At 11:30 o'clock yesterday morning David H. Poston was shot by H. Clay King on Main street, between Madison and Court. The assailant was waiting for his victim and on his approach drew a 45-caliber Colt from the folds of his overcoat, placed it within three feet of Poston's abdomen and pulled the trigger. He was immediately arrested and taken to the County Jail. The wounded man was at once conveyed by friends to Mooney's restaurant, and from there was taken to Dr. Maury's Infirmary on Court street. After making an ante-mortem statement, he was placed under the influence of opiates and an operation was performed to determine the exact nature of the injury. Upon opening the abdomen it was found that the lower intestines had been perforated six times. These were removed, and with all that medical skill could do to save the unfortunate man's life ended. At 6 o'clock Mr. Poston was breathing very heavily, his pulse was 120, and there was a blue look in his face that told how slender was the thread of life. Until 11 o'clock there was but little change in his condition, but what there was was for the worse. Then he commenced to breathe with more difficulty and his pulse increased. Shortly after midnight there was a slight change for the better and the wounded man was resting easy, and it was thought he would live through the night. At 3 o'clock this morning the wounded man was in no pain, but was gradually getting weaker. There was no fever, but the pulse was 130. (Published in the Memphis Daily Commercial, March 11, 1891)

HOW THE SHOT WAS FIRED - Without a moment's warning, H. Clay King walked up to David Poston, who was walking leisurely down Main street and had arrived at a point just below the alley, adjoining S.L. Lee's cigar store, at 275 Main street, and drawing a revolver, placed it directly against the right side of the abdomen, and fired a shot, accompanied by the words, "You --- -- - -----, I've got you now." Poston started back, turning completely around, and going south, attempted to get away from his assailant, moving about fifteen to twenty feet. He cried for help, saying that he was mortally wounded, and three or four friends rushing to his assistance, he fell back unconscious in their arms. He was carried into Mooney's restaurant and the proprietor ordered the door closed at once, permitting none but privileged ones to enter. All the suffering man could or would say was in the line of direction to the physician in charge, except at the moment he was shot when he cried: "Oh, my God! some one help me somewhere, the man has killed me!" After half an hour's rest in Mooney's restaurant, Poston was taken to the infirmary at 111 Court street, where an operation was immediately performed. The small intestines were removed and revealed the fact that there were six holes perforating this one section. The ball had entered the abdomen at the right of the navel and passed clear through the body, making its exit above the left hip. As soon as the shooting occurred a crowd gathered, and Deputy Sheriff C.T. Smith, who was standing at the corner of the alley on Madison street between Union and Second, and who hurried to the spot on hearing the shot fired, took King into custody. As he started away with him, the officer was requested by the prisoner to leave his pistol in his pocket, as the latter feared personal violence. This request was granted, although Smith kept his hand on the revolver, which was in King's overcoat pocket. Before they had moved far from the spot Detective Wolff accosted King, announcing that he was an officer and desired to know if the prisoner had a revolver on him. "For God's sake let me keep it with me until I reach the jail. I want to keep some sort of protection," said King. The pistol was left in his pocket until the jail was reached, when it was taken out and delivered to Jailer Williams. Shortly after arriving at the jail and being placed in the cell, King was visited by his wife and a man named Jones, the latter attempting to smuggle the prisoner a bottle of whisky. This was headed off by Jailer Williams, and he refused to let any liquor enter the prisoner's cell at the earnest request of Mrs. King. Several times did King ask for liquor, but each time he was refused, being informed that it was against the rules of the prison. About 4 o'clock a representative of The Commercial visited him for the purpose of obtaining a statement. King seemed to be under the influence of liquor and immediately began a tirade of abuse. "You ___ ____ __, if I had a pistol, I would kill you. What the ___ do you mean by coming in here and asking me questions? Get out of here or I'll kill you, you __ __ _ ____." The reporter said King sent for Lee Thornton and W. Weatherford and they immediately entered into service for his defense. At the infirmary there was a sad scene, in a side room was the family of the man who was lying in a back room subject to the cruel knife of the surgeon, yet beneath the care of those who loved him for himself in the hall were many friends and anxious acquaintances, gathered to hear the reports from the room of him their hearts bled for. As a doctor or attendant would come from the direction of the victim of the cowardly bullet, a