The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-03-20
HAND TO HAND.
Atlanta Special (March 1l) to Chicago Trih
nnel

ATLANTA Special (March ~ to Chicago Trib
! une.
| At = O'Clock this evening the city VA
startled by the successive reports of piato
shots in the treasurer's Office at the canitol.
policeman, breaking in the closed door
discovered Col. r. A. Aston lying on the
door with the blood pouring from q wound
In his head. and Mr.. Ed Cox lying near him
with horrible wound in his face, and Others
in his body. Treasurer Renfroe and Capt
Nelms; principal penitentiary keeper, were
leaning over Alston and helping him to rise
| The story of the tragedy that eliminated in
this scene was as follows:
Mr.. Ed Cox, who was tho assailant, was a
partner of Gen. Gordon in the convict lease.
| about which SO much has been said. When
Col. Aston was in Washington Gen. Gordon
| authorized him to sell bis interest in the
lease, as he wanted to wash his hands of the
whole matter. Cox had been trying to sell
his interest, also, and had arranged to sell it
to Mr.. Walters if he could control Gordon's
share also. Alston found it to Gordon's ad-
vantage to sell it to Mr.. Howard. Cox
tried to persuade him to sell to Walters, and
finally said he would kill him if he didn't do
it, Alston tried to avoid Cox, but was
dogged by him all day. At length Cox drew
his knife, and told Aston that he was going
to kill him.
Alston said: '*You wouldn't kill an un-
armed man, would you?''
Cox then said ''I will wait for Won to arm
YOURSELF
Alston went toward Capitol Hill, bent upon
avoiding trouble. He met Gov. Coluuitt,
who, knowing Cox's desperate character, was
very much alarmed for Alston, to whom he
was devotedly attached. He begged Alston
to go to his Office and remain while he went
to see Cox.
Alston said: "You had better le+ me get
shotgun and kill him, because I know him,
and he will kill me if don't''
He went on towards the Capitol, and pro-
cured pistol. Cox had already gone ahead
of him, and was waiting for HIM.
Aston went in a side door and avoided
him.
Cox wrote him note, asking him to come
out on the sidewalk and have it out.
Aston declined, and walked about inside
the Capitol.
Cox came in, and, seeing Prof. Moore sit
ting at desk, drew his pistoj, thinking it
was Aston. The professor turned, and Cox
went on to look for Alston.
He finally saw him 60 in the treasurer's
door, and followed him.
Aston turned as he entered, and said:
"Cox, l don't want to have any trouble with
you.''
"Come out, and let's settle it," said Cox.
III will not fight unless you force it on me- -
said Aston.
"Then I'll force it, said Cox, closing the
door.
At this Alston, seeing that fight was in
evitable, said s:Wel. then, let's settle it right
now. Are you armed?''
Without reply Cox whipped out his pis-
tol. Aston drew also, and, throwing their
pistols to level, they fired straight at each
other.
Capt. Nilms, who had run in between
them, barely escaped being shot. He tried
to catch the combatants, who were close to
each other, but failed.
Cox was struck in the mouth at the first
fire, and after that ran about the room, and
appeared to shoot at random.
Alston never left his tracks, but, pale and
stern, fired coolly, shooting Cox's pistol
hand the second shot, and shooting him
square in the throat the third time.
At length, Cox having succeeded in get
ting right up TO Aston, fired his fifth shot,
and sent ball through Alston's brain. He
had not touched him before that.
Aston fell at once, lay at full length on
the floor, and never was conscious after that
instant.
Cox threw his pistol down, staggered to
the table, fell, and said: sWe are both
killed.
Col. Aston died at ten minutes to Z.
The whole city mourns his death. No
freer hearted, nobler gentlemen ever lived,
and he had thousands OF friends. Cox's as
sault is considered murder without extenua-
ion. Col. Aston had dueling traditions all
trough his family history, but never fought
duel. He was brave to fault, but always
said he was superstitious about dying vio-
lent death, and his higher ambition was to
change the tradition that an Aston must al
ways die in his boots. He was widely and
favorably known.