The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-09-26
Fearful TRAGEDY in Columbia.

4 terrible tragedy was enacted in the city OF
.Columbia on Saturday last, resulting in the
death of prominent young citizen, Mr.. John
D. Caldwell, and seriously wounding another
gentleman, Maj. James NJ. Morgan. The diff
Guilty which led to this tragic end is directly
attributable to the acrimony of political discus
sions between the respective factions of the
Radical party. Hon. Samuel w. Melton, the
candidate of the Moses wing for Attorney Gen
eral. recently addressed a public meeting at
Beaufort, in which he assailed Hon. g. w.
Montgomery, President pro tenn. of the State
Senate, for Issuing pay certificates, thereby en-
deavoring to defend Moses from the same
charge. Upon the publication of this fact,
Montgomery came out in a card in last Thurs
DAVIS Phenir, denouncing Melton as "liar,
poltroon and coward" Judge Melton returned
to Columbia from the up-country on Friday,
and it is alleged that he passed Montgomery
on the streets the next morning, without any
hostile demonstration. All through the day it
was expected that collision might occur.
About five o'clock in the afternoon, the en-
broglio eliminated in a shooting ahray at Pol
locks restaurant, on Main street. 1t appears
that Judge Melton, Mr.. John D. Caldwell and
Mai. James M. Morgan had been dining in tn.
second story, while Mr. Montgomery and Capt.
George E. Tupper were taking their dinner III
the lower story. When Melton and his friends
had finished, he entered the lower dining room
from the main entrance, discovered who were
its occupants, closed the door, and almost I'M
mediately re-opened it, and advanced to where
Montgomery was seated. He threw his LETT
arm around Montgomery's neck, and com
menced beating him in the face. Immediately
following Judge Melton were Maj; James NJ
Morgan and Capt. John D. Caldwell, and it is
SUPPOSED SUM- that the last named attempted to in.
terfere between the contending parties, when q
collision occurred between him and Capt. Tup'
per, resulting in Caldwells being shot by Tup.
per. The deceased fell over Montgomery and
Melton, and almost instantly expired. Morgan
and Tupper then grappled, and in the melee
which ensued Morgan received serious wouno
from pistol shot, evidently from the hands O.
Upper. Other parties interfered, and the po
lice came upon the terrible scene, making sew
eral arrests, including Tupper, Montgomery anc
Melton. The last named, however. was soor
released, and Montgomery was subsequently
discharged. ..
Tne news spread like wildfre, and it is esti
mated that two thousand persons assembled ir
the vicinity of the restaurant. A coroners
Jury was Immediately empanelled, and the In
yestigation began, which was concluded OF
Sunday morning, resulting in verdict that tht
deceased came to his death at the hands o
Geo. E. Tupper; whereupon the latter wa
committed to Jail, to await his trial before tht
Court of Sessions.
Capt. John d. Caldwell was young man o
popular, engaging manners, and highly es
teemed by all classes of citizens. He leaves
wife and two children to mourn his untimel!
end. His fuaeral took place on Sunday after
noon, and was largely attended. He wa
buried with the honors of the Masonic frater
nifty.
Capt. Tupper is native of Charleston, ant
served in the Confederate army. He has resi-
ded in Columbia for the last several years, en-
gagged in the insurance and real estate business
He has retained able counsel, and it is under
stood that an application will be made at onc'
for his release upon habeas corpus.