The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-22
THE COMET.
End az "a Ncmber Oi n Famous Duei-
Ing FAMILY.
COL. ALsroN's ENCOUNTER WITH ED COX IN
THE CAPITOL OF dE )RdIA.

COL ASTON s ENCOUNTER WITH ED IVA AN
THE CAPITOL OF dE )RGIA'
Special to iAe N. L. Sun.
Never before since the war has this busy
c;tv been so much affected as by the klllihR
of Col. II. A. Aston, yesterday. ihe ~ ~!
onel belonged to one of the oldest lainiile9
of the South. member of which hattleu
Theodosia. the petted child of Aaron bufr'
ord made worthy husband for the daughter
of that famous and eccentric statesman,
The Alstons have been noted duelists, and
IL ;s said that not male member OF the
house for several generations, has aleu
natural death Bob Aston, as he was Ia
miliarlv called, though courageous man.
was not a bully, nor did he court encounc
ters that were likely to call for the use ol
deadly weapons. He was gentleman Oh 'no
old school, The fate of his foreiathers seem,
ed to have impressed him protounuty anu
while no one questioned his courage, ne
seldom or never carried pistol,
During the late war Bob Aston served as
n Iient Col. of cavalry, and distinguished
himself for valiant and faithful service
After the war he was an intimate friend and
counselor of General, (now Senator) Cor
don. and Senator Gordon has been part
ner of Edward Cox in the lease OF conVicts
from the State Of Georgia. Cox was the
reverse of Aston. He was type q the
Southern bully-,a man OF some social pc
sition, but with Il temper which Indulgence
had made uncOntrollab!e.
Gen. Gordon has lately been desirous OF
giving up his connection with convict Iaoof
for several reasons the two most potent OF
which were the unpopularlIy or that kiho
of labor among the industrial classes OF the
State AM the country, and the TACT that
scandals had grown out OF the manage
ment of previous leases. Gurdcn, there
fore. gave authority to Col. Aston to 81
his interest III the lease to any one VINO
would buy it Cox had arranged to sell bis
interest to Mr.. Walters, provided Walters
could obtain Gen. Gordons share also,
Col, Aston found himself ablo to sell Gor-
don's interest more adyaLtagcouSly to Alr'
Howard. Col, Aston met Cox, nMd told INN
that he was about IL sell to Howard TINS ell
raced Cox, who said he would kill Aston II
the latter should not sell to Walters. Aston,
who as unarmed, and desired to avoid q
murdero.s row, evaded further talk, ana
went of and sold the interest 10 Howard.
Cox logged Aston all day. and at length
overlook him, and drew KNIFE ard SAID
that BE intended to fiji! him.
Aston said: You wouldn't Kill an unN
armed man, would you:
Cox then SAID: II will wait for you to
arm yourself.
Aston went towards the Capitol, stlli
bent upon avoiding trouble. lie met Gov.
Colquitt, who, knowing Cox as a desperate,
was very much alarmed for Aston to whom
he was deyotcdly attached. He begged
Aston to 20 to his Office aud remain while
he went to see Cox
Aston said, You had better let me get
a shotgun aud Kill him, because know
him, and he will kill me if don t.
Aston went on toward the Capitol, and
procured a pistol. Coy had already gone
ahead of him, and was waiting for him.
Aston went in at a side door, and avoided
him. Cog wrote a note asking Aston to
to come out Oh the sidewalk and have it
out. Aston declined, and walked about
inside the Capitol. Cox entered, aud see
ing Prof. Moore sitting at desk, drew his
pistol, thinking it was Aston. The Pro
lessor turned, and Cox went Oh to look for
Aston. He finally saw him go in nj the
Traasurcr's door, and followed him.
Aston turned as he entered, and said,
"Cox don't want to have any trouble with
YOU"
Come out aud let settle it, said Cox.
81 will not fight YOU, unless you force it
on me, said Aston.
Then I'll force it," said Cox, closing
the door
At this Aston, seeing that fight was in
cvitable. said, "Well, then, let's settle,
right now. Are you armed?'
Without reply Cox whipped out his pis-
tol. Aston drew also, and throwing their
pistols to a level, they fired straight at each
other. Can't. Minis, who had run in be-
tween them, barely escaped being shot
He tried to catch the conbatants, who were
close to each other But failed,
Cox was struck in the mouth at the first
fire, and after that he ran about at random.
Aston did not step from his tracks, but
pale and stern, fired coollv, shooting Cox's
pistol hand the second shot, and shooting
linn square ia the throat the third time
At Ieupth Cox. having succeeded in get
ting right ND to Aston. fired his fifth shot,
and sent ball through Alston's brain. He
had not touched him before that.
Aston fell and Law at full length on the
floor, unconscious from that instant. Cox
threw his pistol down, staggered to the
table, and fell, and said, I'VE are both
killed.
Col. Aston died at ten minutes to 7.
Cox's wounds are not considered mortal,
and to-day he was taken to Jail to await
trial, the Coroner5 iury having found that
the murder Of Aston was 'wilful and pre-
meditated."
The whole city is mourning for Col.
Aston. Cox, who is not expected to live.
is everywhere execrated az a deliberate
murderer It is stated that Col Aston
was anxious to change the old tradition
that an Aston, like Douglas, never died
in his bed. His uncle, Augustus Aston.
fought duel with rifles in Florida many
wears AGO. and was killed by one Reed.
Willis Aston. the father of Col. Aston. met
Reed in the street in Col ml,us Ga. and
killed him. and Reeds brother subseduant.
" killed Willis Aston in Texas.
WAsHrxaro,s March 13 -gfen Gordon
night, by the reporter Of a Washington
,auruDopar The C.usfov eotl that he had