The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-21
]. H. Ashurst Fires Fatal
Shot.
MEMBERS OF WEALTHY
FAMILY In A TRAGEDY
Slain Man Was Advancing On His
: Brother.
Unmarried Brother was Dri.taag ana
Had Threatened LIE II Msr-
chant ana -PIsaaer--Dsafh
Was Instaatanssus..

Tallassee, July 2o--(Bpeciaa) --yamss
II. Ashurst. q leading merchant and
large land owner. shot ana Instantly
killed his brother. Hin Ashurst. ~ his
store across the river from TaIlsssss,
yesterday evening a. Hill Ashurst "a.
vsnced on him in rage with Q heavy
pillow blade.
The killing was held to DO justifahis
as James Ashurst had tried TO avoid
Hin Ashurst. who had been drinking.
had been refused the /. use OF his
mothers horse. His brother James. on
account OF Hilrs condition, also refus-
ed him the loan OF his horse. Uttcrfn<
q threat, Hill seized o piow blade and
rushed at his brother. James called 70
him to stop. but as he came on fired
two shots. one OF which entered the
eye Of Hill Ashurst. He lived only
few minutes.
The men were members Of a wealthy
family--one OF the Oldest In Made
Alabama. The fatal quarrel grew out
OF the disposition of the estate Of their
father. Captain J. ". Ashurst. one of
the weaithiest and most prominent
men In this section Of the State.
Captain Ashurst, who died about
three years ago left an estate valued.
II is said. at about $4,000. Under the
terms Of the will. tt was understood
that e~large part Of the property was
to be held together for increase for
number OF years. while part 81 II was
to be Immediately divided.
Br0theEs In Latlgaftou.
James Ashurst. who had been suo-
cessful business man. and VINO waa the
Oldest son In the family. was &fven
charge of the estate. It 10 eafd fhA&
Hill Ashurst. when drinking. was in.
ciined to make trouble over the estaxs
matters.
Hill Ashurst. according TO rsporfs
When drinking he had haA frsQuans
quarrels- with his brother over the al
vision OF the property. He wAs re-
garded a. q dangerous nlkn. Some
years ago he killed Q man IN South
caroiinA.
nm AaAsrss was 4 younx man q
feet tan ana strongly bniit. James
Ashurst is OF small sufld. being Of iesx
than average height.
HaA other TFsuhIs.
Hill Ashurst was unmarried. WheA
sober he was gentlemauly and well be-
haved but when drinking ne was look.
ed upon as q dangerous man. IN addf-
etion to the killing In south carolina In
which he had part. he had been In
volved In several other difacu1ties and
troubles, which got into the courts.
James AShurst was regarded a. a
different sort OF man. He never drank
ana he was looked upon as one Of tho
most successful business men Of thia
section. He IL married and has q large
family of children. He lives at the old
Henderson home, an ante bellum place
which belonged to .his grand parents,
and which overlooked the scene Of the
killing. He Is highly esteemed and
appears TO have the sympathy Of tha
public in his trouble. He Is an aiuIn-
nus of Auburn.
The Ashurst family is probably the
best known fsnnily In this section. The
family was In Made Alabama before
Alabama became q State and since thai
time each generation has been wealthy
and prominent. For period OF twen-
ty-five years IL was said that some
member Of the family represented Tai
lapoosa County In the state Legtslas
ture.
The grandfather Of the young men
who were parties to the unfortunate
tragedy was Colonel Robert Ashursk.
a well known speaker and political
leader who was known ell over Ala
bania. Captain J. ". Aehurst. the
father OF the young men. was dlstin-
guished Confederate soldier. After ths
war, which wiped out nearly all the
family property. Captain AAhurst went
into business and was one OF the most
successful business men OF this section.
He was widely known in MontGom-
cry. to which city he made frequent
business trips and he several times
represented this County in the Legfs-
lature. The family has q large con-
nection through Middle Alabama.
Hill Ashurst Is survived by HE
mother, three brothers and several sis-
tiers. HIS remains were laid to rest
at Strickland Cemetery. near here. this
afternoou