Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-20
PISTOLS AND COLLEGE BOYS.
Tho Pend I'm which n Montgomery
(AVR.) Cadet, Eighteen Years OLD,
was shot Through the Heart
hOutharn ChlVRIry.


(AVh.) Cadet, Eighteen Years OLD,
was shot Through the Heart
hOutharn ChiValry.
The Montgomery (Ala.) Sun
gives a full report Of the prelimi-
nary examination of X. J. Harri-
son, a cadet of the university in
that city, who shot and killed an
other cadet (W. W. Alston) Friday
morning, the Sth.
1t seems that ill-feeling had ex-
listed for some time between the two
cadets. Aston was eighteen. Har-
rison's age does not appear. Each
had several room-mates who Joined
in making a feud between the
two rooms. According to James
Clanton, one of Alson's room
mates, the latter was "sober and
gentlemanly, a member Of the
church, and a Good Templar." This
Clanton had recently heard Harri-
son make delamatory remarks about
a girl, a cousin Of Alston's, and had
repeated them to Aston. "The
remarks" says Clanton, "were very
defamatory, and enough to make a
fight for any one who cared any
thing for his cousin" Accordingly
Alston made up his mind to whip
Harrison, and asked one Of his
friends to 60 down with him and
"keep the Lowe boys Goom-mates
of Harrison) Off" Aston said he
intended a fist fight only, but asked
Clanton elf he was killed to take
charge of his body" Hereupon
Olanton gave his eighteen-y -year-old
friend this advice:
81 advised Aston to strike with
his left hand and to shoot Harrison
through his coat,tail with his right,
upon the supposition that Harrison
would shoot him so soon as he
was struck, as he was as quick as
lightning. | advised him to cut
the lining out of his coat-tail so
that he could shoot good, and at
tempted to cut it out and to cut a
little hole for him to shoot through,
but he would not let me; he said he
would do no such thing, but would
fight him a fair fight; he said he
knew he was much larger than
Harrison, but his hand was badly
cut, and he thought the fight would
be equal"
W. Fits, the roommate who
went with Aston "to keep the
Lowe boys off," tells what hap
pened as follows: "Alston told me
that lie had great secret to tell
me--that Harrison had been talk
ing very badly about his cousin,
and he intended to whip him or
make him take it back; some one
told him Harrison would shoot him
if attacked, and advised him to arm
himself; he said he would, but
would not use his pistol unless com
PEELED in self-defense; he asked me
10 90 with him and see what was
done, and to prevent the friends Of
Harrison from attacking him; |
started to take a pistol, and Alston
dissuaded me from doing it; we
went to Harrison's room and he
was not there; we then saw him on
the second stoop, leaning on the
balGsters, and we approached him ;
l stopped when we got near, and
Aston went up and put his arm
around Harrison's shoulders they
walked Off and turned back and
walked q few PAGES together; Alston
asked Harrison il he made certain
remagkg about his cousin, and he
replied that he did not care to say
whether he did or mott Alston then
told him he would have to take the
consequences. Rpd he said he wouldy
Alston then struck him in the face
and staggered him, | think he
struck with the left hand, but can't
say positively; Harrison shot him
Immediately after he was struck ;
he had both hands in his oVOrcoat
pockets az the time and did not
take his right hand out until be
drew the pistol to shoot; Alston
was shot in the side by tho first
shot; he turned deathly pale, Shrew
his hand up TO where the fatal
wou,,d uas inAictad and than