Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-03-20
THE ATLANTA TRAGEDY.

We briefly mentioned in our last issue Jne
killing, at Atlanta, Ga, on Tuesday OF last
week, of Col. R. A. Aston by Capt. Ed. COX,
both prominent men in their State and we'll
known throughout the South. The Atlanta
Constitution contains full account OF the at
fair. from which we condense the following
THE ACTORS.
The actors in the death-duel of Tuesday
were two citizens well known in our commu-
nitv and numbering hosts of friends. One OF
them was Col. Robert A. Aston, of the ad-
Joining county of Dekalb, and its representa-
tive in the present General Assembly. The
other was Capt Ed. Cox, of Dekalb county,
one of the sub-lessees of penitentiary conVlcts
Col. Aston was chairman OF penltentlary
committee of the present House of Represen-
tatives, and the author of the bold and horrl-
fying report upon our penitentlary lease sys-
TEN which caused so wide sensation IN NO
vember last.
THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY
was in the middle room of the office OF the
State treasury in the Capitol building. The
State treasury is located upon the ground floor
of the building. The room is about twelve
by fifteen feet in dimensions. In it the par
ties met and the affray occurred in the pres
ence of State treasurer Renfroe, Capt. Nelms,
the principal keeper of the penitentiary, and
the tax collector of Gilmer county, Mr.. 2. II.
Milton. The bloody affair grew out OF the re-
fusal of Col. AlStOn acting as the agent OF
Senator Gordon, to cancel a sale which he had
made of the latter's interest in Penitentiary
Company No. 2, Mr.. Cox being anxious, for
reasons which affected him pecuniarily, that
the interest should be sold to another person.
s THE FIRST ALTERCATIoN.
The fact appears to be that Cox first encoun-
tered Aston in the barber-shop of Dougherty
Hutchins. Oh Marietta street, about noon. He
asked Aston into the back room to talk, and
Aston afterward stated that Cox demanded
of him that he rescind the trade with Howard
and make the one with Walters, stating that
Walters would pay more than Howard for the
interest at stake Col. Aston replied to him
that it was now impossible to do that thing.
He had sold to Howard, and the trade must
stand. He had offered the refusal OF the share
to Walters and that he had declined to take
the same. Mr.. Cox persisted, and sad II
Aston did not sell to Walters he (COX) would
be broken or ruined, and he did not intend to
stand it. His duty to his family, he said, de-
manded the conSummatiOn OF the other trans
action and it must be done. Aston again re-
fused, and explained his reasons. 1t is here
stated that their conversation became audible
to those in the shop at the time, and that AL
ston was talking in conciliatory way While
Cox was angry and very much excited. lie
denounced Aston sweepingly as not having
treated him right and demanded that Aston
do us he Cox desired. Aston said ne could
not do it and would not if he could. He told
Cox he would not be bullied into doing the
thing proposed. 1t is stated that Cox drew,
or had in his hand, a knife with which he
threatened to
CUT ALSTON'S THROAT
unless he acquiesced in the plan proposed. He
seemed to have had All idea of frightening AL
stOn into compliance. Aston told Cox ne was
unarmed and desired no difficulty with him.
Cox told him to 90 and arm himself and meet
him there at that place in five or ten minutes.
Aston said he would do it, and they parted.
After Aston left, it is alleged that Cox in
dulged in very abusive language about Aston,
and said if Aston did not do right in the mat
ter he would kill him before Sundown. 1T was
then seen that both men We're excited and an
gry, and serious difficulty was expected to
arise between them.
AVOIDING A MEETING.
According to all accounts, Aston endeav-
ored to avoid Cox by going to the State capl-
tol and entering the office of the State Treas
urer While there he receiveda message from
Cox inviting him to come and fight him like
man. Subsequently Aston was on the
IL
TreaSurer's Office, soon after which Cox enter
ed and found him there.
BOTH WERE EXCITED,
but Cox seemed exceedingly angry as we'll.
They began the controversy again, Cox telling
Aston he had treated him wrong and had to
answer for it. Aston got up, and putting
his hand gently upon Cox, said to him:
Mr. Cox, | do not want to have any diff
Guilty with you about this matter, and there is
no need for it. Let us drop it now. 1t will
do you no good to kill me, and do me no good
to kill you-not a bit in the world"
Cox replied in an abusive manner, and con-
tinued to denounce Aston and to urge him
on to the affray. 1t was thought his object
At the time only Treasurer Renfroe and the
taX-collector of Gilmer county were i'll the
office, Capt. NelmS coming in soon after.
While the quarrel was in progress, the Gllmer
gentleman remarked that Cox was abusing
Aston beyond endurance, and that Aston
ought not to let man talk to him in that way,
but ought to kill him. Treasurer Renfroe,
fearing the difficulty told them not have
fight in his office. Upon this
cox INVITED ALSToN OUTDOORS
to settle the matter, but Aston declined to
60, repeating that he did not want any diff
Guilty. Cox replied that he should have one.
Aston said if he could not avoid it he sup
posed he would Cox told him he could not
yet out of it, and Aston asked him if he want
ed to begin right then. Cox said that it was
as good place as any, and that a difficulty
was what he had come for. He went to the
front door of the room and attempted to shut
it, Treasurer Renfroe told him not to shut
that door: but Cox paid no attention to him,
but, seeing that it was hooked back to the
wall, he unlocked it and shut it. He then
turned and advanced towards Alston, who
also rose and stepped forward. Capt. Nelms
ran between them, and catching each by the
shoulder with his hand, but as he did so
BOTH MEN DREW THEIR PISTOLS
and began to fire at each other with great
rapidty. Capt Nelms fell back upon the ta-
BILE. and Treasurer RenfrOe and the other man
were standing in the room next to Marietta
street, and near the door where Col. Aston
was standing in front of the stove. Col. AL
stou. when he arose from his chair, had his
coat buttoned across his breast, but he un-
buttoned it and drew his pistol from an inner
pocket. His was self-cocking pistol, and
this enabled him to get the first shot at Cox,
the ball striking Cox on the left side OF the
upper lip and penetrating the mouth and jaw.
Cox then got into the corner and fired at
Aston. but missed him and the ball went i'll
in succession, his second ball striking Cox i'll
the left hand, heshy part, between the thumb
and fore-finger, and the third shot going wild
and burying in the plastered wall about a
foot from the floor and close to COX-so close,
it appears. as to have gone through the breast
of his coat as he stopped and leaned sideways
to avoid the shot. Cox then rose and fired
his second shot, the ball penetrating the right
temple of Col. Aston, about an inch from the