The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-19
i PISTOL WITH 4 HISTORY.
Tslo Record or EIoven Murders No.ched In
The Butt IsaoE Successive Owner hrests
A Violent Death.
AMERIcus, Ga, January %.

streets, in this city, looking vaguely to-
ward the setting sun, when an acquain-
tapce approached and remarked:
"Gee here, Jones, Is something with q
liistory-a thing which you have heard
of BEFORE" and he placed in my Assnds
what thirty years ago was the most noted
weapon In all Georgia-a long, rifed,
double-sigbted dueling pistol. The
weapon was single-barreled, with cock
uudsr, not above; no guard to protect
che triggers, one of which drew the cock
back and the other threw it. Upon the
market at this day OF modern improve.
ments the article would have fetched
perhaps, $1.50, but half o century ago
the pair, of which this was survivor,
had sold in London for 325. But let me
tell its history as my friend told IL to me: {:
This, you see, has tho name Of A. Pre-
yot, London, on the barrel, and was pur-
chased, with its fellow, fifty years ago,
from that manufacturer by one Sir Hugh
Cadwalader az the best dueling brace
ever manufactured in ondon. See how
fine the steel, how perfect the rifle
grooves, and yet how simply the thing
is gotten up. Cadwalader, soon after the
purchase, had occasion to use them, and
did, with effect. A lieutenant in the
army insulted him at banquet one
evening, and the baronet threw glass OF
wine in his face. A challenge followed
and Sir Hugh, being anxious to try his
new purchase, chose pistols. They met
at sunrise next day, aud the lieutenant
fell, pierced through the heart by bullet
from this weapon. Sir Hugh soon after
came to this country, and In O dimjilty
with a Scottish gentleman in Charleston,
8. O., used this pistol with fatal effect.
Sir Hugh afterward gave the brace to
his a5J0Iid iu thhe las. named. S:::Sc::a..er,
young South Carolinian by the name Of
Alston, an ancestor Of the Colonel killed
last year in Atlanta. It was not long
before Alston had occasion to use them.
While in Augusta, Ga, wealthy young
man Of that place made hoMe disreputa-
BILE remark about Alston's political party.
A quarrel eueued, and q meeting was
the consequence. Alaton was desperate.
~ wounded, but with this pistol he killed
his adversary.
We next hear Of these twin death
angels in Florida, whittier Alston carried
them. He had removed to Texas, but
had brother in Florida who wds Killed
by General Reade, rising young poll
tician of that State. On learning Of the
homicide Alston set out for the Rcene
with his trusty brace to aveBge his
brothers. blood. He arrived at night,
and found Reade at o banquet. Dis
guising himself. he gained admittlrce,
and "made att Reade with huge-knifo.
Reade rose and hurled his chair at the
intruder. L. the n,elee thet occurred
Alison dropped his pistol, and quick as
thought Reade seized Il and fired straight
at Alston's head. The latter threw up
his hand TO ward of the pistol, and the
charge tore away two Of his fingers.
The combatants were separated, the pis-
tol restore1 TO its owner, and he taken
away. A few days later, as Reade was
walking the streets with friend, ,he was
suddenly confronted by tho insat:able
,Alston, who poured load of shct into
the Generate body. Not satisfied, AIston
then drew this pistol, and, advancing to
where Reade lay, placed the inuzzle to
his temple and pulled the trigger. The
ne1t moment the brains of The incs.
brilliant young man that ever lived in
the State were scattered over tho side
walk. Alston "out did the authorities
and left for Texas scout free. Soon after
his return to that State he met an ena-
my, q DR., Stewart by name, alone on the
prairies, and, after desperate encounter,
killed him with one or the other of the
brace. Report seems to favor the idea
that it was this one. This ended Alston's
career, for he was taken from jail by
mob of Stewards friends and hanged.
and the pair OF pistols were captured by.
one Of tho mob, who soon after killed his
sbrother~in-law with one OF them for
calling him q horse-thief.
a semi bandit, knowing something of
the history of the pistols, bought them for
$l5, and during the next five years killed
no less than four man with them. He
was taken by the Sigilants and hanged.
The pistols then went to q pard Of his,
and this worthy kept them several years
without it baihg positively known that he
used .neIn TO take life. Finally no died
at che end Of rope for stealing another
rope that had horse attached to its
other end, and the pistols descended to
his son, who, leading wild, reckless life,
migrated to the east and located in Ala
bama. IT reas not long before he saw in
his town q stranger with considerable
sum Of money, and the old Mprrell taint
in. his blood prompted him to mako an
effort to get it. Watching Tho move
ments OF bia prey, he soon found out
that tho stranger was o Georgian by the
name of Brady aud ,Tould leave for home i
that afternoon That saino evening, as
the ahades of night grew dense, the inno-
cent Brady, pursuing his lonely way,
heard the thunder or hoofs behind him.
The country was wild and despiats. and
the rapidity OF the hoof.baats warned him
that there was n reckleas rider In therear.
he now regretted the exposure Of his
money in the village. and jutt he'd time
to open his, saddle -EagS ind get hold of
mn "peppelhox" revolver. On came the
horaeman and bounded into view;
second more and hewas alongside an
other second and he had with one hand
5siiE5W 1iadyA Feins, while with the other
he leyeled one Of those pistols at the
head Of his victim QuieEf es thbughti|
Brady presented his old pistol and fred.
The robbers hofse--thc finest specimen
of horse flesh Brady said he. ever Saw
and the fifiefs lost his Balance
and fell to the around In q heaD. Now
was Brady's opportunity, and STOPPING
low, he took delihegate aim and fired,
and then putting spurs sped ten miles
distant to the nearest farm. house. TO the
inmates Of which he told his story. The;
host and his sons returned with him 10
the Rpos, whore thay found tho robher
:::e--s : 's:1 s'+Iss ~ T. - rs s 9ss.
Brady brought the pistols to Georgia,
and Hoon afterward got into O difficulty
with two men Of prominence in one of she
middle count ties d NED resp activoly Allen
ard NVhitsett. TEs ,3jilHcfiIty oe strrell ne
the Court House, anu A lien attempted 10