Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-03-26
Death of Col. Aston.


ton and Cox hau fought. ana one
or both were killed. In an hours
time hundreds OF people were clam
oring for the Evening Post, to see
an account of the dreadful affair.
Three editions were run of and
exhausted, giving "A column or more
of the particulars rs correctly as il
WAS possible to obtain them.
A brief resume of the affair will
place our readers in possession of
all the material facts. Col. X. \.
Aston had a power of attorney to
sell G0rdon's interest in the State
convict lease. He first conferred
with Mr.. Walters, of Burke county,
bnt Mr.. Walters could not give the
price asked-44.ODO. Therefore
Aston saw Mr.. Chess Howard, a
co.lessee, who agreed to bny at
that figure. Cox, who had snb.
lease of Gordon's interest, preferred
Walters as purchaser, because he
thought he conld sell his sub lease
to him on better terms. Yesterday
noon Aston and Cox met in bar.
Der shop, (Hutchinsons, on Main
street., and in back room Cox
was heard 10 denonnce Aston Sc.
verely, and threatened 10 kill him
If lie did not rescind the trade
with Chess Howard, which would
ruin him (Cox). Aston said he
could not do it. and stated that he
wanted no difficulty and was un.
/ armed. Cox told him to go aud
arm himself. which he did. lie re.
turned shortly to the Treasurer's
office and 10 Governor CoiQuitt'S.
He told the Governor, Treasurer
helms and others ct the whole
affair, and that he did not want II
difficulty. Meantime Cox sent Il
! message 10 him to "cOne on Ais.
ton WAS persuaded not To go. and
sent a message 10 Cox that he
/ neither wanted to Nil nor he killed,
j and that each man should attend
1 Ia his own business. The Governor
sent Mr.. Nrims, the keeper Of the
! rcniirniilry. after Cox, To ,lissnahr
him from the difficulty. but Cox,
when found, would have no words
/ with iiim. Soon thereafter Aston.
standing with Governor Colqulii.
SAW Cox approaching the capitol.
with his hand in his pocket, and
{ pointed him oHt to the Governor.
Alstou then passed ont Cox,
meantime, went into the Treasury.
and not finding Aston there, Went
ont, after first. il is said, mi>iak
ing Prot. +. Moorr for him, aud
halt draw ing his pistol before dis
ro'tiiH" his error. He s0ou sought
! the Executive Department.. Aston
meanwhile entering the Treas
nrrr's office and seated himself
, MOI finding Aston in the ENtcH
tive Department, Cox returned to
the Trcasurcr'S office, and at last
/ the two were face to face.
The quarrel WAS ~ once renewed,
/ Aston still Insisting upon no diili.
/ Guilty and Cox demanding il. ii
/ Hally Cox said ii might as well tie
then and there, and walked to the
door of the office aud closed il, in
spite of Mr.. itrntror"s contrary
command. The two men. in op,o.
/ site corners OF the room, AT once
/ began the awful battle, firing five
I shots between them. 1t is Thought
that Aston fired first. one ball
( striking Cox in the mouth. another
III the hand, third missing. CuN's
first missed. but his second shot
struck Aston fair in th, temple,
passing through the brain. Alsion
fell instantly, aud Cox staggered to
ii lounge and lay down, prp,nSch
bleeding. Col. Aston was carried
ont To a room in a nrighborinu
building, where he died shortly at
ter six y. III.
The death scene was one of the
most impressive that ever caused
human sympathy or saddcncd the
souls OF men. During the three
hours before his death there stood
around his bedside company of
anyions friends tear'ully watching
the pale face that lay above the
blood saturated linen, all earnestly
and praAcliuiiy TOPPING for some
faint cause for hope, bat finding in
the difficult breathing and an oc.
caslenal slight convulsion of the
limbs only food for appalling dies.
pair. Once only did the dying man
open aud close his eyes, and his
lips moved IN the whisper, IL am
dying TO see my Wife Mrs. Aston.
daughter and son arrived short
time after, but to the most ptiful
and heart breaking appeals of bis