The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-03-27

LuALA CA1cs OCSpAtC IutSt GLOOMY
thoughts, Aston was devout believe!
in the code. After he had Joined the
church he still adhered to bis belief at
is a peacemaker," he said. In South
Carolina, where the code stood above the
state law, there never was so quiet aud
decorous q community. In Charleston
county there was not q murder In
eighteen years, and the files of the Char
lesion Courier for nearly TWENTY-FIVE
yesrs do not show the use of the word
'liar" or "scoundrel or any similar epi-
theots a single time. There were no
street fights or rows, and no asssssina>
tions. A high code OF honor was estab-
lished, and it made even towards brave
men. He used TO tell of a Carolins
judge (Mr. Pettigrewl, who, having two
men before him for trying to fight duel
said: Gentlemen, it will take me an
hour to write out these warrants. In the
meantime there Is steamer at my wharf
that can take you cut of my jurisdiction,
so that you can complete your work be-
fore 1 could hold you" Col. Aston
never fought duel himself, though he
issued and accepted several challenges.
The conservative spirit of these latter
days almost always settles these matters
without the exchange of shots. While
Aston would have died before he would
have submitted to a dishonorable COM
promise, l know what stubborn heroism
it REQUIRED to carry him into sn affair of
homer. He shrank with horror from such
test. His whole life was overshadOwed
by the memory of his ancestors and
their bloody ends. He was a recognized
authority on matters of the code, and
was usually called into all prominent
affairs. While he was tenacious of the
honor of his principles, he never stickled
for technicslities, and usually succeeded
in adjusting the differences. Only once
was he second in fatal meeting. He
attended young McGraw, of Charleston,
and loaded the pistol that killed Tabor
There had appeared in the Charleston
Mercury a communication asssiling
Judge McGraw, signed with q nom de
plume Contrary to the usual practice
of demanding the name of the author of
the offensive article, Aston demanded
for McGraw satisfaction of Tabor and his
two editorial associates, holding that the
of the offence was in the pub
location. The name of the author was
offered and declined. Tabor then an
nounced himself responsible. McGraw,
through Aston, challenged the three
editors, naming Tabor first. The parties
went to the field. At the second shot
Tabor jumped straight into the air, fell
upon his back, shivered and died. Nc
Graw WAS unhurt, and the affair stopped
there.
Aston had been engaged in many per-
sonai encounters, but never had been
seriously hurt. 1t Was harder for him
to take an insinuatiOn of insult than for
aay one else; but he always depressed
his anger, and, if possible, avoided
trouble. He was a fine talker, q genial
gentleman, OF winning address, and those
saved him from many difficulties that
his impetuosity would have led him into.
His faVorite maxim, however. was the
saying of Sir Boyle Roach, "The best
way to avoid danger is to meet it plump
w." and his boldness often sufficed where
temporizing would have failed. 10 the
trouble that led to his death, after he
had been sent of by Cox to arm himself,
his first impulse was to get double
barreled shot gun, and go and look Cox
up and kill him. He was thoroughly
with the violent habits of
his enemy, and knew best how to meet
them. He was dissuaded from this course
however, by Governor Colqu;tt and
others. He was very much depressed at
tire idea that Cox was hunting him down
and seemed to have premOnition of
what was coming He said, throwing
himself into q chair in the treasurer's
Office, " 1t is awful hard to know that q
man is dogging you and that you have
got to kill him or be killed" Instead OF
going off to arm himself, he went into a
TO get some dinner. He ate
heartily, but was very much worried. AT
length he was persuaded to take pistol,
getting one that he had never seen be-
fore, a selt-cOcking six-shOOter. When
he entered the treasurer's Office he SEEM
ed relieved to think he had found re-
treat from the trouble. No sort of per-
sonal fear moved him, but the idea of
seemed to siczen him. When
he saw Cox enter and hall draw his piss
tol at a man evidently mistaken for him,
he seemed to know that his time had
come. He grew a shade pale and his face
hardened and grew stern. His first word
though, was On appeal. L am not going
to have any difficulty with you," he
said; "you must let me alone" Cox
still persisted, however, growing angIier
sill the time. At length, when he Stepped
back and closed the door and said,
will force you, SIR" ne seemed to give
Up all hope. Captain John Neyins, his
friend. who witnessed it all, describes
the scenes that followed: "Co'o1el Bob
rose quiet and calm, just like he was go
ing to make q speech There was not
tremor about him, All right he says,
well have it out right here. Are you
armed? With that he drew his pistol.
C,x's was already out. l threw myself
between them and said, No you don't,
gentlemen = Colonel Bob thrust his hand
over my shoulder and fired, striking Cox
in the mouth. At the same time Cox
fred and the ball went through my
whiskers. Their hands nearly crossed as
thew fred. still held them apart. They
fred again by me, and l then turned
them loose. Cox was jumping and dodg
ing around, but Colonel Bob never
moved. He stood straight as statue.
AFTER he had shot his fourth shot he
turned his face to me and smiled that
peculiar smile he has. As he turned he
pulled trigger again and his pistol
snapped. Then Cox fired again, and [
saw a red spot ooze out in Colonel Bob's
temple. Cox was trying to cock his
pistol again when jumped in and threw
him back, catching Colonel Bob. He
sank in my arms. When l turned, Cox
was sitting in a chair splitting blood.
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