The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-19

waive n committing trial and 60 on to walt
the action of the grand jury. and hlghcT
courts. IN this event there Will be no legal
inquiry into the fnct until the regular term.
MIR. cox's CONDITION
Mt midnight was reported tobe very fnvorn-
bic. His wounds are not dangerous, but UP
to Il late hour he was restless and could not
be gotten TO sleep. He has spoken to several
OF Ills visiting friends, and is said that nc
claims to have acted In sclf-dcfcnsc in the
afiray; that Aston advanced upon him aiio
fired III him, striking him IN the face before
lie fired back ut Aston. When first shot ne
was very close TO Aston. and his iacc IL laIi
of powder grains from the pistol charge.
COLONEL AI.SToN'S CAREER
was one rich In episodes nf q remarkable and
often romantic nature. lie was II man Of pc
culiar character. lie was descended from II
famous family, the AlstOns, Of south carroll
nu, who were men o! power ard reputation,
and whose dash and courage made them re-
lulrliablc. They were uucliStS born. ana ln"li
who rated life as n haublc In n combat for Il
principle or n sentiment of honor and pride.
mel Robert 4. Aston was to this manner
born, and he succumbcd to that fatality
which he SO often declared was an ihhGri-
tnncc OF his naine-a death by violence. inc
history OF his family IL this regard Is part OF
the traditional history of the South In the
days when men fought and died at each 9TH
crs' hands TO wipe out Insults, impttations
and wrongs. We cannot now rc~capltulntc.
Inc TSGDIu. III Ilttll "Ilp ltlI StNlSi "iN
has passed from among his frIlowrntn, was
one who deserved u longer lite and better
fate. lie was brave to rcci lcSsncss generous
to Il fault, kind as a woman, and answering
ms a friend. lie was endowed with intellect,
and his strokes or success were inspirations
Of genius. He was irreprcsSible IN energy
and CShnustlrss In RESOURCES. lie went
where others dared not go, undertook what
others dared not attempt, and succceded
! where others had failed and failed again. lie
! WAS Il restless worker and one VINO never
tired in the pursuit of q purpose. Those VINO
knew him best appreciated his character NJ
| high standards, and those who might not c.
teen him were those who had been so unior-
tunatc as TO know his faults and see none CT
his virtues. All In nil his death was untlme-
~, unhappy and calumiiOus.
Colonel Aston WAS born In Macon. Ga, on
the last day of December, lS%2. After emery
ing from his school days he engaged In mcr-
canlilc pursuits In ChurlcSton, 3. g., ana NJ
the age OF II years married Miss Mary Char
lntte MaGill, daughter OF n large planter;
lie began the study of law and was admitted
To practice in l%55. lie pursued the ihw uiitli
the war came on, when he entered the ser
vice and rose to distinction as one OF inc
leading spirits In Mnrgan's raiders: lie was
one OF nc bruvcst of that brave band, nnI
through Il hundred fights rccklcssly invited
death but never received q wound. a. the ne
last his breakfast by having his biscuit shot
from between his teeth. After the war nc
came pack to his charming home IN Dclthlp
county ana engaged SUCCESSFULLY III NV
farming and journalism, up 10 the past two
or three years. lie was one of the owners
and managers Of the atlanta Herald, n Jour.
nal whose brillIallcy and enterprise made IL
famous In It's dizzy. Uf late he hal returned 10
his profession Of law, and In claim cases has
made much money, the bull Of when he
gave promptly away to thu creditors ol ms
NEWSPAPER venture. lie was wcll-known all
over the Union, and In Washington CITY was
a general ~fuvorItc with public men In Con-
grrss and In the government. lie was q
Shrewd observer Of men, and could hinuid
tl:cn. offer 10 bis purposes AS with the mana
OF u master spirit. He was Il good citizen,
and In his Office Of q Representative IN our
General Assembly, his career promised to DC
of great usefulness to the State.
PREVENTING A PROPHECY.
Colonel Aston has often remarked to the
writer and to others, In the realistic language
OF the West, that he felt rs though nc couid
n It be spared to Il peaceful death, but that nc
| should some day Idle with his boots on !!
lie said this to Captain Ed. Mercer, one Hl
! his most devoted admirers, and when yester-
day Captain Mercer looked uptn the dying
form OF his friend he recalled the nllmos pro
phetic words. And when the body was car
ricd TO a bed chamber the faithful friend fol-
lowed II land trnderly drew from the feet o.
Colonel Aston the boots in which he stood
when he was shot down. He did not want To
see thut prophecy fulfilled To its letter.