The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-06-24

John Nixon, Scotchman by birth, and
one of the most popular men in New
Orleans had been authorized to buy the
Liddell plantation and had got Mr.. Chas.
Cammack bank cashier of the city to
do it. When Liddcll began denouncins
those who who had stolen his property
| from him, Cnmmack md Nixon had
some words about the sale, A quarrel
ensucd between them in one of the
leading clubs Of the city Of which both
were members. The other club men
protested against being disturbed bv
the quarrel, and the two men went out
on the stairway. a few minutes later n
shot was heard and Nixon was found
mortally wounded. The murder arous
ed the most intense Indignation ut the
time, directed against Canmack. 1t
was shown that Nixon was unarmcd.
but as there were no actual witnesses
OF the shooting, and as Cammack assert
cd that Nixon hn ID placed, his hand in his
pocket ns if about to draw weapon, he
was acquitted. The feud thus newly
opened proved more bloody than ever,
and murders followed each other in
rapid succession. Nixon was killed on
January 8, 1870, and within the next
month both the principals in the frud
were dead, and one Of the families, that
OF the Joncscs, was swept out Of cxis-
tcnce, with the exception Of Cuthbcrt.
Mrs. Jones, who had healed the ORR
ginal difference between the factions
and patched up the peace, was nnrortu-
natcly absent in Europe ut the time, or
the rencontrcs that followed might have
been avoided. But the two sons were
with their father, having recently
Gently returned from Heidelberg, Ger
many, where they had been at college.
The elder was FL, the younger, Cuthhert,
10. Gen. Liddcll had several children,
his eldest son being rs. All the young
men on both sides were bright and
promising.
Not long after the death of Nixon,
the two Jones boys boarded the steamer
st. Mary on her downward trip to this
city, and mot some friends of their faith
er. When told that Col. Jones intended
going down to tho city on the ST. INory,
one Of these friends remarked: "For
Gods sake, don't let him do it. That
gentleman over there il Gen. Liddell.
He is in very angry state Of mind over
the loss Of his plantation. Don't let
your father go down."
The e-ycung men left the boat at tho
next landing, and hurrying up the road
met their father. Col. Jones, 80 his
sons afterwards testified. hesitatcd for a
moment, but finally insisted upon taking
the boat, rs his baggage was alrc.dy up
on it, and further because he did not
care to retreat before Liddcll's threats.
And so, with his two sons, one Or either
sidc, he marched on the st. .Nu,y and
entered the cabin.
There was no legal examination of
the ARRAY that followed, but there was
never any serious difference about the
facts. Seated at the table in the centre
OF the saloon was Gen. Liddell. He
scowlcd fercely when he saw tho
Joneses. The next minute the cabin
rang with pistol shots. Jones had drawn
his revolver and opened on Liddell, his
first shots taking effect before the latter
could get his. weapon out. When Lid
dell finally secured his pistol the two
young men were using theirs also. The
Generals weapon snapped twice while
the three Jonscs, father and sons, were
shooting at him. He fell mortally
wounded, his three assailants escaping
unhurt. AS for Cuthbert Jones's par
ticipation in the affair, it was meyer de-
MED by himself. In an interview some
weeks later he acknowledged that he
had fired at Liddcll, but always claimed
that the latter died from the first wound
inflicted by his farther's pistol.
The killing Of Liddell was followed
by the indictment Of the Joncscs for
murder. AS, however, these men were
in great favor with Republican officials
of the State, they were not confined in
the Jail with other prisoners, but allow
ed to remain under the custody of the
sheriff in comfortable residence a
short distance out OF Harrisonburg, and
were permitted great liberty. A few
days after the death Of Gen. Liddell, as
the steamer Governor Alzen was pass-
ing Harrisonburg, some one cried out,
| ''There is Col. Jones'" 1t was Col.
Jones, indeed standing on the river
bank. accopanied by one Of the shcriff's
officers. Among the passengers on the
Allen was the eldest son of Gen. Lid
dell. He heard the remark, rushed