The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-11-15
SHOT BY HIS CLERK
CHANCELLOR AN DREW ALLISON IS
INSTANTLY KILLED.
Clerk W1itworth Shoots Him With a
Gun Loaded with Buckshot-He
Then Shoots Himself Twice With
PistoI-Financial Differences Said
to be tue Cause.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nov. 14-Of all the
many tragedies Nashville has experienced
the most appalling was perpetrated today.
Chancery Court Clerk George h. whit
worth shot and instantly killed Cbancel-
lor Andrew Allison in the upper hallway
of the court house in this city today. at
I2:45 D. M He fired both barrels of a shot
gun loaded with buckshot and about
twenty-five of the shot took effect IN the
breast and side of the chancellor, who fell
near the stairway, gasp-d once or twice
and then died. Only 0ae mau, Jos eph IL.
Acklen, saw the tragedy
The chancellor had ju-t adjourned hi
court and left the room, entered the hall
and Was about to descend the steps. Whit
worth, who WAS in the hall, said: "Oh,
Judge" aud as he turned fired at him.
Acklen ran to him and as he did so he
heard two shots behind him. Turning he
saw that Whitworth had shot himself
with a pistol. After the first firing Deputy
Clerk West ran ont from his room into the
hall and =aw Whiiworth shoot himself
the first time. BE called to him and W hit
worth told him to stand off and backed
away from him preparing 10 shoot him
self again.
West grappled with him but too late and
the second shot was bred, both TAX
ing effect in the left Dre>t. Whi'worth
was perfectly cool aud collected during
the shooting and also after the affair and
expressed no regrets but desired To know
if be had killed his man, stating that no
man WHO had treated him rs Allison had
done could live in he same country WITH
him The body of the dead chancellor was
removed to his home and Wbitworth was
taken 10 his " bitworth is still alive, but
"A 80 Il 4, =.
ed before morning.
1t was generally believed during the
afternoon that Whitworth killed the
chancellor because he refused 10 reap
point hlin. The facts larer developed do
Dol sustain this theory. From men famil-
lar with he transactions bel ween the two
it is learned that the cause of the tragedy
WAS the failure of Allison to settle or
secure Ii large sum due from him 10 Whit
wort b for money loaned, said to be about
S25 600 For some weeks efforts had been
made by Nhitworth To secure a settle
ment. without success Finally arbitrators
were appointed, Samuel j. Keith. IA promi-
nent bau ker, rrHresenting " hltworth and
r. NJ Strg-r, a leading lawyer, acting for
Allison. For some days they haa been
trying TO bring about a satisfactory settlr-
menI and todsy Nhitworth was Informed
that they cou Il accomplish nothing. The
shooting followed.
Last Sunday it was announced that
Whithworth would not succeed himself,
and 1t was feared by some that trouble
would result Immediately, hut a the days
passed and nothing happened, the entire
city was dumbfounded when the news
spread abroad that the chancellor had bren
killed by his clerk.
Chancellor Allison was about 81 years of
age and had just begun his second term OF
eight years, having been reelected in
August last.
George X. Whitworth was about 42
years of age, aud was an active Democratic
politician.