Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-06-03
TO THE PUBLIC.
Gard from ID. NJ. Nelson Of East TeHnes-
see-HIs First and 0Bly Words
of Defense.
How and Why he shot General ClantOn
Of AIabama-It was Altogether
an Act Of Self-D Defense.
a.. L-,o~villa Press and Herald

the knoxville fIESc anu EtIdAAs
1t was my misfortune, in September,
ISL, to take the life Of General James
II. ClantOn in q street rencOnteT, in
Knoxville. In doing so, a jury of Knox
county have, on the thirtieth day
Of MAY. after a full investigation, de-
clared that 1 was not guilty of any
offense whatever against the laws Of the
land. Ia the excitement which imme-
diately succeeded the difficulty the gross
est MISREPRESENTATION We're published as
10 the manner in which it occurred. 1t
was represented, in some Of the news
papers published in Alabama, that l had
been guilty of assassination, and in one
9r more Of the newspapers of Knoxville
that had stood behind some kegs and
rested the gun against the post OF an
awning, shot General ClantOn unawares
and fled the country. For nearly two
wears have rested under these imputa-
fiOns with a painful sense that the great
est iDiustice had been done me, but in
the firm confidence that although they
are often slow IN their development
" truth is OmnipOtent and public justice
certain
twas established, on evidence, upon
the trial, that ] had no previous ac-
quaintance with General Clanton, and
that his death occurred in less than nj
teen minutes after our first and only in
PRODUCTION. II was proven that, with
out any prOvOcatiOn whatever, he ehal-
Ienged me 10 mortal combat, cursingm me
and standing over me at the time with
his hand under his coat, and ON his pis-
tol. a navy revolver; that l was un-
armed. went into Eifier's saloon, and
tried to obtain a pistol, but being unsuc-
cessful went into the counting room of
Mabry, Turner K Co. (at the suggestion
OF a friend), seized a shotgun belonging
70 General J. A. Mabry, which had
been loaded two OF three months; that
1 rushed back through the saloon, caI-
rytng the gun in an inclined position,
and holding it with both hands; that
when I reached or was about passing out
of the door, or as l stepped upon the
pavement, ClantOn said, 81 am ready"
that / advanced, diagOnally, across the
Pavement and made one step across
the gutter; that the first barrel Of
the gun was discharged acci-
deutaIlv: that General Clanton
fred at me first as the gun was dis
charged, or instantly afterwnrd; that,
sss be was in the act Of lowering his pls-
tel for the second shot, 4 raised the gun
10 my shoulder and fired the second
barrel, the contents of which shattered
his anu above the elbow and entered his
side and breast; that ne attempted 70
hold M his pistol with his left hand, and
while Ia the act Of doing 50, slowly sank
10 the ground. dropping his pistol be-
tween his feet and expired in few
seconds. 1t twas also shown in evidence,
that the whole time which elapsed from
General Clant0n's challenge TO his death
did not exceed four minutes, and while
J vas absent to procure a weapon, he
stOod near the middle Of the street with
his eyes directed to the door through
which had passed; that he refused TO
be pacifed; stamped his foot upon the
ground. declaring he would have salts
faction auL, inquired in q loud and
angry tone, "Why don't he come out"
m was shown further by the proof
that General CIalltOn was under the in
duence OF LIQUOR al the time, and that
when drinking his reputation was that
,,f a desperate aud dangerous man.
There was some conflict in the opinions
oftbe witnesses az TO who fired the first
shot or as 70 which Of my shots took ef-
feet. but il WAS clearly established, by
fbe weight of evidence, that my first
sNot was accidental; that 1t missed Cen
eral Clantol eight or ten feet, and that
a. be was in the act Of lowering his pls-
tol the second time my second shot TOOK
eject. 1t may be fairly inferred nom
the evidence that / was also under the
influence Of liquor at the time OF this
unfortunate occurrence; that at hrst
refused to make my escape but immedl-
ately started on my way bOmein Cleve-
land. eighty miles distant, declaring on
ne xav that from the situation of my
arng-TgHTg n ia the ftTgr 70
communicate the melancholy intelli-
=, sDee TO my wife; that SO soon as had
9o.7e SO would return; and that l did
-, ,ntarily return and surrender myself
ia th.e sheriff of Knox county in three
days.
rasulfs established upon my trial; but 1t
i my intention, 50 soon as the reporter
I.aD write out his notes, to cause a full
md faithful report of the entire proceed
nos 10 be verified and published, sol
nat fhe whole case may be fully under
.+ood / cannot hope to disabnse the
,.;nds of all who read the first excited
~ axaogarated reports which we're so
r,niverzallv published and circulated
=, nv preiudice, az many of them will
:, aver sae or hear Of my Vlndlcatlon-
u ~, fhe Dress. which is swift 70 pub
Iisb e.rticles of a sensational CHARACTER
sbouId not be slow to repair an INJURY
commit sed through mistake, and Win
out AS 1 rope, any personal unkindness
10 me. and ] therefore respectfully ap-
YeaI 70 An editors who have published an
aeeount of tois fatal transaction 70 90
me the tardy justice Of publishing 81
least this brief VindicatiOn.
1t is, and always will De a source o.
ia, % regret to me that General Clanton
= 4 Nv NV hand, and, having no desire
: al 1idstice TO his memory, lis proper
f,r me I. , state that, from what ] have
feaTned of his character, 1 do not be-
I;sve any q. ifiiculty would have occurred
~ We had hen better acquainted and
,,erfactlv7 col General ClantOn had
he repiitnfion ct being q gallant man,
had proven it on masly hard neld, and
/ would not cast upon nls memory
single imputation. 1 had no malice
AGAINST him while living aHd nave
cherished none since his Death but
think il will be clear to every ons <ao
reads the evidence that If he had aeit
fallen I would have been killed the next
instant d. N. NELSON.