The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-07
nIEaIPaIs, 1iRnAr soANpAl.
More spicy DeseIopleats Expected 4 Their
New Trial.

More Spicy Dofeiopien ats Expected y Ghere
isaNew Trial
MEMPHrs, July There is great ex-
citement In Memphis over the verdict
Of murder in the first degree found
against Colonel H. Clay King Friday
for the killing of David Il. Poston on
March 10, and in the sporting clubs bets
are freely made that Judge Greer will
succeed IN his motion for q new trial,
and that when the case again comes up
the iloodgates OF scandal will be opened
still wider and a second Jury will proba-
bly find many mitigating circumstances
upon witch to return a less severe YER
dict. These views are not held because
the verdict Of Friday has been re-
ceiyed with popular distayor. On the
contrary, as this is the first time IN the
history OF this city that any rich and
prominent citizens have been convicted
Of murder in the first degree, tits fear
ed some loophole will be found by
which the convicted man may escape
the death penalty, il not the legal con-
sequences Of his crime altogether.
There was nothing in the murderous
act OF the accused or in anything which
occurred during his trial upon which to
base such conclusions. On March 10
Colonel King took up his position in
front OF Lees cigar standon May street,
opposite Court Square, with 42-cali Ter
revolver in his hand. The streets were
throhged at the time, and many ladies
were out shopping. Colonel King
waited there in that position for some
time, and when Mr.. Poston came up he
poked the revolver into his abdomen
and with a'vile oath pulled the trigger.
From the effects OF the wound Mr..
Poston died the next day, but not be-
fore he had made calm, formal state
ment that the killing was Il cold. blooded
assassination, and his dying declaration
was borne out in every detail by eleven
eyewitness.
When arrested Colonial King had
nothing to say, but after the death OF
his victim he made a written statement,
charging Poston with having fled a bill
against HMM chancery which reflected
on his wife's honor; that he had asked
Poston to retract it, and the latter hav-
ing declined, he king killed him to
avenge his wife's honor. As the accused
had not been living with his wife for
ten years, and as the bill in question
was filed eighteen months before the
shooting, this statement had little
weight with the jury.
Both men were leading citizens and
leading members Of the Memphis bar.
Colonel King served with distinction in
the Confederate army us commander of
"King's Tigers" and was the author OF
Kings Digest OF the Naws Of Tennes-
see," which fol. q long time was q stand
ard book. The causes which led to the
shooting had their origin in lawsuit
which has become q celebrpted case.
1t was an action brought by King against
Mrs. Gideon ]. Pillow, widow OF Gideon
j. Pillow, of Fort Pillow fame. The
litigation went on for years, and grew
out of Mrs. Pillows claim to certain
Arkansas lands signed by King, but
which he claimed were never executed
SO fur as delivery was concerned, alleg-
ing that she had obtained surreptitious
possession OF them.
This opened up a great scandal, in
which it seems that King lived with
Mrs. Pillow for some years and decided
n good part of his property to her. He
wished to marry her, but the grounds
on which he promised to seek a divorce
from his wife were SO shocking that she
refused to have anything more to do
with him. Then she engaged rs her
counsel David II. Poston, and in the
course OF the long lawsuit King s enmity
changed from the woman who had Tilted
him to her counsel, with the result that
one is dead and the other condemned to
death.
There is SO much feeling over the
whole matter that ii new trial is grant
ed it will be heard at the earliest posi-
BILE moment, and further scandal, which
may lead to further tragedies, be thus
avoided as much as possible.