The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-10
COLONEL KINGS LIFE SAVED.

Governor Buchanan C0mmutes the sem
tence Of tho Convicted Lawyer.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Aug. Ex-Governor
Buchanan. in Nashville this evening,
commuted the sentence of Colonel H. Clay
King, who was to have been hanged next
Friday for the murder of David H. Poston
on March 10, 1891. on the public streets in
this city. The usual pressure was brought
to bear upon the governor for the past few
days. Senator Harrison, and other lead
ing politicians. made several calls upon
him, and succeeded in securing the desired
Communication. The prisoner heard the
news with but little interest.
tColonel II. Clay King had been tried, found
guilty and sentenced to bo hanged for the muir.
der OF David H.. Poston. on the morning of
March 10, 1891. The trial ended on July 8, and
the time of execution was fixed for November 8,
1891 An appeal was taken to the supreme
court, which rendered q decision affirming the
proceedings and sentence of the lower court,
and Colonel King was resentsnced, the day on
which he was to be hanged being fixed for
August Il, next Friday.
Colonel King was brave man and an able
lawyer. During the war ne was the colonel OF
akentucky cavalry regiment and fought till the
surrender at Appomattox. After the war he
went to Memphis and soon built up q lucrative
practice, chiefly among Italians. His contribu-
-
most valuable one. "King's Digest and Amend
ments" Is regarded as standard authority in all
law Libraries. If he il executed the execution
will be one OF the most noted OF the past century.
He Is q magnificent specimen of humanity.
Everything went well with Colonel King until
be was given charge of the affairs OF the beauti-
full and accomplished widow of the late Gen.
eral Gideon J. Pillow. He was employed to rep
resent her and her two daughters in the settle
ment OF the estate. In the depth of his in
fatuatiOn for Mrs. Pillow he utterly forgot
The attachments of his own home In the direc-
ton of the Pillow affairs he went to his planta-
ton near Helena, Ark, accompanied by Mrs.
Pillow. What transpired there the world will
never know, but suffice it to say that Colonel
King made deed Of all his property in Men,
phis and elsewhere in fee simple to the widow.
After the trip to the Helena plantation, King
alleges Mrs. Pillow placed these deeds on record
In violation of q secret arrangement, whereupon
Colonel King, having had q breach with her,
filed a bill in the chancery court at Memphis to
cancel the deeds by reason Of the premature
ney for the Memphis Charles
ton Railroad Company, was employed
by Mrs. Pillow to defend her case. On the
morning of March 10, 1891, Mr.. Poston was
walking hurriedly along south Main street,
Memphis, and just a. he was lifting his
hat to lady seated in passing carriage, Col
onel King ran out from an alleyway, and, plac.
ing the muzzle OF q revolver against Postons
body, fred, wounding him 30 that he died on
the evening of March Is.
Kings allegation in defense of this act was
that Poston at some point In the trial had taken
proof which reflected upon Mrs. King. The
record, however, discloses no such reflection,
and the shooting was consequently considered
most FOUL