The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-02-06

put they were aftor.
But, to return. The plotters looked
about for the coolest nerve, tho ouiolx
est hand, tho most deadly shot in tho
world. They found him. Charles Dick
lnson was 20 years old, and tbirteer
Years younger than Jackson, and 9
practicing lawyer in Nashville. Hr
was = marvellously handsome man
person OF exceptional mental as we'll nc
physical powers, and rcputed "the best
pistol shot in tho world" Yet ho was
willing to join in.a conspiracy to mur.
der Jackson, go forward to do tho
bloody work, ard begin operations b>
stabbing the Innocent Character Of y
woman. He ought to have been killed
this Dickinson. Dickinson slandered
Mrs. jackson. Ho did it moro than
once. jackson had IL running horse
which ran hot race on the Nashville
course. Mrs. jackson was aglow with
JOY over tho horsc's victory. AS tho
horses came down tho stretch she OK.
claimed: "Oh, hos running away from
thcm." Dickinson stood near. He
turned inSOlcntly to some friends and
said "l cs, and Il good deal like his
owner ran away with another mans
wife,"
Jackson did not challenge Dickinson
even then for almost nine months. Ho
put all his worldly affairs in order first,
for he expected to die. His hope was
to take the william who had maligncd
his angel into eternity with him. Jack
son challenged Dickinson. Dickinson
| put the meeting OF Il week to send for
Il special and celebrated pistol to XIII
jackson with. They wore appointed
to fight May 30, 1906, at Harrison's
| Mills, Logan County, Ky, u long DAYS
ride from Nashville. Dickinson was
as certain OF success as hc was of sun
risc. Ho gave the grim occasion a gala
air, and invited some friends. He saw
| 30 1T, too, that he started before Jack
son to go to Harrison's Mills. On tho
way he took occasional and accurate
cracks with his pistol at first this and
then that object. He displayed the
skill OF licnd. And these exhibitions
had Il purpose and Il malcvolcnt point,
part and parcel OF the plot to murder
, jackson. 1t was each time arrans ed
that Jackson should be informed of
these marvellous shots. Tho hope was
TO Lrcak his nerve. 1t would be rather
aStritln on ones nerves to travel all dav
10 DC shot at by an antagonist who
eVory milo left one proof that he
| could snuff candle or drive q tack at
ten PAGES.
Jackson's second was Con. Oyerton
l1e was OF serious, indomitable pn-
turc, something like Jackson, with q
s'owor pulse. Ovcrton, too, was equal
y convinced with his principal that
the whole affair was a blossoming con-
spiracy 10 murder jackson, and not a
simple duel between gentlemen over
the point Of honor. 70 Overton it was
as II Dickinson and his follows had
set a trap for the life of jackson. and
to lure him had baitcd it with the
bleeding, stabbed innocence of his
wife.
OVcrton and jackson considered and
alscusscd This meeting for months be-
lore IT occurred. They resolved to take
every advantage OF the would-be mur-
ucrcr that honor and tho law OF duols
permitted. 1t was planned to parb
jackson in Il long black coat, a world
LOO widc and big for his meagre form.
IT was SO arranged that once donned
Jackson's ramroa proportions were we'll
over In one sldc OF the coat The gar
nent bution"d to the chin, so az to
leave no white cr:tvat or collar dis
played to attract fire. The buttons,
only one row, mind you, were purpose,
| ~ placed far over on the breast where
jackson WIS not.
The men were to fight at ten PAGES
Dickinson had already told his friends
| which hutton--"thc one over Jackson.
hcart'--hc would hit. Foolish Dickin
son The call was to be "Fire One
two, three: stop" and they were t(
blaze away anywhere between "6ro'
and 'stop." Pegs wcro driven to mark
their positions.
each man stood to his peg and tn,
crisis was at hand. Dickinson was
known to pc SO quick to bring up his
pistol and fire that no ono could Cuun
MN. 1T was his expectation to Kill
jackson before the latter could even
raise his pistol after the word "Grc !,
Overt"n and his principal had argued
this also They had finally concluded
that inasmuch as the lightning-like
Dickinson was bound to fire first, t wa.
wiser for jackson 10 stand and receive
II, trusting to the buttons to lead Dick
'nSOnS ann aStr.ty. lf jackson sur
vivcd--and it was believed he wou!G
last for Il minute on two at lcast--h,
could take his time and kill Dickinson
+ like Il dog.
Ovcrtnn had tho word. "Firc
One" Dickinson's pistol came III
like 4 flash and exploded with tho frs
letter OF thc first word. He hit tn,
button and broke Two OF Jackson's rib.
with tho llattcncd bullet. Jackson
SIo''u 40 EitCI ;tiltl IllOJlOnlESS as Il DDD
} lar. He had not fired. With Il hal
cry Dickinson started back Ovcrtor
stopped counting on the instant. Cock
ing n pistol, with frown like u cloud
Ovcrton commanded him:
, step back 10 your beg, sir"
Dickinson did IT with q shuddcr. IT,
; knew he WAS to die. lie was caught
in his own trap. Ovcrton began again
to count. jackson. with a face of hin,
: and death looking from his gray ewes
, covered his man as certainly and Il,
: surely as if he had been some mani
mate target rather than shrinking hu
I man flesh and blood. "Ciick :" Jack
} sons pistol caught at hall cock. Over.
, ton paused in his count and Jackson
rccockcd his weapon. Bang ~ went
} Jackson's pistol, and Dickinson, shot
. through, died nine hours later.
+ 81 should have killed hin, il he had
shot me through the brain, said Jack
, son aftcrward.
-------@zSe ssss----
NOT a LAWrER.-EX-S Senator Cul
{ bcrs0n, of Texas, tells how he entered