The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-04-03

that he knew his destiny was to "die the
Aston death He even had q super
stitiOn that certain man was going to
kill him. There had never been any
trouble between them, but Aston always
said, That man is my fate" The man
was his friend, and never became any
thing else. Despite these gloomy
thoughts, Aston was q devout believer
in the code. After he had Joined the
church he still adhered to his belief cit
is q peacemaker," ne said. In South
Carolina, where the code stood above the
state law, there never was so quiet and
decOrOus community. In Charleston
county there was not q murder In
eighteen years, and the files of the Char
lesion Courier for nearly twenty-five
years do not show the use of the word
''lisr' or ''scoundreP or any similar cpl
theots 8 single time. There were no
street fights or lows, and no assassina-
tions. a high code OF honor was estab
lished, and it made even towards brave
men. He used to tell of q Carolina
judge (Mr. Pettigrew), who, having two
men before him for trying to fight duel,
said: s. Gentlemen, it viii take me an
hour to write out these warrants. In the
meantime there Is a steamer aJ my wharf
that can take you cut of my jurisdiction,
so that you can complete your work be-
fore I could hold you" Col. Alston
never fought 8 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 be would
have submitted TO a dishonorable COM
hot z4rrhl.O-v, hownSSv,,
it REQUIRED to carry him into an 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 g 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 stiekled
for technicalities, and usually succeeded
in adjusting the differences. Only once
was he second in a fatal meeting. He
attended young McGraw, of Charleston,
and loaded the pistol that killed Tabor
There had appeared in the Charleston
Mercury a Communication assailing
Judge McGraw, signed with a nom de
plume Contrary to the usual practice
of demanding the name of the author of
the offensive article, AlstOn demanded
for McGr8w satisfaction of Tabor and his
two editOrisl associates, holding that the
grava-aen of the offence was in the pub
lieation. 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
Gfaw was unhurt, and the affair stopped
there.
Alston 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
a Y one else; but he always repressed
mis- anger, and, if possible, avoided
trouble He was q fine talker, a 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 1t plump
ly," and his beldness often sufficed where
temporizing would nave failed In the
trouble that led to his death, after he
had been sent of by Cox to arm himseli,
his first impulse was to get double
barreled shot gun, and 60 and look Cox
up and kill him. He was thoroughly
acquainted with the violent habits of
his enemy, and knew best how to meet
them. He was dissuaded from this course
however, by Governor Colquitt and
others. He was very much depressed at
tFe icea that Cox WAS hunting him down
and seemed to have a premOnitiOn of
what was coming He said, throwing
himself into a chair in the treasurer s
Office, '' It is awful hard to know that q
man is dogging you and that you have
cot to kill him or be killed." Instead OF
going off to arm himself, he went into a
restaurant 10 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 self-cocking six~shOoter. When
he entered the treasuEer's Office he seem
ed relieved to think he had found q re
treat from the trouble. No sort of per-
sonaI fear moved him, but the idea OF
bloOdshed seemed to sicken him. When
ne say Cox enter and hal draw his pis'
tol at 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 an appeal Z" am not going
to have any difhoulty with yOu," he
said "you must let me alone" Coz
still persisted, however, growing angIiel
all the time. at length, when he stepped
back and closed the door and said, "
will force you, sir" he seemed to give
up all hope. Captain John Nevins, hi;
| friend, who witnessed it all, describes
| the scenes that followed: Colonel Bob
rose quiet and calm, just like he was go'
| ing to make a speech. There was not g
tremor about him, 'All right he says
we'll have it out right here. Are you
| armedP With that he drew his pistol
| C8x's was already out. ! threw mysel
| between them and said, No you don't
! gentlemen!' p Colonel Bob thrust his band
over my shoulder and fred, striking Coz
in the mouth. At the same time Cox
| fred and the ball went through my
whiskers. Their hands nearly crossed a
| they hred. still held them apart. They
fred again by me, aud l then turned
them loose. Cox was jumping and dodg
/ ing around, but Colonel Bob never
| moved. He stood straight as a statue
AFTER he had shot his fourth shot ht
/ turned his face 70 me and smiled thai
| peculiar smile he has. As be turned hC
| pulled trigger again and his pisto
| snapped. Then Cox fired again, and
saw a red spot oozs out in Colonel BUb'I
| temple. Cox was trying to cock hi
| pistol again when jumped In and threw
him back, catching Colonel Bob. II
sank In NV arms. When I turned, Co7
was sitting IN a chair splitting blood
with his pistol on q table He Esid,
I z NJ 81 g~,h1