Year: 1871

From the Press and Herald cf the 29th.l


The fearful tragedy Of Wednesday
evening, was the subject of universal
comment among our citizens, yester-
day. Men talked with each other of
the terrible atfray and regretted its Oc-
currence. Though neither Of the ac-
tors were residents III our community,
and the subject of their quarrel was a
personal difference, yet il was felt that
the odium of the homicide would be
reflected upon Knoxville, and that the
failure of the authorities to promptly
arrest the murderer, was stigma up
on the fair fame of our city.


Though the dead man la been a
General in the Confederate service, and
his slayer a Colonel in the Federal ar
my, men felt relieved to know that pol
itics had nothing to do with the matter,
and the tragedy was not a repetition OF
the scenes of five and six years ago.


Those who had come to our city from
Chattanooga, to take part in the pro-
ceedIngs in the United States Court,
in the case of the Alabama d Chatta-
nooga Railroad. felt relieved when the
CorOner's inquest developed the fact
that nothing that had transpired in
connection with that case had anything
to do with bringing on the fatal diff
Guilty.


Yet while these various classes OF
our community found cause to con-
gratulate each other, the bitter fact re-
mains, that the deed was done in open
daylight, in the presence of a dozen
witnesses and the pcrpetrator allowed
to escape,


Many different accounts were in cir
culation Wednesday evening, of the
manner in which the tragedy occurred
and during the excitement II was inn
possible to arrive at a correct version
of the affair. During yesterday, how
ever, we made every effort, by hearing
the statements of different witnesses
of the tragedy, to arrive at a correct
account OF the bloody deed and give
the following as being as near the true
one as it is possible to obtain.
When Clanton and Nelson We're in
trOduced, on the sidewalk, on the north
side of Cumberland above Gay street,
Clanton, after the interchange of few
pleasant greetings, remarked that he
"had now got through his law busi-
| ness and was ready TO see the town"
Nelson said: II can take you where
there is something very nice If you are
not afraid.n


Clanton said pleasantly: "Do | look
as if | was afraid"


Nelson replied: 4 DO not know
| whether you are or not"


Gen. Clanton replied: 81 am not
afraid Of anything or any man."
Nelson again repeated: Il do not
=. I..-f l,oN or N nf n a
manner which ClantOn seemed to think
| insulting and he retoTted:


"If you think | am, try me, name
your friend, time and place, any tiHe
or any place" ~


time and place is as good as any. Take
your stand"


This conversation took place on the
sidewalk, in the presence of six OF
eight gentlemen, both parties talking
rather loudly. Nelson had his hand
| in his right side pants pocket.
After Nelson made the last remark,
above quoted, Clanton stepped cat in
to the street. Facing toward the side
walk, he said to Mr.. Fort. "Step of
the ground for your friend"
In the meantime, Nelson ran into
| the St. Nicholas Saloon and tried to
! borrow a pistol from gentleman then
| in there. He had nothing of the sort
and said so. Nelson then said 20 an
other gentleman: Il want my gun


where is it?n He was informed that


he could not get his gun-it was in the
office of one of the stores on Gay St,


the rear of which opens into an enclos'


ed yard, used in common by several
Nelson dashed away from the gentle
man. however. got into the store and
demanded again that his gun be brought
TO him. He was told that he coulo
not get it, but seeing il in one corner


where it had probably been standing