Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-10-04
rEHE HOMICIDE.
The Verdict OF the Coroner's Jury.

We gave fully, in yesterdays CHRONICLE,
the facts of the killing of Gen. Clanton, rs the
same were brought forth at the coroner's in
quest We give below the finding of the
jury:
state Of Tennessee, KRo1' county.
An inquisition holden ut the Lamar House.
in the city of Knoxville, in the county and State
aforesaid, on the 9th day of September 1871
before l. p Alley, coroner ofsaid county, upon
the body of James III. Clanton, there lying dead.
by the jurors, whose names are hereto subscrib-
ed who upon their oaths, do say that James
H. Clanton was killed on the 9th day of Sep
tember, 1871, by gun shot fired by David NJ
Nelson; the weapon was double barrel shot
gun, and by unlawful means.
JAMES II. RENsHAw,
A. c. +. CALLEN
JOHN CROWLEY,
i. n. HACKER,
j. A. BRAKEBILL,
+. w. ADKINS,
WILL r. MCBATH
KNOXVILLE Tenn, Sept. 18th, 1871.
NEWS OF COL. NELSON
From many sources we have heard of Col.
David Nelson in his flight. He told several
parties on his way that he intended to return to
Knoxville when he got ready, but not before.
IL is known to be the wish of his family and
friends that he should return and submit him
self to the authorities. 1t is generally believed
by those who know him best that he will return.
On his way he gave evidence to different par
ties that he was deeply under the influence of
liquor, even to being wild.
No new developments have occurred concern
ing what took place before the killing, and we
have heard the opinion expressed that the evil
dence before the Coroner did not disclose all
that passed between them
We of course pretended TO give last night on
ly what was sworn to before the jury, and upon
that we stated the case The deepest regret
continues to pervade all circles, both the friends
of the deceased and of the unfortunate man
who shot him. that the tragedy was not prevent
ed, and that it occurred here under such lament
able circumstances.
We hope some additional facts may yet be de-
veloped to relieve the case of many of its pain
full circumstances. The last we heard of Nelson
was at Concord.
THE EFFORTS To CAPTURE NELSON.
The Chattanooga Times contains q telegram,
signed Kirby, about the homicide, and conclu-
ding with the statement that no efforts had been
made to capture Nelson. The impression such
declaration would be apt TO make, would be
unjust to our authorities. While there was not
such diligence as there ought TO have been, there
is no excuse for such statement as we refer to.
The facts are that in a very few minutes after
the killing, Nelson was on horse several miles
from the city. Col. Craig, who left Gen. Clan
ton just moment before Nelson was introduced
to him, and going at brisk gait towards home
tGdS orertdken by n elson about three miles from
the city. The latter was then riding fast, and of
course must have left town Immediately after
the shooting.
While this is true it is proper enough to ask
where the city police were at the time, or what
they did to etfct the arrest Some of them
were near the place soon after the shooting and
there are numbers of them and we have not
heard that an extra effort was made, such as the
occasion demanded. Mr.. Kirbys dispatch was
probably sent in ignorance of the fact that
Sheriff Gossett pursued Nelson to Campbell
Station, some fifteen miles distant, point the
Sheriff reached before nine o'clock, less than
three hours after the killing.