The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-02
From the Charleston Courier.l
Serious Shooting ARRAY
FULL PARTICULAR r S
Colonel John GARRISON Badly
Wounded.


Llhe law Office of Ferguson Il kenna,
in Shields building. The parties,
Colonel John Clarkson and the Messrs.
Slack, being well known 10 the public,
the news OF the affairA soon drew an
immense crowd 10 the street, and, as
usual, in such cases, all sorts OF extraya'
CANT rumors were speedily in c'rcula-
| ton.
Being desirous OF giving our readers
an accurate account of the circumstan-
ce connected with the afiray, we have
obtained from a competent and reliable
source the following details, which we
ae assured will be developed in the
course of legal proceedings which are
to follow:
On The afternoon Of The 22d, deposi,
tons were being taken at the office OF
Ferguson & Kenna, in the famous
Clarkson suit as it is called, or mo c
accurately, the case OF John Johns
assignee OF Clarkson, VS.. the CharIestch
Extension Company. The case is one
which has interested almost the entire
community, involving as it does the
validity of the sale of large amount
of valuable property in Charleston, for
merly owned by Colonel CIarkson,
which was sold in his absence during
the war, purchased by the Extension
Company and resold 10 number OF
par,es, who have since improved 1t.
Suit is now being brought to have the
sale declared invalid by reason OF
alleged frauds connected with il. The
Messrs. Slack are interested in the
defense OF the case, which Colonel
Clarkson has been prosecuting with
great vigor. The deposition Of Mr..
William Chapple was being taken at
the time referred 10. Besides the wit
ress there were present Messrs. II. G.
McWhorter, David Egan, John Garce-
lon, Greenbury Slack, and John Slack,
Jr., defendants in the suit, Joseph
Ruffaer, Commissioner, John \.
Clarkson and r. A. Page, W. Z. 6.
Gillison, of counsel for defendants,
hod Just left the room. Mr.. Chappell
was asked what amount OF money he
could have commanded at a certain
time. IIe.replied, five thousand dol
lars" When asked from whom he
could have procured it, he said from
Henry Chappell," "a brother and then
added, rs be turned with a smile &c
Greenburry Slack, "or Green, here
would have let me have it" Mr.. &
Slack said "Put that down" Colone
Clarkson said, Put down his answers
butdon't put tdown hisjokes. " Thereupor
Iedgeman Slack arose and with the
remark that he had stood this as long
as he could, and an alluslon to hi:
fathers disgrace by Clarkson 8 wit
nesses," assaulted the latter, who was
sitting in his chair leaning back against
the wall. Whether his first movement
was to collar Clarkson, strike him or
shoot him, Is not vet clear. And whether
| Clarkson struck Slack or not, before or
after being assailed, is also uncertain.
CIarkson fell at the first shot from
Slack, and in his fall dropped Derrin,
ger. Slack continued firing. Clarkson
drew another Derringer, and while at
tempting TO shoot Slack, was struck
upon the arm, the blow causing the
pistol to be fired into the ceiling. AT
about this Stage OF the proceedings John
Slack, Jr., came in and commenced
firing at CIarkson. He and Hedgeman
Slack kept up their shooting until their
weapons were emptled or had refused
fire, eight or ten shots in all having
been discharged. Five took effect upon
CIarkson, one in the right shoulder,
one in the left cheek, one in the left
breast, one in the right breast, and one
across the loins. A shot also passed
across the abdomen, tearing the clothing
but doing no bodily harm. 1t is fur
ther stated that during the fray, Green
bury Slack, father OF Hedgeman and
John, pounded CIarkson over the head
and shoulders, knocking him down az
he would rise 10 his feet
After the loss OF one DerrInger and
the discharge of the other, which was
knocked from his grasp, and during the
progress OF the fire OF the two parties
and the blows OF the third, Clarkson
repeatedly accused his assaiIants of
numbering an unarmed man, and de.
lmanded fair fight. Wnen the firing
ceased, outside parties rushed in and the
affray ended. Immediately after the
firing commenced, a young man named
Hardwick appeared and aided Jos. Ruff
ner in his efforts to prevent serious re-
suits. Messrs. Hedgeman Slack and
John Slack, Jr., were arrested on Mon
day evening and taken before Justice
Brodt, who released them upon bail to
appear the following day. On Tuesday
the parties appeared before the same
Justice, when the examination was
postponed for eight days. Justice
Brodt hesitated as to admitting the par
tee to bail, but yielded to the solicita-
tions of the Prosecuting Attorney, K.
H. Freerr, E.q., and his assurances
that the parties ought TO be bailed.
The penalty in the bond Of each was
fixed at $1,000 Colonel CIarkson was
at first supposed to be fatally wounded,
but the succeeding night brought about
a reaction and his condition is now
such as to promise speedy recovery.
Drs. Patrick, Woodward, McChesney,
Wagner and Watkins being present
soon after the difficulty, gave their
services for his relief. Drs. McChesney
and Woodward are in almost constant
attendance at the hotel. One Of the
balls was extracted and another re-
mains imbedded near the shoulder.
BEy. JAMES c. BEECHEE, the young
est member Of the family of which