The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-14
THE CODE IN GEORGIA
FEUDs AND DUELs THAT MAKE A
DARK PAGE IN HISTORY.
The Fighting Alstons, and Dramatic
Exploits In which Their Weap-
ons Figured-Convict System.
Louisville courier-Journal.


1t was during the military governorship
of General Thomas H Ruger, in 1855, that
the convicts of Georgia were first farmed
out. The leading lessee at that time was
Chief Justice Joseph E. Brown, who had
served four terms as Governor OF Georgia,
and who afterward served two terms in
the United States Senate. 1t may well be
ina gined that the convict lease system
placed upon the State by military arm of
the United States, in which the beneficiaries
were leaders in the Democratic party, was
beyond the criticism OF ordinary people and
that it would require q brave man to raise
his voice against It.
This man, however, came to the front IN
the Georgia Legislature in 1874 in the person
OF Colonel Robert A. Aston, who in his
place charged upon the system the vilest
crimes and abuses and raised such howl
that it set the lessees by the ears and
threatened for a time to break up the en-
tire system. The enemies which Colonel
Aston made by this fierce denunciation fol-
lowed him until they finally brought him
to his death IN a manner tragic it
was sensational.
One OF the men who was strongly at
tached to General Gordon was Captain Ed
Cox. Cox was bluff, hearty, ready-fingered
man-one whose friendship was without
: limit, but whose readiness to avenge an In
suit or to resent slight made him consid-
cred dangerous. Between Colonel Aston
and Cox there arose feud which the public
never understood at the time or since. There
came day when both men met at Atlanta
armed to the teeth. and yet each pursu-
ing diplomatic avoidance Of the other.
They would pass on the opposite sides OF
the street. or perhaps enter the same build
ing by opposite doors, but so evident was
the danger of a tragedy during the day that
prominent citizens became aware OF II, and,
instead of placing the parties under arrest,
watched their proceedings with curious in
terest.
II was well toward evening when the
two men met suddenly in Governor Col
quits office in the State Capitol, and with
out word pistols were raised and the
of Colonel Aston. and the supposed mortal
wounding OF Captain Cox. The tragedy, oc-
or with an all is the statehouse ocers called to
the spot by the firing, was a scene the
equal of which was never before witnessed
in this or any other State.
In time Captain Cox recovered, was tried
and convicted, with a recommendation to
mercy, which saved his neck and gave him
a life sentence in the penitentiary Gloomy,
indeed, did his future seem to be, for the
Governor was the ardent friend of his VIC
tim. as was also the late Henry w. Grady.
fluences which controlled the politics Of the
State.
The unexpected entrance Of Vice Presi-
dent Alexander H. Stephens. OF the late
Southern Confederacy. into the campaign
for the governorship OF the State upset most
of the alliances which had hitherto con-
trolled affairs, and his election brought hope
into the prison of Captain Cox Governor
ouxiOt 70 cat ei
ture of Mr.. Grady to the petition for Cox's
pardon. A local political leader undertook
to secure it, succeeding in obtaining it just
as such signatures usually are added, for
Mr. Grady Immediately sent word to Gov
ernor Stephens that he had signed the paper
through an accommodation to his friend.
and not that he really wanted the pardon
granted. The message came too late. how
ever, for Mr.. Stephens hetd Mr.. Grady to
his written signature rather than his verbal
message and Captain Cox became free
man.
This Captain Cox, by strange fate, has
been for nearly three years superintendent
of the very prison in which he was once
a convict, and the many grave charges
against the treatment of the convdcts are
placed at his door. He established a punish
ment known as ducking the prisoners, and
was accused of belittling their efforts at re-
ligious exercises, referring to their devo-
tiOns as prayers to wooden gods. 1t was
highly sensational moment when this man
was brought before Governor Atkinson and
his court to answer to the charges thus
made. His answer began:
How could 1 do such things when 1 was
once a convict myself?"
There was a difference Of opinion as to
the full truth OF all that was told before
Governor Atkinson, but one thing is certain,
and that the convict lease system Is doomed.
The appearance of Captain Cox after
having passed under the shadow of death
exercising the supreme control over the
prisonhouse in which he once served with
out q ray of hope for the future recalls in
terest in the sad tragedy which began with
makes the whole story read more like ro
nance than reality. Colonel Robert A. Ais
ston belonged to remarkable ,s sIhtin FAMILY IN
stons of Halifax. IL has been for half a
century a tradition in the family that ITS
men died with their boots on; for genera
tion after generation this has proved true.
ious strain of blood is interviewer with the
at the dropping of hat and a slight move
of the pistol finger was the answer TO an in
suit or an insinuation-the close OF all arguf
ment
The Alstons were gallant men of gentle
blood and unusually large fortunes. They
were free livers and ueter.y reckless fght-
ficulties that drained their estates with
costs and forfetures. Probably the best
known OF them G0,0nei On @ Sen nda sfon had hia
antagonist every time he went on the field.
He was an impetuous, imperious man, and
was as cool under fire as he would be in
his own drawing room. His most notable
duel was with the great Hayne, OF Carolina
whom he wounded in the knee. On one oc-
casion he was visiting in Augusta when a
gentleman, mistaking him for an acquainl>
ance, tapped him across the shoulders light.
ly with riding whip Aston wheeled as
quick as lightning. The gentleman apollo
gized in the most ample terms. Aston took
the whip from his hands lashed him across
the shoulders and said: Now, sir, your
apology is accepted" OF course, O. meeting
followed 1t is said that Aston once fought
a gentleman who disputed the age of some
wine of which Aston had been boasting,
throwing some Of the wine in his face that
he might get the full flavor.
ALSTON CHARACTERISTICS.
The Halifax Alstons' estate lay about
Halifax, b. c., and they dominated that
whole section for years. They were enor-
mously wealthy, and travelled from one OF
their estates to another in almost regal style
They had hundreds of slaves. and always
Travelled with a coach and four and small
army of retainers. The men were princely
in their habits of expense, and put the code
above the Bible. The women were high
strung and spirited.
Colonel William Aston, known as Hon
est Willie Aiston," fought a dozen dueis
in one winter, numberless quarrels having
sprung up from his attack the State