The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-03-20
THE GEORGIA TRAGEDY.
SANGUINARY SHOOTING MATCH
IN THE GEORGIA sTATE,HOUsE,
Some Details Of the Career Of the Murdered
Mans

A correspondent at Atlanta, Ca gives the fol-
lowing particulars OF the fatal shooting afail
there on Tuesday last
fatal encounter took place In the Treasure RI
ofice OF the Capitol TO- O-day between Mr.. Edward
Cox and Colonel Robert A. Aston, in which Col.
onel Aston was mortally wounded and Mr.. Cox
severely II not fatally. Colonel Alston was one OF
the most prominent men In Georgia and we'll
known throughout the country especially in
Washington. He came Of the fighting Alstons OF
Carolina, family OF duelliss, every one OF whom
died with his boots on The difficulty was as fol-
lows MIR. Cox and General Gordon are partners
in the lease Of the Convcts OF Georgia but Geuer.
al Gordon was very anxious to get out of the part.
nershiD and sent Altton to Atlanta with authority
to dispose of his interest TO any one that would
take 1t. Cox, who is pesteriDg, bullying man,
with dangerous temper, met Alston here and in.
sisted on his selling GOrdOn's interest 10 ], W.
Walters who had agreed to take Cox's If he could
get Gordons. Colonel Aston said that he could
serve General Gordon better by selling to Mr..
Charles Howard, Cox then got enraged and told
Aston II he did not sell as he directed he would
kill him. Alston, who, although q thoroughly
brave man, had always had a horror of dying a
violent death, as had all his ancestors, drew away
and left Cox followed him, and finally drew a
knife on him, telling him be would kill him If he
did not trade with Walters Alston said ~ am
unarmed you would not kill defenseless man. /"
Cox told him to go and arm himself. Alston went
to the Capitol, where the Treasurer persuaded him
to stay. The Governor came In, and aoked Alstou
to step into the Tressurers office and stay there
while he would send for Cox.
Alston says:-"I know him we'll, gentlemen
and ought to take a shot gun and kill him. else
he will kill me-" As Alston went into the Trees
urer's office Cox came down a side corridor He
looked In the Governors Office as he passed. aud
seeing man who resembles Aston sitting there
drew his pistol He saw Aston lust then entering
the Treasurer's Office, and followed him. Aston
In the meantime had procured a pistol. He turn.
ed and said, want to have no trouble with Won.
Cox; I've sold that interest to Howard already, so
we needn't have fuss" Cox says, II must have
one I'm gong TO XII you" Aston expostulat.
ed, and the Treasurer and Captain Neims the
Penitentary keeper, started to interfere Cox sd.
vanced aDgrily, having first shut the door.
Aston then says, well wen have it now are
you armed p AlSton waited for an answer, but
Cox, without replying, drew his pistol, uttering
cry of rage. AlstOn whipped out his pistol at The
same moment Captain Nelms jumped between
them and caught at both the men. The two DIS.
tolls flashed simultaneously, and the close room
was filled with smoke. There were several sue.
cessiVe flashes, interference being Impossible
Alston's first ball struck Cox in the mouth and
apparently blinded him, as he wasted several
shots. Alston stood perfectly cool His second
shot tore through CoX's uplifted hand, and his
third was buried In Cox's throat. By this time
Cox haG staggered mp To Aston, and putting his
pistol almost to his head fired. AlstOn fell for.
ward instantly the ball having entered his tom.
pie Cox threw up nis hands and said: We are
both killed" The men were both carried out and
attention given them.
Alston fingered unconscious until B30 this even
Ing, his condition exciting the intensest public
Interest immense crowds hung out the doors
begging for news as TO his condition as long as he
lived, aud the whole city ia borne down with sor,
row DE failed TO recognize his wife or friends,
and died without any appearance Of pain.
Cox is In critical condition, and the public In
dignasion is very high against him.
CAREER OF THE MURDERED MAN.
Colonel Robert A. Alston, whose career has come
to such a summary and violent close, was born at
Macon, Georgia, on the S1st OF December, 1892
When he was four years Of age, his father, Colonel
Willis Aston, reno 7ed to Texas. In consequence
however, Of the death Of his brother Colonel Au.
gustus Aston, who was killed in duel with Gov.
ernor Reed Of Florida Colonel Willis AlSton some
years later removed to Florida, with the intention
Of avengiDg his sons DEATH and in q short time
he had the satisfaction OF killing Governor Reed.
The elder Aston then returned to Texas, where
he had a difficulty with DR.. Stewart, which re
suited in the death Of both parties.
Young Aston, thus thrown upon the world at
an early age, went to Charleston and became en-
gagged ss a clerk In mercantile pursuits. Here he
married Miss Mary Charlotte MaRill, the daugh.
ter Of wealthy planter, and began the study Of
law He was admitted To the bar In 1850 and soon
acquired large practice The war breaking out
shortly afterwards, he at once eHsted In the South
Carolina State army. He afterwards served under
General Morgan and was gradually promoted
from the ranks to the position Of Adiutant .Gener
al When Morgan made his famous raid into
Ohio, Colonel AlstOn was captured by the Union
forces, but was soon after exchanged and permit.
ted to return to the South.
When the war Of the Rebellion was over. Colo
mel AlstOn settled in Atlanta, Ca, where he en-
gaged In cotton planting and the practice OF law
until 1872. In that year he purchased third In
terest in the Atlanta Herald Publishing Company.
ofwhiCh he became President, and has since been
the manager Of the Herald, He sOOn became one
Of the famous Democratic politicians Of the State.
He was active and persistent In his warfare upon
the carpet baggers who controlled the St9te Gov.
ernment, In the name Of the Republican party,
for ne veral years after the close OF the war, and
organized the first Democratic State Committee
which was brought together. He was not alto.
gether an extremist, and contributed largely by
his moderate course in bringing about the recon.
ciliatiOn between the races which has marked the
recent history Of the State He called the first |
Fourth Of July meeting that was held In the South
after the war, and although only about dozen |
men responded TO the call persisted In bis course
until 1875, at Atlanta th- grandest celebration OF
the day that the city eversaw was held there The
Teetine was attended by 10000 people, and the |
principal address was delivered by Alexander H. |
Stevens.
Colonel Aston was man Of restless energy and |
untring devotion to his work whatever II might |
be He was one Of the most fluent and graceful |
stump speakers in the South, and during every |
POLITICAL campanign Oflate y ars had been one Of
the most industrious aud efficient leaders in the |
ranks Of the Southern Democrats.
The murdered man was we'll known In Wash. |
Ington, where he was a frequent visitor during |
he seasons OF the session OF Congress. He was
here as recently as last Thursday spending much
)f his time In the company Of Senator Gordon,
With whom he was on terms of close friendship.
Indeed, upon receiving the news Of AlstOn's death
senator Gordon, who Is i'll and confined to his
Dom, was greatly shocked. AS soon as he recoV
,red bis cOmposure he telegraphed to his son
Frank Gordon, In Atlanta to assure the widow of
Aston that he would be protector tO her and q |
lrOvideT fOr,her children the rest of his life