score of sympathetic ones in waiting would start eagerly forward to hear tiding of the wounded man. Up to a late hour a procession of these friends called at the front door to be met with the response "resting easy." Immediately after his arrival at the infirmary Poston was placed under the influence of opiates and the operation to determine the exact injuries was commenced. Before the ether was administered, however, Sheriff McLendon, Frank P. Poston, his brother and law partner, and Notary Public Hunsdon Cary were summoned and took a statement and will. In his statement Poston declared that he had no idea of danger at the time he had seen King and that the firing of the shot was the greatest surprise of his life. The prominence of the principals, the prejudice existing against the would-be murderer, all joined to stir the community to a dangerous pitch, and the words "Poston is dead" might have been the signal for a serious outbreak. The shooting, seemingly, was the result of deliberate premeditation. For twenty-four hours or longer perhaps had the "killing" been premeditated. King, while under the influence of alcohol, had talked of his deadly work. Monday he was dining in the Vienna Cafe with Justice Strickland, when he suddenly gave speech to his thoughts by declaring that he would "get" Poston. Monday night he seemed wedded to his murderous design, and in a long conversation with T.T. Stratton, at Duffy's Hotel, referred several times to the "___ __ _ _____ Poston," declaring that he, Poston, had put up a legal conspiracy against him, and that he, King, would "get him at the first opportunity." The new revolver tells a story that is wonderfully significant itself. (Published in the Memphis Daily Commercial, March 11, 1891)

CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY -- The motive which prompted H. Clay King to shoot David H. Poston grew out of feelings engendered by certain lawsuits in which Mr Poston was one of the attorneys. The history of these lawsuits is familiar to the reading public of Memphis and the surrounding country. In fact, owing to the prominence of the litigants and the sensational nature of the cases, the matter was fully discussed through the press and by the public generally. Besides the bills filed in the Chancery Court, several damage suits of a sensational nature resulted from the litigation. On May 11, 1889, H. Clay King filed a bill in chancery against Mary E. Pillow, Annie Payne Pillow and Gideon J. Pillow. This bill was to recover possession of certain lands in Arkansas and in Tennessee. On July 17, 1889, Mrs. Mary E. Pillow entered suit in the Circuit Court against H. Clay King asking $10,000 damages for defamation of character. This suit was the outcome of the bill filed in chancery by King to restrain Mrs. Pillow from taking possession of certain property in this state which he had deeded to her. The bill filed by King reflected on the character of the defendant who sought to recover damages and the vindication of her reputation. Mrs. Pillow claimed that the property in question was bought with money she had loaned King and that the allegations against her character were made for purpose of compromising her with the hope that she would not make a defense of the site. H. Clay King then brought suit against the Avalanche and the Appeal for printing in advance of the trial the substance of certain affidavits filed in behalf of the defendant. Commenting editorially on those damage suits, the Avalanche was severe of C. Henry King. Col. King on account of this editorial brought another suit against the Avalanche for $25,000. The suit brought by King was for a plantation in Lee County, Ark., valued at about $15,000. It was instituted in The Chancery Court of this county, and also in the Circuit Court of Lee County. It was to go trial in both counties on the same testimony, to lessen the expense, upon an agreement between counsel Judge J.M. Sanders of Lee County tied to the case with Chancellor Estes. The story told in brief is about as follows: Col. King is a married man, and Mrs. Pillow is the widow of the late Gen. G.J. Pillow. She lived on the farm in Arkansas in litigation as did at intervals Col. King. In recorded testimony before the court it was alleged that Mrs. Pillow exercised an undue influence over Col. King and induced him to make her a deed to the plantation, which she was not to file for record until after his death. She did file it, however, and the property is still in her possession. In his original bill to divest her of title, Col. King admits that he made her the deed to the property upon the condition that she was not to have it recorded, and charges that she exercised an undue influence over him. When the case came up for trial developments were exceedly sensational and harsh words were exchanged between counsel. Messrs. Poston & Poston, who represented Mrs. Pillow, and Col. King, who appeared on his own behalf. It was feared at the time that serious trouble would result. The court rooms were crowded with spectators eager to catch every word passed. Nothing further than the heated words referred to above resulted and the case of King vs. Pillow was decided in favor of the complaintant. The bill which was filed by Mrs. Pillow in the Circuit Court, asking $10,000 for defamation of character was dismissed. (Published in the Memphis Daily Commercial, March 11, 1891)

