American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-08
The Recent Homicides at Clinton.

We take the following account of
Of the difficulty which occasioned
so much excitement at Clinton on
the 30th ult., from the Jackson
Clarion Of Tuesday evening last.
Charles Caldwell was State Sena-
tor from Kinds county, and a man
of great influence among his race
THE KILLING oE. CALDWELL
BROUGHT ON BY HIS OWN CON
DUCT "A SKETCH OF CALDWELL S
LIFE.
On last Thursday evening, about
Il O'Clock, our community was star
tied by report that another riot
had broken out at Clinton. X
What was reported to be a riot was
nothing but street row.
The particulars, so far as we can
learn them, are that late in the
evening Chas. Caldwell went down
into the heart of the town, from his
residence, and, being intoxicated,
was cursing about the streets, says
ing that he was "the best man in
Kinds county," could whip any man
in Clinton, etc He had pistols
strapped upon him, and was evil
IDENTIFY looking for fight, which,
after an hour or two, he got, in the
following manner, and which result
ed in his death and THAT of his
brother Sam. Charles Caldwell had
gone into the store Of Mr.. Chiffon,
and was taxing drink, when a pis-
toll was fred on the outside of the
building accidentally, while some
young men were handling it. Inns
mediately upon this, Caldwell drew
his pistol and opened fire upon
some gentlemen who were i'm the
store, shooting DR.. E. q. Banks
through the k Zee, and Mr.. Aaron
Page in the thumb. The firing was,
of course, Immediately returned.
when Caldwell either ran Or fell in
to the cellar of the store. A few
minutes afterw ,rd he called for
help, but knowing his desperate
character, it was some time before
any one would go down. Rev. w.
Caldwell MORALLY wounded he
was brought mp stairs and soon af-
ter died. While the fight was pro-
crossing, Sam. Caldwell dashed up
with a pistol in his hand, and was
himself shot and killed.
DIR. Banks wound is very serious.
He was carried to Vicksburg on the
first train passing, for surgical
treatment, and it is feared his leg
will have to be amputated.
Chas. Caldwell was born a slave
in this {Hinds) county, and was
raised partly in jackson and Clin-
ton. Prior, and during the war, he
bore a good character with his own
ers. In 1866, if we remember right
ly, he killed q white man in Gin
ton, and was tried aud acquitted.
In 1867 the reconstruction acts pas
sed and he became politician, and
was elected to the black and tan
convention. While a member of
that body, he attended il colored
dancing party, which some Federal
soldiers attempted to disturb, and
who, when put out, went off and
returned armed, and fired into the
party. The attendants, most of
them, ran, but the fire was returned
by one of them. (said to have been
CALDWELL and one of the soldiers
was mortaly wounded, and another
slightly. During the canvass of
1868, Caldwell went to Carroll Co.,
and in political broil near Carroll
ton, killed another white man. In
1870 he provoked fight with a
white man in this city, in which
both were wounded. During the
Clinton riot, he was said TO have
tried to prevent it, and was, in CON
sequence, told by the citizens that
he could live there, but that his son,
Charles, Jr., having taken II prOmi
nent part, must stay away. About
this time men who were 'rIlnning'
the State government PIT on f'"t
/, he -.,c+' lei militia movement, AMI
knowing Ca,dweIl's desperate char