Year: 1871

Bells stables, was introduced to Col Nelson by
Tomlison Fort, Esq, and upon the invitation of
Col. Nelson the party proceeded toward the ST.
Nicholas saloon to drink. -#


THE DIFFICULTY.


Immediately after being INTRODUCED, Messrs.
Nelson and Clanton began a conversation and
continued it while walking towards the saloon.
Nelson remarked to Clanton that he could take
him to visit a certain place in the city, if he
Clanton, was not afraid to 60 ClantOn seemed
to misunderstood Nelson, as he asked him sew
eral times what he meant by his being afraid.
Nelson said he did not know According to
the testimony of Col. Fort, Clanton then
remarked that if Nelson thought he was afraid
he might pick his ground and they would
settle it then and there. ClantOn then stepped
into the middle of Cumberland street, looking
towards the st. Nicholas saloon, which by this
to measure off the ground which he declined
doing, at the same time telling Clanton that
Nelson was drunk and he ought not to mind
hm.---During these efforts of Fort, Nelson ran
into the saloon and was gone a minute or so
where, no one positively knows. When next
with double barreed shot gun in his
hand ready to be raised to an aiming position.


S READY TO SHOOT


On seeing this Fort left Olanton in the middle
of the street. out of the way of the terrible
weapon. Just here we take up the statement of
q very prominent citizen who witnessed the
killing from his window in the Lamar House.
He says as Nelson came out of the saloon he
saw Clanton in the street stamping down his
foot and saying "he told me to take my posi-
ton, and | am here" Then attracted by the
noise of the saloon door he looked over there
and saw Nelson aiming his gun against the avn
ing post. Nelson fired the first shot. Clanton
saw him coming out and drew his pistol and
fred Immediately after Nelson. Nelson still
resting his gun against the awning deliberately
fired a second shot, which took effect about
the right shoulder, which he had turned to-
wards Nelson preparing to return the first fire.


HIS DEATH


Clanton dropped down slowly, and as he fell
over remarked to a colored boy, the first to get
to him. take my hat and pistol have done
all | canu He lived but few minutes. as will
readily be understood when it was found by the
surgeons that there were twenty wounds, some
fifteen to eighteen shot or slugs entering his
chest Nelson ran back into the saloon with
the gun, and in the excitement made his escape
going from the back of the saloon through a
store to Gay street. thence--no one knows
where.


Gen. Clanton was taken into the Lamar House
dead.


..s-r-.-.--. THE EVIDENCE.


The evidence before the Coroner's jury show
ed that when Nelson came out with the gun,
| Cianton had not drawn his weapon but was evil
IDENTIFY waiting for Nelson to take his place and
| give nm some chance before shooting, #
~Ihls evidence bears upon itself sufficient
comments. There is nothing we could say half
as severe as the plain facts sworn to bv the wit
nesses. Nelson had been drinking freely dur
ing the day. and was very much Under the in
fuence OF ilquor at the time of the murder.
ENTIRELY PERSONAL.


AS we said at the beginning, this Nm nfortunate
! affair occurring here between two narCorS NOT
residents of our city is amented by ali omr citi.
zens. 1t can safely be said of this case that
it was not in aug respect, political nre;rd;-
ces that brought about the sad tragedy Col
| Nelson has. been for some years Prominently
Clanton and there was, therefore, no such nro.
vocation. f. . ...5, Ptto-
Gen. Clanton had made many warm friends