LIFE OF A MANLY MAN -- In every walk of life David H. Poston has ever been a true man. As a soldier, he was among the bravest; as a lawyer, he was always been noted for fidelity to the interests of his clients; in his family and among his friends, his life has always been irreproachable. David H. Poston was born February 9, 1844, of William King and Mary Park Poston, at the old Poston home on the corner of Kerr and Mississippi avenues, where he has lived almost all his life. The Park family, from whom he was descended on his mother's side, is of Irish descent. It has been prominent in Virginia and Tennessee for 100 years. William King Poston, his father, was a very eminent attorney, but he never held public office, except that of member of the Legislature in 1866 and 1867. The Poston family removed to Shelby County from Montgomery County, Tenn. David got his early schooling at the neighborhood schools. He entered, at the age of 15, a classical school taught by Judge Jacob S. Gallaway, upon what is now the site of Calvary Cemetery. He continued with Judge Gallaway during 1959, 1860, and until April 1861. He, with his brothers, King and James, were the advanced pupils and they made good progress in the classics. David was noted at school, as though life, for solid attainments and manly bearing. In April 1861 he enlisted in the Bluff City Grays, under Capt James Edmondson. The Bluff City Grays were a part of the gallant 154th Tennessee Regiment......The young soldier returned to Memphis at the close of the war and began the study of law with his father. They had an office on South Court street, where Gaston's Hotel is now situated. He was admitted to the bar in 1866. He rapidly rose to eminence in his profession. Mr. Poston married in 1868, Miss Mary Rieves, the daughter of Col. Tim Rieves of LaGrange. By her he has four children, King, Louise, Hammond and Mary Rieves. Mr. Poston seemed to be blessed beyond the lot of most mortals. He had worked hard and won an honorable position at the bar. The death of his father left him the mainstay and support of a family of eleven children. All these difficulties had been surmounted a few years later, and the attorney was surrounded by a happy family when his felicity was rudely blasted by the death of his wife. By his union with Miss Phillips several years later, this gap in the family life was again filled. Since then there has been nothing to prevent Mr. Poston from being one of the happiest of men. He practiced law in partnership with his brothers, King and Frank, until recently, when King withdrew from the firm. The professional life of David Poston has been marked with honor and success. As a lawyer, he has been noted for pertinacity, industry and strict fidelity to the interests of his clients. (Published in the Memphis Daily Commercial, March 11, 1891)

DAVID H. POSTON TO BE LAID 'NEATH THE SOD TODAY -- Time heals most wounds, but it will be many, many days ere Memphis recovers from the shock attending the King-Poston tragedy. The announcement of David H. Poston's death, while the fact was known by many the evening before, fell like an awful pall on the entire community yesterday morning. The grief which overcame the family was contagious, and in every household was a sorrowing heart. In hushed tones the sudden ending of the popular man and the incarceration in a prison cell of the man who had killed him were discussed, and a tear bedimmed the eye of the strongest man when David H. Poston was spoken of as "was." Telegrams of condolence poured in from all parts of the South and the loss of that upright man seemed almost national in the extent he was known, appreciated, and beloved. The body was embalmed and retained a perfectly natural appearance, with the exception of drawn lines about the mouth, giving some indication of the terrible ordeal through which he passed ere death relieved his sufferings. The remains were placed in a cloth lined and covered cedar casket, simple yet elegant, and placed in the parlor of the family residence, 411 Vance street, where they will rest until taken to the church this morning. Every member of the family is here, the only absent brother arriving yesterday morning from Denison, Texas. The aged mother and devoted wife have borne the fearful trial heroically and with Christian fortitude, but are almost completely prostrated. Strong men and women are drawn together in that unspeakable grief that marks the love for one like him who has been taken away - removed from their midst without an instant's warning. The funeral services will be held at 10:30 this morning in the Central Methodist Church on Union street, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. Alonzo Monk. The Shelby Grays will furnish a guard of honor and the following pallbearers will officiate: Judge S.P. Walker, Gen. Luke E. Wright, Col. Luke W. Finlay, A.W. Newsom, J.P. Jordan, J.F. Walker, W.A. Wheatley and U.W. Miller. The remains will be buried in the family lot in Elmwood Cemetery. (Published in the Memphis Daily Commercial, March 13, 1891)