The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-03
THE ALsTON MURDER TRIAL
Testimony Put In by the Defence Intended to
Justify t.e IIomIcide.

ATLANTA, Ga, May 2.-restmony for the
defence in the Cox case was continued through
out the whole of to-day. Caut. Nclms. princi-
pal keeper OF the penitcntiary. testified that
Aston was his assistant from January, 1877. to
August 1878. At the time OF tho killing Alston
was practising law and acting as agent for the
sale of Senator Gordon's interest in the convict
lense Alston said an interest in the lease had
been offered to him. but he declined TO take it
on account Of his inhumanity to tho con-
vcts. Tine doy before tho homicide Aston
Cox. and others were in witnesses oiiice
and the sale o, the Gordon interest was dis
cussed with Mr.. Walters who desired to pur-
chase il. Cox had leased Gordon's plantation
in Taylor County for eight years. Gordon
agreeing to supply sixty convcts per Hnnum.
Cox was TO pay Gordon fifty bales Of cotton
yearly. Aston asked Cox II hc wanted TO sell
his interest Cox said NO" Aston said that
Walters would buy It, Cox then said. Both Of
you know | will sell anything | have OK
ccpt my wife and children Cox then
s.. asEed 10th, ArEG You going TO- sc,l
No; am going 10 81. j Gen. Gor'lon's interest.
subject to your suh-lnaSr.' Cox SAID that WIS
all right on the afternoon oi the hmmiciie
Aston asked witness for his pistol. Witness
replied that 10 WIS at home. and asked what he
wnntrl "A pistol for. Aston said he had irouhl"
with CoN:thut Cos had taken him into n barber
shop uui said. Bob. want To- SDc that power uf
attorney you have to sell Cor tom interest and
that h" repllei that he would not STOW q under
n.forc you leave this room;" and he reptile J..
"NouH are q nice craat biz rHs 'nl hero with your
kuifr. whom haven't gotta piece OF sierl ON me.
!nirY nhd force me To- rtmT Cox thcn eall
90 Go and arm yourself. and will wait for you;
nud ne Is Whiting for ne now. said Al~'on.
Witness begged Al-ton to let nlm uct o.. medi-
/ nfor and stop tho difficulty. Aston wont ou'
/ soon Ntterwurd Mtnrs- followed. and found
Aston and Murphy in the Ircasury-Al~ion
] d ~ N 10
/ the cylinder of the l.st. Witness r"n.w'd
/ bis offer TO mediate nul Murphy joined in.
can d." Witness wit iown to The 6ar.
| her shop. and saw Cox IN the luck
! ulied. Excuse me-. Colourl. | am waiting for q
! friend Will %" At your ofl ,e soon Witness
! insisted on seeing Cox. nnd COX persisted iu me-
| refusal. H. went hack 90 his OH .e. and soon
! nftcr cox came IN saving. want io so" YOU.
! There was % lady 10 the office. Cox sat down h}
/ him and said. Ell. you are drunk. ca sli,i
/ No, am not aud asked witness 90 En wiz
' What 'oi 3' and Cox would not say; -o W tn.s
! rriuSDd. und Cox sud i"i.y went pu'; " 'u"~'
I coon followed And found Cox and Aston IN tn'
witness testified To- incidents of the nsh
, SUI stantully tho same aS Treasurer hrniro'
| dl.i aui ~ already rcportcll
Last August cox and Aston hal words il
| Witness nlfHp about t0X's contract wih Cor
don. which h1l hesn arranged ~ Aston. c.
told Aston that it he wont back on him in thi'
business he would XIII hun. and called on W.T.
nrss to D, witness 10 the threat. Aston tol'
Cox that hs was not afraid Of him. and TO begil
then. Witness stopped the quarrel. md t0oI
ho'n mrn homo 20 dinner with him. They were
| @l'h oiHrr h'Hds 'n iil"ir Ili- "n thr s'U'"-
! Witness thought turlr relations were trlendN
GOV. Coiluut tt-,'ij'.i ~ having n conver-a
tinu "a ."W minutes he.orr "a" homi.li" Nii
Asion when Aston detailed i9 um ihe ats "
ClN az q barber shop. n- t''l o. y '..ns. ana
AI~tN "a -ilt ar ought O. fIt" % q lIi. '-t .rfrIH