Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-07-11
From the weston Herald.

- Deatn oil Wtt1am 2L0Wthef. -
We learn that William Lowther. who
left>the county of Harrison some years
since. and settled in Richmond. Texas.
was on the522a ult., at that place. shot
with q pistol, by a man named Barnett,
and instantly killed. We are informed
that Barnett had for several months before
that time, been prosecuted for homicide,
aud that the deceased. who was Lawyer,
had in some official or professional capa-
city, been connected with the prosecu.
ton. and had held, or caused Barnett to
be held TO heavy bail but there was no
apparent unkind feeling between them.
The deceased had son the day of sthe ia.
,ial occurrence. been engaged in Court,
and had in the evening. sassistedgin put
ting Barnett who either was or affected
to be much intoxicated, to bed in, the
room of a friend. Shortly afterwards, in
this same room, while the deceased was.
completing his toilet for an evening par.
tys and whilst his friend, who but a mo
ment before. had left the room, waitingt
him at the head of the stairs near by, the
shocking deed was done. Barnett, who.
Is a man OF property. and influential con-
uexIons procured himself to be- bailed in
the sum Of $50 900, but failed to appear
at,the time of his trial. and i. it is suppos.
ed. has fed the country. We; subjoin an
abstract from a Texas paper in relation
to the transaction: b Fa E.5 zlis
HORRIBLE TRAoEDY.--On Tuesday
evening, John Barnett had the misfortune.
to send}to his long home William Low
Their. Soon after Barnett was lodged in
jailto await the judgment Of his peers and
the law. Anything more than bare state
ment of the leading facts, previous TO the
trial, would be, ill>timed and improper.
The prisoner on the evening ofsthe unfor-
tunate tragedy, which has spread gloom
over the community. was seen in stale
Of Keeling intoxication. About supper
hour he was taken to the room Of Drs.
Weston and Viewer, and laid In bed.
Sometime after young Lowther entered to.
arrange his costume for. the evening par.
ty. While standing before the mirror,
no doubt thinking of the gay scene for
which he was preparing, the stiffness of
the hour was broken by imprecations and
the startling report of a pistol. The ILL
fated Lowther, with a heavy noise, fell TO
the ground, never 10 speak or rise again.
The deceased and the prisoner were alone
in the room at'the time Of the awful ca.
tastrophe and none butthe Allseeing Eye
ofJehovah, was witness to the deplorable
deed. 1t was the corner room of the Ma
sonic Hall, used as a dormitory and an
Office, and could be entered only through
an adjoining one of larger dimensions.
In the further door of the latter, near the
platform atthe head ola flight of stairs
running from the street, stood DR.. Viewer,
filled with the sorrow and dismay at the
sudden and appalling scene enacted so
near him. .-
There was a winning sweetness COM
bined with lofty Independence in the
character of the deceased. which won for
him the hearts of all associates. Though
not favorite of fortune in point of world
ly wealth, yet was his hands as open as
day to deeds of melting charity. When
ever young Lowther was master Of dol
lar,a worthy object of distress could new
er pass him by uncared for and unreliev>
ed. The pleasure which benevolent acts
gave him when he had the ability to per-
form them. shed sunshine around his
path. Farewell. dear friend. We part,
we hope. to meet in brighter realms
IerGs Sun.