Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-14
Shooting Affair &c MIssIssIppI
Clay.
Handsboro Democrat


HaBdsboro Democrat
List Wednesday, at Mississippi City,
between the hours Of u n. and |
o'clock, p. NJ, q difficulty occurred in
the bsr-FoOm Of Col. ]. o. Nixon, be-
tween Gen. Writ Adams, of that town
aud Mr.. John Z. Swelman, Of this. II
seems that about Q week, or probably
more, before the day In question, Gen.
Adams and Mr.. SWetman passed some
hard words In regard to the settlement
Of 4 beef account, but were then pre-
vented from having q difficulty by the
interference Of friends. LAST Wednes.
day, however, Gen. Adams entered
Col. Nixon's bar-room to get his mail,
and found seated around q card table,
Mr.. SWetman, Col. Nixon, DIR. Pelesz
and Mr.. Merrill engaged In a game for
psstime. Having obtained his mail,
Gen. Adams addressed himself to Mr..
Swetman, saying: That be had grossly
insulted him (Adams) when he
(Adams) was not prepared, and that he
was now ready. So saying, Gen.
Adams drew from his pocket q pistol
and commenced firing, and at the same
tine Mr.. Swetman endeavored 10 arise
from the table in which endeaV or he
received q ball in the mouth which
felled him to the floor. In falling,
however, or after he was down, Mr..
Swetman managed 10 draw his pistol
and aim a shot at his antagonist, but
owing 10 This receiving q second shot
through his right arm, or from some
other cause, the ball went wide Of ill.,
mark and passed through the coat tai
of Col. Nixon. In the meantime Gen
Adams continued his FIRE until he had
emptied all but one barrel OF the pistol
he held in his hand, which barrel failed
to fire. The General then drew from his
pocket q secold pistol with the inten
ton, II is thought, OF continuing hi,
fire, but was persuaded TO desisI by
those around, representing that the
PROSTATE man was dead. This how.
ever, proved not to be true. Mr..
Swetmau received four wounds, viz:
one In the mouth, one through the
right arm, one through the scrotum,
the ball lodging in the thigh, and the
fourth passing horizontally across the
chest cutting the LETT breast. The
wounded man was brought to bis home
In the evening of the same day aud is
now doing very well. His wounds
though numerous aud painful are not
necessarily dangerous or fatal.
We give the above particulars OF the
difficulty as we learn them from eye.
witnesses.
Gen. Adams was arrested Thursday
morning on q warrant issued by JUS
tice Crawfoot and brought before the
Court the same day for q preliminary
examination. On application Of the
defendant q continuance was granted
on the ground of absence Of important
witnesses, aud the case was laid over
until Monday, the 18th inst. Gen. AID.
ans gave bond in the sum Of 81, 500 for
his appearance.
This difficulty IL much to be regretted,
and has brought untold suffering and
misery 10 two families both hghly
respected and surrounded by aumer.
Gus friends.
We were in hopes that the era OF
blood and death had ceased, and that
the stern enforcement Of the law might
purchase society a short respite from
such scenes sc we have been doscrib.
ing. Certainly, II men would take
counsel with eason rather than pas
sion there could exist no occasion for
such affairs az this.
or the merits Of the case We say moth.
Ing, as the whole matter is to under.
go Judicial investigation.