Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-15
King EXPECTS to bc Hanged.


Col. il. Clay King, the murderer Of
David II. Poston, sentenced to be
hanged on August 18th. refused to talk
further than to say that he expected
the law to take its course, that he IA
vored no petition for commutation or
pardon, and that he is prepared to die.
He denounced the decision ofthe court,
however. as an infamous outrage and u
judicial murder.
On March 10, 1891, Col. King shot
David II. Poston on 8Iain street in
Memphis at noon. The wounded man
was removed to the private iniirmary
of Mitchell & Mauly, where he died the
following afternoon. In 1884 Col. King
was engaged as the attorney of Mrs. NJ.
f. Pillow, the widow OF Gideon i. Pill
low. known to fame as the hero OF the
Pillow massacre on the Mississippi riv-
er Mrs. Pillow was a handsome, we'll
preserved woman Of 80 when Col. hlng
met her. He was lawyer prominent
in his profession. the author of several
law books. for II years had been Attcr-
ney-General of the state Of Tennessee,
and was distinguished as a soldier, hav-
ing been the gallant cavalry leader OF
Kings cavalry during the wal Soon
Col. King found it convenient to move
his residence to Lee county, Ark,
where he owned valuable plantation,
which he leased to Mrs Pillow lie
left his family in Memphis, however,
and scandal coupled his name with
that Of Mrs. Pillow. Three years later
Mrs. Pillow moved TO Memphis. Col.
King then sent his family to the Arlan-
sas plantation, remaining in Memphis
himself and boarding with Mrs. Pillow,
to whom he rented the house out OF
which his family had moved
On the trial question as to the relaz
ton between Col. King and Mrs. Pill
low was asked, and Col. King. assum-
ing a dramatic attitude. said: on
have doubtless read David Copper
field You remember he was unh&p-
PLY married, that he loved another
with pure love, hoping when his wife
died to make her his second wife. Mrs.
Pillow was my Agnes, was her Da-
vidn
But his Agnes was afraid to trust
him. and when at her behest he trans
ferred to her all his property in Lee
county on the condition that she would
not record the transfer, she violated
her part Of the agreement by doing so.
This was the beginning Of the disagree
ment which followed The end was
that Col. King filed suit against Mrs.
Pillow asking that she be compelled
to vacate the plantation on the ground
that no consideration was given. This
suit was kept out of the newspapers
( for months, and when ut length 1t was
published il created q tremendous SEN
sation.
Following the publication Mrs. Pill
low filed q cross bill containing. among
other charges, one that Col. King had
heard stories concerning his wife from
n negro that would enable him to pro
cure divorce from her. This insult
to pure woman Col. King resented,
and this paragraph furnished the eX-
clse which led to the tragedy which
followed. Mrs Pillow had employed
David H. Poston to prosecute her suit.
On March 10, 1891, Col. King shot Eos
ton.
A correspondent accompanied the
murderer to the jail 4 few minutes
later, and asked him if he had anything
to say. He replied that he would make
statement later. The next day he
said he had shot in defense of his wife's
honor, citing the paragraph in question
in supporto his statement. In the trial
that followed the defence was self-de-
fence, proyocation and insanity. and
the strange spectacle was presented OF
4 lawyer and author whose own books
were quoted on the trial. He occupied
the witness stand for two days. success
fully battling the shrewdness of two of
the ablest criminal lawyers OF the State,
and yet his defence was insanity. The
trial lasted thirty-thrce days. and re-
suited in n conviction. The jury was
out only two hours. He appealed TO
the Supreme Court, and it was given
ont that he would argue his own case.
Attorney-Gen Pickles got wind oi
his plan of defence, and so took the
wind out of his sails that nj the last
moment Colonel King refused to speak.
Chief Justice Turney was taken Ill al
the hearing, and no decision was rem
dered for three weeks. 1t was adverse
to the prisoner on every point raised
Justice Snodgrass alone dissenting.
Although sixteen months have elapsed sincG;
the murder, public Indignation has increased
rather than diminished, and when petition
was circulated asking for q Communication tc
imprisonment for life another petition was al
once signed asking the governor not to inter
fere. The latter petition had twice as many
signerSas the other.
The four brothers of Poston came ont In 4
card setting forth that their first idea wis re-
venge: that finally, agreeing to let the law
take its course they were satisfied with the
conviction and begged all good citizens not
to ask exclusive clemency. 1t is almost GER
tain that Governor Buchanan will not inter-
fere. King does net expect 1t, the people
want to see the law cufo1ced and there IS
little doubt that Colonel kingwill be hanged
on August ID, in which case he will be the
most distinguished victim of the gallows in
this country since the case of DR.. Webster OF
Boston, over forty years ago.
Bucklen's Arnica Salve.
rT,,r D,,e,r c c,t1,, y, tbn world for CutS