The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-03-18

>'snr' ".s.'-
answer, and Governor Colquitt cannot
but feel himself in some degree re-
sponsiblc for the bloody tragedy.
The shooting occurred in the State
trcasurcr's Office, whittier Cox had
hunted Aston down. AS he entered
Aston said, 81 do not wish to kill
you or to be killed by you. Can we
not settle dis" CoN's reply was, 81
will force you to fight" and then
after further parlcy he deliberately
closed and locked the door of the
small room, only about fourteen feet
square. Grcvously insulLcd, and
pushed to the wall, Aston could con-
troll himself no longer. lie accepted
the gage, and drew his pistol. a
gentleman named Nclms rushed be-
tween the combatants, and while he
had hand Oh each, they fired stimuli
tancously, and the fusilado began.
CoX's first shot missed, and his pistol
refused to shoot. While he was ell
dcavoring to discharge it, Alston
fired five times, striking his antagonist
i'll the mouth and in the hand and
piercing the breast Of his coat. His
pistol being cmptied, Cox took de-
libcratc aim and shot him through the
temple, intlicting q mortal wound.
The whole circumstances attending
the affair stamp it as cold-bloodcd
murder, the sole cause being Alston's
refusal to sell Gordon's pcnitcntiary
lease to man that had promised to
purcl llasc CoX's interest also, and vet
had refused to take Gordon's lease
when Alston had offered it to him.
The affair has created intense feeling.
The coroncr's jury brought in Il ycr-
dict of wilful murder.
Colonel Aston was Of the South
Carolina family, though born in Gcor-
gia. lie lived many years in Charles
ton, where he acted rs second for
Magrath in the duel with Tubcr. In
all other ducls he acted as peace
maker. Ilc was dashiny scout
under Morgan, and was reckless Of
danger, though his friends say he had
the tender heart OF Il woman. Many
members Of his family had died
violent deaths. His father was killed
III duel. An uncle killed man i'll
Texas and was lynchcd by mob, and
Colonel Aston often expressed q
dread that he would "dic with his
boots on" On the day he died a
friend standing by, remembering the
dying mans expression, tcnderly re-
moved his boots from his feet, that
the lorcboding might not be literally
fulfilled. This unfortunate affair has
| renewed the discussion about the
rcprchcnsiblc habit Of carrying con-
ccalcd weapons. Heretofore the law
against this has been dead letter,
but it may hereafter be enforced in
some sections at least. So long as
one man is known to carry pistol,
any other person who anticipates Il
difficulty with him is compelled to
resort to the same practice in self
defence. The present law should be
enforced. In addition an act should
be passed making the killing Of a per-
son with pistol, 2,rima .tucic evidence
of manslaughtcr; or else to intlict
imprisonment in the pcnitcntiary on
any person who kills another with Il
pistol, whether accidentally or not.
In some communities every man
carries his life in his own hand, and
while this county is an exception to
that rule, there arc nevertheless too
many pistols carried around careless.
ly, and destined to cause the death OF
human being, either in a heated
alteration or fit Of carclcssncss. II
a reform be effected in this respect
tho murder Of Colonel Aston will not
have been without good results.