The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-03-19

a special dispatch from Atlanta,
Georgia, TO the New York Herald
says:
A fatal encounter took place 10 the
Treasnrer's Office of the Capitol
Tuesday, between Mr.. Edward Cox
aud Col Robert Aston, in which
Col Austen was mortally wounded
and Mr. Cox severely. if not fatally.
Col Aston was one of the most
prominent men 10 Georgia, and we'll
known throughout the country, es-
pecially 10 Washington. He came Of
the lighting Aistons, of Caroline, q
family Of duelists every n Of whom
died with his boots on. The difficult
ty was a follows:
Mr.. Cox aud General Gordon are
psrsuers 10 the lease Of the convicts
Of Georgia, but General Gordon was
very anxious 10 get out Of the part
nership. aud sent Aston TO Atlanta
With authority TO dispose of his ill.,
! terest 10 any one that would take it
Cox, who is a Fostering, bullying
man, with q dangerous temper, net
Alston here and Insisted on his sell
ing Gordon's interest to j w. Wal
tiers, who had agreed to take Cox's if
be couli get G,rdou's. Col. Alison
said that be could serve Gen. Gordon
better By selling TO Mr.. Charles How
ard. Cox then got enraged aud told
Aston if be did not sell as be direct
ed be would kill him. Aston, who.
although a thoroughly brave man.
has q Always bad q horror OF dying q
violent death. rs had all his ances
tors, drew away and left Cox fol-
lowed him. aud finally drew a knife
Cd him, telling him he would kill him
if De did not trade With Walters. Al
ston said
Il am unarmei ; you would not
kill u d~steucelsss man.
Cox told him to 60 and arm him.
self. Alston went to the Capitol,
where Lhe Treasurer persuaded him
10 stay. The Governor came in, aud
asked Aston to step'into the Teeasu-
rer's uiiice aud stay there while be
would send for Cox.
AlsloI said: al ka)w him well,
gentlemen, aad | ought to take q
rhot-gun aud kill hiui, else be viii.
slll me" As Aston went into the
Trea-urer's office Cox came down a
side Corridor. He looked In the Gov
~ernJr's ofbce as he passed, aud seeing
u man who resembled Aston sitting
there, drew bis pistol lie saw Ais
Ton just then enSeriug the Treasprer's
fEce, aud followed biu AlsIoD, 10
ine %nleantime, had procured a pistol
He turned ana said
q want TO have no trouble With
YOU, Cox I've sold that interest TO
Howard already, So we needa't have
a fGss.h
Cox says; II must have one. Pm
going TO kill you" Aston expostu-
Laced, aud the Treasurer and Captain
Neims, the ~penitenliary keeper, start
ed to interfere Cox advanced an-
grily, having hrst shut the door.
PISTOLS Al SHORT RANGE.
Aston then says
We'll, we'll have il now ; are you
armed 2" Aston waited tor an an
swer, but Cox, without replying.
drew his pistol, uItering a cry OF
rage. Aston whipped out his pistol
at the same moment. Captain Nelms
Jumped between them, and caught at
botn the men. The two pistols fash
ed simultaneously, and the eiose
room was BIlea with smoke. There
we're several successive flashes. H.
reference being Impossible. Alston's
first ball struck G X 10 the mouth,
aud apparently blinded bin, as g
wasted several shots. Aston sto, q
perfectly cool His second shot tore
through CoX's uplIfled hand, and bis
tnird was buried in Cux's throat
By this lime Cox had staggered up
90 Aston, and, putting his pistol al
most to bis head, fred Aston fell
forward Instantly, the bali having
entered his temple. Cox threw up
his hands, aud said;
I'VE srs both killed.
the men were both carried out
aud attention given 10 them.
Aston fingered unconscious until
half past six last evening, his condl'
tion exciting the ~luteusest public in
} teresI. Immense crowds hung about
the doors begging for news as to bis
condition as long as be lived, and The
whole city is borne down with sor
, row. He failed to recognize his wife
: or friends, and died without any ap.
pearance of pain.
Cox is ia a critical condition, aud
the pabsic Indignation is very high
against him.
1t is said of Aston that be had
|, many previous similar difficulties in
; his life, and that be had q present..
neGt that be was to die suddenly by
3 the bullet 10 q personal eneognser, as
: had his father before lin. In fact,
! his family history ihcludes a bloody
vendetta. His uncle, Augustus AIS
ton, fought o dpel 10 Florida With ri
aes many years ego, apd was killed
; by bis adversary, 9 Dear-sighted man,
named Reed. His father, Willis
Aston, met this mau Reed in the
streets Of Columbus, Ga. subsequent
lily, and ki,.e5 him. Reeds brother
nov took up the quarrel. sDa meeting
Willis Alst6n in Texas, one day, sb6l
and killed him.