Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-06-12
OLD TIMES RECALLED.
Col. Kings ProDert

Col. Kings Property Is Restored to Him.
The Supreme Court of Tennessee has
rendered decision in one OF the most
sensational cases ever tried in this coun-
try, and in which murder played an i'm
portant part. 1t was from the chancery
docket, and was that of H. Clay King VS..
Mary L. Pillow. King is the author OF
"king's Digest Of Tennessee" and has a
reputation throughout the South fol
brlliancy as lawyer and courage as
soldier. he fitted out a company of cav.
airy for the ConfederateS during the
war; mounting his men on horses bred
by himself in Kentucky He fought his
way to the command of a regiment and
"Clay Kings Tigers" made name as the
most desperate regiment of cavalry in
the West, not even excepting Forests
troopers. King is now in jail on charge
OF murder. Mary E. Pillow is the
widow of General Gideon j. Pillow,
of Mexican war and civil war fame,
and woman of rare qualities
of mind and person. She and King
formed liaison about ten years ago,
and occupied the King manor house,
about forty miles from Memphis. The
partnership was alleged to be purely
business affair, but Mrs. Grundy said
otherwise. 1t was an open secret that
King was very much in love with Mrs
Pillow, and about three years ago he fled
bill in chancery asking the court to
divorce him from his own wife, stating
as a reason that he wanted to marry
Mrs. Pillow. The bill never saw the
light at that time, for King withdrew it
before the newspapers got hold of it.
A short time later Mrs. Pillow filed
deeds from Colonel King giving her all
of his property-plantation in Arkan.
sas and real estate in Memphis-in con-
sideration of his having home under
her roof during his life. Still there was
no scandal, but finally the fair widow
ousted the Colonel from the plantation.
He then filed bill against her in chan
Gerry reciting that she had swindled him
out of his estate. The widow came back
at him with a voluminous cross bill
charging him with robbing her and try
ing to force her to live with him. He
responded with an answer containing
stack of love letters from
Mrs Pillow to himself The case
was tried last fall, and King won it.
The affair was supposed to be settled
but it was not. for on the 22d day of last
March King met Mrs. Pillows attorney,
DaVld ii. POSten, on MAIN street and shot
him without word of warning. Poster
died the next day. On account of the
prominence of the murderer and his
victim the tragedy created intense ex-
element. Posten was very popular
with brother lawyers and King is de-
cidedly unpopular, consequently he has
found it necessary employ nonresident
lawyers to assist in defending him.
The Supreme Court has now rendered
decision in the suit of King VS.. Pillow,
affirming the Chancellor's decree This
puts King in a better shape financially
to fight for his life in the Criminal Court
than he would otherwise have been, but
public feeling against him is very strong,
and unless he dies in Jail, which is not
unlikely, as he is Is years old, he will
probably be found guilty Of murder.
His counsel have endeavored to get q
change Of venue, but failed.