Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-08-15
The Fatal II cncounter a, o.kalo o;sa;

pro tenn. by J. R. Necaham, c6ntaihs full
particulars Of the fatal Shooting AFFAIR at
that place which,we have already bri city no.
ticcd. We copy the following:
A most deplorable and fatal encounter
took place on Monday night last, between
James NJ Brown editor Of this paper, and
j. w. Bowen, late proprietor of the Tawa-
wa Saloon, which terminated in the death of
the latter. The circumstances, briefly rela-
ted, are about as follows:
MIR. Brown had on several occasions pub
ilished scathing articles against the drinking
houses and tipping Shops Of this city, which
met with bitter and sensmous opposition
from several persona and especially from
Mr.. Bowen, whose threats against Brown
and the HeruM 0Gce were of most revsls
ting character. a few weeks since, the fell
lowing article appeared in the Herald:
LIouoR BUSINESS From the drunken men W,
have seen Of late, staggering in the neighborhood
of the Tawawah saloon, and the fights Of frequent
occurrence in hat direction, are led 10 believe
that the propretors Of that institution have b..
come regardless of the Law and are dealing cut thu
very liquid ut wholesale.
We should think these fac.s, Being Of almost
daily occurrence, would be Of sufficient evidence to
call forth prompt action on the part Of the city Of
hcers. These drinking establishments are p>ifrct
nuisances, and should &c dealt with ns such or
late our city has been cleansed Of LHo ptsde nus-
anres, two more, of different character, cxis.
nc rcr the square Lat the la. crush pnt and clos
up these establishments, then we; as q people, can
breathe more freely and il needs be, boast Of
mora ity as cry.
On tie appearance Of the above Mr.. Bow
en- renewed his threats, and it became gencr
ally noised about that he intended to com
nit On injury upcr tie person of Mr.. Brown
So great was his malice towards Brown that
one day last week, while standing near the
Saloon, he said to Justice Ballard, Squire.
IN give goa ten dollars fyou tv,U trot Tor
BRING Bruacn here. IUant 10 cut his Cd
id heart on = This language we quote
verbatim from the evidence taken before the
curt of Inquiry in his case. In a CONVEX
sation with \. NJ Cassidy Esq, he said,
speaking Of Brown, Cd d-dMm, If hi
ercr GRO ses my path. T.! cut lis heart out!
These, and scores Of other threats coming
to the ears of Mr.. Brown, made him cautious
about coming in conflict with his enemy,
and very naturally made him fear for his
life whenever he saw any demonstration of
hostility on the part ofBowcn No person.
al encounter, however, took place until the
night above named, On which occasion CATER
midnight Brown and E. W. Rice (brother
of S. \. Rice Esq } were quietly looking out
of window in the Ofice C. Rice & Tough
ridge; eltich Office is Immediately adjoining
the NrGld Office, and on the same floor.
Thre IS of violence to Brown, and to mob
Or 'c!eG4, ont tie q fir were made,
ana Immediately afterwards Bowen and 9th
crs started up stains, an! laade such demon
STRAIT. ons on the steps and at the door, as TO
cause Brown III bc!ic.H hat he WAS in emil
d niger y losing his lfH, I".s$ sets wcrc
i-.i AMI Row II was s:'t:i!E'7 W,tn:lei..
Immediately after ,.g BROWN learned the
lanicatabfc elects Of the ef-Sol,ntcr. he con-
suited legal All eTs, ard at once surrender
ed himself into the bands e an officer and
demand az inEestigation. He could have
escaped, but suGi was not bis desire. lie
felt innocent Of having committed great
crime. He had acted sclely en- the defence. !
and neg asks tn t fall Investigation BE- |
made, that all tie facts niay 60 to the world.
Mr.. +. ", Rice testified rs follows before
the cdroper'a jury:
Bc;,fcen tie hoars OF. twelve and one
o'clock Il the morning Of the It'll CT August
1871, James ". Brown and myself were
looking out Of the window Of Rice & Lou.h-
ridges Law Office We saw Nj. noivcn tn |
deceased and NJ. Warren walking together
'rom u. II. Scorers & CO 5 BLOCK, luwnrd.
OskaIGosa House. 4rfter while we saw |
them return hes ston~ct "a =. nt = 50: NJ
& Jones sore ,scre tlissrc we're GENE stl,al t
persons assembled. w heard " trren and |
Mr.. Bowen Talking about betting on lac re- !
suit Of the election Of some Of the Candidates.
Mr.. Bowen seemed to e intoxicated. Was
talking very bo;stcGousIy and swearng.-i
Some enc ef The crowd told Mr.. Bowen raat
&c had better look out, that Brown was up |
thcre--Nr Bowen said that he did no, care
, d-n fer Mr.. Browa, that he was q d d
and used other nSaltisgy IAN
suagc .. 4 ep;thets toward him. Some one
asked Mr. Bowen il lie d d not want a revolt
ger to shoot at Brown to which heard no |
reply srein RaFea. s5.ae one else said |,
they ought to mob the Herald Office: Mr.
Bowen sud II will lead a mob and clean
the id thing oats Soalc onne ead .sgo
aheado Mr. Bowen started up the stairs
md others followed hisss Wks-n he got to
thc top Of the stairs Mr. Bowen said s'where
is hc,o referring, | suppose, to Bro,sp.-
Mr.. Bowen then tried to break in tie door Of
Riaa e. Louridse's o4sce in which roo,ii Nr
Brown and M self were and the same room (
rom tue N!HuQS VI hNiCAi ~ Alao oocit iooh-
ng oft. Mr Brown seemed ,o-v mu b cx-
;itca--- arew o revolver told him not to
hoos- II wculd Keep Mr.. Bowen out
When VI. Bowen tried t, break open the
loor Mr.. ,BrcAuslot towards it after which
FL. Bowen made a second attempt to break
,pen tie d3or ana also a third attelapt,
yhcn Mr.. Brown tsssin shey at tie door
lfter which Bowen left.
Another of the witnesses (Wm. Dil!on,)
hus details the tragieal scene:
Iwas present. think Mr. Bowen vas in
ront OF Young 4 Jones' store, and Mr..
Grown was sticking his head out of the win
low Of Rice 4 Long ridges law office. Mr.
Bowen was standing in front of lcdng y
Jones' store in company With other pc rscns
alkirg and aughing Some enc Of. the com
ANY remarked to Mr.. Bowen that Mr.. Brown
he editor was speaking to him. Mr. Bowen
urned round and said he was 'tke man who
published id lies in the Herald,' and if
e would come down he would whale him
or it. Mr.. Brown said he guessed not =
II. Bowen said he guessed he wou d, and
tarted towards him. Mr. Brown tod him,
e dared net. Mr., Bowen said he would
nd kept going on. Mr. Brown told him.
G dared not, and went back from the win
ow and told him to come on Mr. Bowen
,as at that tine Just starting up the stairs
tyself and three ctEers started up after
In. Iget there frst,s ard the others told .
le to catch Mr.. Bowen; went on and
aught him at tie head of the stairs, bat
ould not stop him without tearing the !.
lothes | keld. He went en- and pit his
ands against the door, and appeared to be
carchins hastily for thelatch, or something
o get in. caught him by the arm, and,l
old him to come down. He said he wou' "a
e id if he would, and ierked from me- - I.
hist at hat time the FIRE was gisen-thc !
rst report Of the pistol B, request Of the