Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-18
The AIStOBS.

prln9ey stock. Ills ancestors settled 10 Hall.
tsx, n. G., nearly century ego. They v1,o
iuperious dauntiess people, OF epo.mops
wealth, lavish habits AID sirrIog traditions
They were Of stubborn strain CT fighters
dominating over eTcrSthiog, and bTock;1c -
contention.
The elder Of these "Hs!!ax" AIs.oas, II,
grandfather OF Bob Aston, came to Gc9rai,
with his fsmily. and bought the 'Shculicr
much Of his wealth, but was still immcnse,v
rich. He had three sors-WiIlis (Bob's !aIh.
cr,) Augustus, aud Gideoo. Each Of these
men came TO violent death.
The Astcn5 moved TO Tallahassee, vhtr,
they at orcc became very prominent Gu ac.ouat
of their wealth, bravery and talent. Tney were
on uuusally handsome and athletic race. haicg,
without exception, siS feet Or over, vel pr2
port;oaeG. aoG accomplished. WIl':s Aston
once carried l,ad Of 500 poucCs ieai weight
On his shoulders, 10 Tallahassee, ar T.ltr.
10 Tallahassee was started the taGd bctwtcg
the AIstobs ard Geo. Reed. Gen. Lsigh Reed
IVES youag man who had distinguished him
self il tic l3diau wars 10 Florida, and .ho
stood very high 10 public estimation. Brave,
genial, brilliant, be had NEST suspicious ca
reer ahead Of hin. lle was the leader Of one
of tho parties 10 Floiii2, and Col. AugU3Ins
Aston leo the other.
They became i0VJ!vcu la :. difficulty, Bah
Aston says. b.cju3G OF ~ article tha: had a..
palrci 20 a paper a:oiiGs On GovcraG-
Gall. Al aoy rae. the u0u5Ia resulted IL "
ucttirg, 10 which AUGUSTUS .,!5ta1 was kci.
The facts seemed to he that rs he men !url-
cd to fire Col Aston wager went off before h.
had aiwci il, the hal: i<&cr having yIeid.d Il
gu Dvouaia;y pressure. HcI, Reed almei g.
5tratcly, free, aui Gel. Aston itii with =
c.riul wound tore through hia 10 any cyeu!,
however, the s;s:e: Ct Augustus Aston was 81
most LiaddcpcI at tbs death oi her brother.
She i5ck the lead ttom tic dead body. al
moulding II Toto bu!ets san; thcai 10 Co. WILLS
Alston, telling him 10 hu:fy homo aud a9enIa
his brothers. death |. Gas very wa;t nader
s:coi that whco willis A!=un ciuc taerl would
bo trouble.
Oa the night q the ncctiag o! tho hogis!a-
ture Gen. Reed WAS elected Speaker. After ;h-
adjournment the members had assembled j.
BroTnS Hotel 10 cJlog The u:uli Giu1er Siyeu
by tic Speaker to his l,epds. While lhs u,n
duet aas 1t its Gnc,t;yat there WAS q slight cJ.n
motion 10 the further ED OF tho hall
Pushing aside the crowd Gathe:e1 ahJu, th'
door, tall figure, wrapped in lJn. ci1lS;.
stepped hastily toward the table Although
tbs face WAS hddeD by 3 s!ou,hcj na', the IL:
and strkios figure vas lUOTn 10 the c;GiSj J.
"rhcrc's As,eu! Ai:tou" they shouted.
At this polut COi. Aston ,hrey the ciJ.k
bscs aoG disclosed HI. features. HlhJu. 81
instant of hcsita!ign Reed aroS2 aud dew il]
liitcl. and fred at A!=t9r, tea'!ng Two iugcI-.
off Of his right hand. ID which he w3s hOI:irg
bowie kui':. Aston ncVcr heslfaiCd 81 trt-.
but charged Ike Wild boar on Red. IhY
were pulled apart alter st!ug2in. IN Which
Reed vas cut and Aistco somewhat III jared.
