Litchfield enquirer., 1879-03-27
WHOLE NO. 2755
DIED WITH HIS BOOTS ON.
THE END OF MEMBER OF A FAMOUS DUEL LING FAMILY.

THE END OF A MEMBER OF A FAMOUS DUEL
 LING FAMILY.
 ATLANTA, March 12-Never before since the war has this busy city been so much affect ed as by the killing of Col. R. A. Aston, yes terday The Colonel belonged to one of the oldest families of the South, a member of which married Theodosia, the petted child of Aaron Burr, and made worthy husband for the daughter of that fa mous and eccentric statesman. The Alstons have been noted duellists. and it is said that not male member of the house for several generations has died natural death. Bob Alston as he was fatniliarly called, though courageous man, was not bully, nor dld he court encounters that were likely to call for the use of deadly weapons. He was a gentleman of the old school. The fate of his forefathers seemed to have impressed him profoundly; and, while no one questioned his courage, he seldom erinever carried pistol. sa-.. -. During the late war Bob Aston served as Lieutenant-C Colonel of cavalry, and distinguish ed himself by valiant and faithful service. Af- I ter the war he was an intimate friend and counsellor of General (now Senater) Gordon, 1 and Senator Gordon has been partner of Ed ward Cox in the lease of convicts from the | State of Georgia. Cox was the reverse of AL ston. He was type of the Southern bully | man of some social position, but with tenn per which indulgence had made uncontrolla- able.
 Gen. Gordon has lately been desirous of giv- l ing up his connection with convict labor for several reasons, the two most potent of which were the unpopularity of that kind of labor among the industrial classes of the State and the country, and the fact that scandals had grown out of the management of previous | lAyof rnu oNfhnFIfv to Col Aston ts sell his interest in the lease to any one who would buy it. Cox had arranged | to sell his interest to MT. Walters, provided | Mr. Walters could obtain Gen. Gordon's share also. Col Aston found himself able to sell Gordon's interest more eadvantageously toa MT. Howard. Col Aston met Cox and told him that he was about to sell to Howard. This enraged Cox, who said that he would kill As ten if the latter should not sell to Walters. Aston, who was unarmed, and who desired to | avoid murderous row, evaded further talk, went off and sold the interest to Howard Cox dogged Aston all day, and and at ] length overlook him, and drew knife and 1 said that he intended to kill him. Aston said: ''You wouldn't kill an unarm- ed man, would you?"
 Cox then said l. Il willw for you to arm yourself"
 Aston went towards Ahe Capitol still bent upon avoiding trouble. He met Gov. Colquitt, who, knowing Cox as desperado, was very much alarmed for Alston to whom he was de- yotedly attached He begged Aston to go to his office and remain while he went to see Cox.
 Aston said: "You had better let me get q shotgun and kill him, because 1 know him, and he will kill me if don't"
 Aston went on towards the Capitol, and pro- cured pistol. Cox had already gene ahead of him, and was waiting for him. Aston went in at side door, and avoided him. Cox wrote | note asking Aston to come out on the side | walk and have it out. Aston declined, and walked about inside the Capitol. Cox entered, and seeing Prof. Moore sitting at desk, drew his pistol, thinking it was Aston. The Pro- lessor turned, and Cex went on to look for Aston. He finally saw him go in at the | Treasurer's door, and followed him. | Aston turned as he entered, and said, Cox, don't want to have any trouble with you
 ''COme cut and let's settle it," said Cox.
 '1 will not fight you, unless you force it on me-" said Aston.
 ''Then I'll force it," said Cox, closing the | door
 At this Aston, seeing that fight was inev- itabe, said, ''Well, then, let's settle right now. Are you armed ?"
 Without reply Cox whipped out his pistol Aston drew also, and, throwing their pistols | to a level, they fired straight at each other. l Capt. Nims, who had run in between them, barely escaped being shot, He tried to catch the combatants, who were close to each other, | but failed.
 l Cox was struck in the mouth at the first fire, and after that he ran about at random. As ton did not step from 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, hav- ing succeeded in getting right up to Aston, fired his fifth shot. and sent aball through Als- tons brain. He had not touched him before l that.
 Aston fell and lay at full length on the floor, unconscious from that instant. Cox threw his pistol down, staggered to the table, l and fell and said ''We are both killed" Col Aston died at ten minutes to 7. Cox's wounds are not considered mortal, and to-day he was taken to jail to await trial the Coro- ner's jury having found that the murder of Aston was 'willful and preneditated"
 The whole city is mourning for Col. Aston. Cox, who is not expected to live, is every where execrated as deliberate murderer. It is said that Col. Aston was anxious to change the old tradition that an Aston, like Douglas, | never died in his bed. His uncle Augustus Aston, fought duel with rifles in Florida many years ago, and was killed by one Reed. Willis Aston, the father of Col. Aston, met Reed in the street in Columbus, Ga., and kill ed him, and Reeds brother subsequently, killed | Willis Aston in Texas.-SaLD.