The New York herald., 1872-09-22
A SOUTHERN DIFFICULTY"
Terrible Tragedy Yesterday in Columbus, g. CA
Free Fight, Fsticuffs and Then Deadly
shooting-The Wrong Man Killed, Of
Course-The Principals Unhurt.

COLUMBIA, Sept. 81, 1872.
The ordinations and recriminations between the
nominees the regular republican and the bolters
ticket In the in this State eliminated this
evening In a terrible tragedy
LIAR AND A PoLTROoN.
Judge 8. W. Melton one OF the most prominent
native republicans in the State, who nominated
for the Attorney Generalship the regular ticket,
has recently been designated in published card as
a liar, poltroon and coward by @. W. Montgomery,
Senator from Newberry county, and now President
OF the Senate pro tenn.
Melton. contrary to expectation, took no notice
OF these foul aspersi0ns further than to indicate
that he would settle all such difficulties after the
election. This created general surprise, and 1t was
known Melton, true to his chivarlc antecedents,
would not fail to resent insult at the risk
of his life The denouement proved that the latter
was the case.
THE BEGINNING OF THE DIFFICULTY.
During the canvass Melton had accused Mont.
gomery, who Is identified with the boilers, OF issu-
ing fraudulent pay certificates on the State Treas
ury in the same manner In which Franklin J.
Moses, the regular nominee for Governor, is
alleged to have done, while Speaker OF the House.
Montgomery reported by the publication Of the
card above alluded to in the PnGmtr Of this city.
THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY.
Thus matters rested until this evening, when
Montgomery and gentleman named George Tup-
per were in the dining saloon Of the Pollock House
awaiting dinner. At the invitation OF Montgomery,
Tupper and two others went into the saloon, took
drink and returned to the dining room. Just at
this time and before the waiter came with the
DINNER Judge Melton, who had been up stairs, came
down, and, looking into the dining room, saw his
foe Montgomery.
FIsTICUFFs.
Melton was accompanied by John ID. Caldwell.
brOther-in-law OF United states Senator Robinson,
and Major Morgan, sOninaw Of George A. Tren-
holm, late Secretary OF the Confederate Treasury
without waiting for an instant Judge Melton
rushed upon Montgomery, who was seated at the
dining table, and placing the head Of the latter in
chancery, began most vigorous pummelling OF
his physiOgnOmy. In moment all the parties
present jumped to their feet, and soon the room
and Morgan sprung forward, and endeavored to
separate the cOmbatants.
PISTOLS AND ASSASSINATION.
The excitement at this juncture was very great,
the two principal parties being still cnched, when
two pistol shots were heard, and Caldwell, press
ing his hands to his sides, fell dead upon the floor.
Scarcely had this happened when Morgan received
a shot In the shoulder and exclaimed, "Im shOtn
From the testimony at the Coroner's inquest, had
just now, IL appears that IL was Mr. Tupper, who
had been with Montgomery, who had fired the
shots, though he was at the further end OF the
CURED, and 1t is the general impression he thought
Montgomery was not shown fair play by Melton's
friends
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.
Immediately after the firing Tupper, by some OF
the vicissitudes OF the melee, grappled with Morgan
who was wounded and together they staggered
into an adjoining alley, where the fight was vgor-
ously kept up long after the killing OF Caldwell.
The news or the fight spread like wildllre, and
soon an immense crowd was collected round the
scene OF the combat. Melton, Montgomery, Morgan
and Tupper were promptly arrested by Chief OF
Police Jackson. Upon investigation however Mel
ton and Morgan were released, but Tupper and
Montgomery are still confined. John ID. Caldwell,
who was killed, Is a young man, was an officer In
the Confederate army, and was bank director OF
this city. His presence and that of Morgan with
Melton was purely accidental. The affair Is gener-
ally regretted by all parties and casts gloom over
the community here.