, where
it had probably been standing for some
time, he seized it and rushed out of the
back door.
THE SHOOTING.
From the statements of three wit.
nesses we gather that when Nelson
stepped out on the pavement, he was
partly hid by several beer kegs, an avn
ing-post and lamp-post. He took de-
liberate aim, resting his gun against the
awning-post. At that moment Clanton
seems to have seen him. As we stated
before, Clanton had been facing the
sidewalk, with his hands up in front OIL
him. When he saw Nelson, he turned
around to face him, put his hand back
to draw a pistol, and at that moment
Nelson fired. 1t is now believed that
this load struck General Clanton on the
right shoulder, breaking his arm, for
when he drew his pistol he was seen to
put his left hand under his right, as il
to hold it up, and was gradually sink
ing down, when his pistol went of, the
bullet striking the curbstone about fif
teen feet ahead. Nelson then fired his
second shot, the slugs of which lodged
in the plaster on the walls Of the Lamar
House, from where fifteen were after
wards dug out. Clanton sank down
dead and was removed, as described in
our yesterdays issue.
Nelson, after firing the second shot,
ran back through the saloon, went
through a store and came out on Gay
street, went up Gay to Church street on
fast walk, turned up Church and
started to run. Several parties who
saw him say he was carrying a pistol
in his hand.
FLIGHT OF THE MURDERER.
Nelson then went to his fathers house
on West Cumberland street, told him
what he had done, and seemed much ex-
cited. His father advised him to sub
nit to the authorities and take the con-
sequences of his own conduct, rather
than become a fugitive from justice.
He remained at his fathers house
about fifteen minutes, and it was not
known to his father that he had left the
place until he was told that some one
had brought him a horse, and that he
had got out on the Kingston road.
The fugitive stopped at several places
along the road and told what he had
done. He stopped at Concord and
talked with parties there, told what he
had done, and, it is said, got on the
down passenger train, the same on
which the remains of General Clanton
were carried south, and went on. But
where to is not known. This last state.
ment, however, though believed, lacks
confirmation.
Up to six o'clock last evening we
heard of no extraordinary effort to ar.
rest Nelson.
ANEypI ANlTION