Soma ruonh, aiter~ard General Reed wsE
w:lkiug down The street with a i!i.od when h@
YES attacked by Coiocd Willis Aston. H.
received the c]ncas CT shot guo. an9, IS be
turned to c01tfcnt his asssspt, received the
other load 10 his face. ia dropped m1rtaIiy
wounded. Col. AlstoH's friends claimed that L"
had notified Reed tha. no would Kill hlm on
| sight. keed's friends cain that he receivo5 ="
such notiic4!ioG. s.. any rate Col. Aston was
imprisoned, he managed ID get CT t. Texas.
j! is said. ST sacril 20 OF over $50 l0J IN pro
yerty and money. Ho settled in Texas, nrsr
BraZGria
Alter he had b.cn .hc7o for some tine re-
hoard tbs. d.. Stewart had been discussing
bis killing OF Reei in mpiimontsry tonne.
He w.ote down the remarks. and y short time
sl!erWard met DR.. Stewart Oh tia prslru. &c
prc:cntod tho letter. and asked DR. S.owar. il h.
lad niaGo tbs remsrEs nn was credited with
there.
Whila d.. Stewart WAS examining tho Letter
no drow his pistol and fired Col. Aston. The
shot entered his bowels. In the meantime u.
Stewart had smountad, gttIog he horse DO
tween himself and AlstCr. Aston advanced.
End alter being terribly clGtiIated. BE- killed
Stewsrt-pCurinc load o! buckshoi through
his head
Ho was taken to Jill, and while thero wroto
his LIST Letter on earth. it was sddraacd to Col.
rom Howard. IL was coEf lent. hopo,uj. sht
dcG.nt. After writing th's letter ne took b.
fiddle and commenced p.ayi.g al ,Essh"i and
torn rs be wa.
William, his faithful body sorsaar, shortly
aCterward entered the jail, ha?inR 8 coil of fooo
wound about his body under his clothes. Wh!ic
they Gero prGpsr;ng Tor the masters escape, ii
noise was heard outside IL was q c:owl break
ing into the jsil t. tax" Tao prisoner out and Kill
him.
The mob pressed through the doors. but tie
dsuntrss hero never quai!Gt lie ga. there I'D
ding il lOrdly cCntomp. vi pain aad DEATH
looking upon his iGtun.4n s:snilnnls vita un-
olanchei faco. They dragged him on.. swing
ing MIN in blanket, when they kho.:ad u! the
ends There, nun d up from tho light Of day,
bat with the Old f:.r!esaness 5!.@irg in al? hcsr;
and the old daUa:lesa smile playing on his .iy5
his body Iidded with shower OF yacne:s' bGi-
lots, toe last OF he Halifax Al&Lors Giei.--.i'.
ianta Constitutions
SAD browsing Mr. John pEyar, reid
iog near Worion Sto'lOc, w,s Crow2cd 10
shallow stream Of w!tcr near his 6Talirc, SSGu.
9 O'Clock On Thu-z;i2y morning. lie was con
fined to the house nearly all w5tcr .r0GI the
effects ct o scva:c attack OF paralysis. AID IL il
supposed tbs. he bad another stroke %b'!a
walking acrc3s lbs bridge over the s'r3aD.--
The water vas no5 q t0Gt ri.cp, aaa be c1uit
easily have gotten ont bad hO t!!lcD il aCcl-
dentay. he Was goi6g t:oSl the house 20
wbcro eous hands w.Ia at "cIk WIEN the CO
Iamit7 beicl hiN. inc body was discovered
shortly stieIwl.d, si.| w.rn, but .ii3 VS. e.
tine. Mr.. DHycr was atou: - years Of age.
lie vas kad and neirhborlY, G5d respected bG
81! who knew him. Kent NewS.
Tire Southern Bank at Nca O:'ea95 has sus-
pcuded Depreciation 10 securities, tsEccIsly
10 consolidated city bands, is assigned IS TIE
cause Mr.. Thomas Layton, the president,
expresses the be!iefthat dspositofs will evantu.
ally be paid 10 full,
Tf ie ,ye IN rcrccn,hnr ,hat tho dido u cares OF