The Ouachita telegraph., 1882-12-16
GOV. STEPHENS PARDONS EDWARD
COX.

COX.
Especial to Tho Times -Deniocvat.l
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 11.-This after
noon at O'Clock, Gov. Alexander II.
Stephens pardoned Edward Cox, who,
| it will be remembered, killed Col.
Robert A. Alston, in the month Of
March, 1879, and was sentenced to inn
prisonment for life.
The pardon is unqualified, and
makes Cox perfectly free man from
| this date. 1t will be forwarded with
out delay to the convict camp at Dade
Coal Mines, where, since his convic-
ton in May, 1879, save a few months
in which he was incarcerated in Fulton
county Jail, Cox has been continuous
ly confined as an overscer Of convicts
at the Dade Mines.
The killing took place in the treas
ury room of the capitol building, and
was attended 10y circumstances Of the
most sensational character. The quar-
rel grew out of the convict lease cues
ton. Alston and Cox were both men
| of iron nerve, were armed for the occa-
| sion, and, after a few words, began fir
ing upon each other. Several shots
were exchanged before Aston fell NOR
tally wounded. Ed. Cox received a
terrible wound in the mouth, and when
the great crowd of intensely excited
citizens rushed upon the scene both
men lay helpless and bleeding upon
the floor. The pathetic scenes around
the death-bed of Aston, the frenzied
wrest Cox from the authorities, the
thrilling incidents of the trial, the
widespread press comments upon the
tragic happening, and the profound inl-
preston produced upon the whole
country by the most famous tragedy
ever enacted in this city, are still fresh
in the minds of the people.
The action of the Governor was not
unexpected. Cox had hundreds OF
friends throughout Georgia, and for all
these years they have worked actively
in unison with his devoted and heroic
wife to secure his freedom. The petit
! ton for pardon is a huge document,
and bears the signatures of people OF
all classes in every portion Of the State.
In addition to this ii was signed by
| 1O1 members OF the present House Of
Representatives and 80 members of the
State Senate. Gov. Stephens has becn
considering the testimony in the case
and this petition for many days.
1t was rumored this morning that
Alston, Jr., Il gallant son of the Ia
| mented Aston and his hon nored
mot her; but in conversation with your
correspondent at the Ikimball House at
3 o'clock to-day, young Aston said :
81 have Just returned from an inter
view with Gov Stephens and it is a
mistake that any of the Astons have
asked for the pardon of Cox. / am
satisfied, however that the Governor
will pardon him. The main reason
impelling him to it being, l think, the
many signatures of the legislators"
"I asked Stephens if he would hear
the counsel who prosecuted Cox upon
the matter and ne expressed his pecfect
willingness to do so. Solicitor General
Ben Hill and his associates in the case
did not appear before the Governor this
afternoon, because he gave them no
official notification, that he wished to
hear them and they Gid not wish tC
appear as volunteers against the elem
ency of the executive, and under the
circumstance, l think they acted most
properly in not making the protest
| While 1 apprehend no trouble between
the AlstOns and CoXes in the event OF
pardon being Issued, l deem it un-
fortunate that our families reside so
near each other. Cox, you know, lives
but mile and half from us; as to
Mrs. Cox, she has shown the devotion
of matchless wife during all these
gloomy years, and there has never boen
a time, since the death of my father,
that l have not been willing TO help
her in her struggle, hard one indeed
for tho support of herself and her
children, She has borno herself most
nobly, and is altogether worthy of the
sympathy and assistance which have
lavished upon her by kind friends o.
her husband" Mrs. Cox lives sever
miles below herc, in DeNalb county
and is expected to pass through the
city to morrow morning, en- route fol
the mines, whence she Will return
with her husband tomorrow night.