The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-15

One Court Official Kills Another at
Nashville.

The Slayer Then Fires a Bullet Into His
Own Breast and Inhicts a Fatal
Wound-The Dead Man the Chancellor
of the County and Bis Slayer the Mas
ter and olerk-Politioal and Financial
Differences at the Bottom of the
Tragedy.
Nashville, Tenn. Nov. IA tragedy
which has no equal in the records of this
state occurred here shortly after noon to-
day, when Chancellor Andrew Allison of
the Davidson county chancery court. was
shot and instantly killed in the court
house by the clerk and master of the saNe
court, George *. Whitworth who imme-
diately after dispatching Chancellor Ali
son turned his weapon upon himself and
inflicted a fatal wound
Whitworth has served one term of six
years as clerk and master, and was anx-
lous TO retain the position which Is worth
10000 year. Since his incumbency of the
place, he had lived luxuriously and was
accounted wealthy But his term expired
two weeks ago and as the appointment of
his successor rested with the chancellor,
the latter appointed his son, Granville Al
hson. Whitworth has since spoken bit
terly about Allison. They had not met
since the appointment until this after
noon, when Whitworth saw Chancellor AL
Hson in corridor outside the court room
Whitworth called Allison and when the
latter turned around he found himself fac
ing double barrelled shot gun in the
hands of his late clerk and master who
pulled the trigger. emptying the contents
of one barrel into his face and chest Al
lison fell to the floor dead. Whitworth
laid the gun inside the court room door
pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired
two balls into himself, both in the breast
Until the new appointment great friend
ship had existed between the two Whit
worth was mainly instrumental in the
election of Allison, who reciprocated by
appointing Whitworth to the clerkship.
Both men were members of leading fami-
lies in this section.
Hon. Joseph H. Acklen who was with
Chancellor Allison at the time was the
only eye witness to the tragedy. Chancel-
for Allison had only few minutes before
adjourned court for dinner, and was APP
preaching the stairway leading to the floor
below when he was hailed from behind by
Whitworth. As he turned around Whit
worth fired two barrels of a shot gun into
his body, twenty two duck shot entering
his side, breast and hands. Chancellor
Allison fell to the floor, gasped once or
twice and was dead. Then setting the gun
against the wall Whitworth pulled a re-
volver from his pocket, and placing 1t
against his breast in the region of the
heart, fired. BY this time half a dozen men
We're in the hall and Deputy Clerk West
made rush for Whitworth, who was
making a desperate attempt to fire again
West grabbed the revolver, but too late to
prevent 1t exploding.
The ball entered the body and ranged
downward. The revolver was finally
wrested from the would-be suicide, and he
walked into he minute clerks office, and
lay down on desk. Half dozen doctors
We're soon on hand All the time he was
cool He asked bystanders If Allison was
dead and upon being answered In the af-
trmatiVe, begged for a pistol that he
might end his own life. Shortly after
wards he was removed to his home, where
he is slowly dying.
A coroner's jury was quickly summoned
and an inquest held over the remains of
the chancellor. The tragedy grew out Of
a financial difference between Whitworth
and Allison. The latter was elected chan
celor eight years ago and Whitworth was
his campaign manager. When two years
later, r. w. Wrenn's term as clerk and
master expired, Whitworth was appointed.
Whitworth worked very faithfully for the
denomination and reelection Of Allison.
He spent his time and money for him and
contributed more toward his re-elec tlon
than any other half dozen men Naturally.
he expected to be reappointed and when
the Announcement was made in the Amer
lean few days ago that Chancellor Ali
son had decided to appoint his son. Whit
worth was naturally very much incensed.
However he had about become reconciled
to the change and was apparently satisfied
to quit But Allison owed him money,
both as an individual and as clerk and
master and delayed the payment Of II and
this was the immediate cause of the
tragedy.
Whitworth and he had several confer
ences, and finally they left the matter to
mutual friends for arbitration This
morning the arbitrator reported to W nit
worth that Allison said ne would secure
about one-third of the debt and that he
and Whitworth would fix the balance.
This greatly incensed Whitworth who
felt that unless he got the money out of
Allison before his term of office expired
tomorrow he would never get 1t. This
worked on his feelings until he resolved
upon the tragedy. Young Allison was
to have been formally sworn in to-mor-
row, but the killing of his father loses him
the Office. The tragedy is the greatest
sensation that ever occurred in Nashville.