The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-09-13

fiSess1LE, Va, Sept, s, 1855.
WEDSEsDAY-sECoSD DAY
TIE Called Cpart assembled this morning a. 10
O'Clock, sad the following Justices appeared on tn
beach
Aadre~ l. B'ld. wm. r. Carper, Thornton A.
f!ih"s'y, Lewis Linhenhoger, Thomas j. obeu
chain, James l.. Patton, John H. Bell, and Jacob
Peters.
II was objected that two Justices were upos
the beach who had not set on Monday, where.
upoa the two gentlemen last named said that
they we're not scting as magistrates, and no far
iher objection was made to their presence.
The thronx in attendance to-day WAS large, but
noihieg like az numerous as on the Monday
when Mr. Bowyer was first arraigned for shooting
MI Nc Dcvell.
Sheriff Wilsan stated that a witness for the
Common wealth had not been found, and the at.
tachment was returned ruexecnted.
The prisoner, uEsRY ". BOWER, was brought
into Conrt, aud seated beside his counsel He
ma;nfsiaed the same composed appearance, no-
tced in my last letter, and 60 one could have
slprosed that there a single feeling in his
heart. which reproached him for the act for which
be was brought into the presence of a court Of
Justice.
Asssr-. Wm. II. Anthony, Raleigh T. DanieI and
Be,j,min F. Wysor, appeared for the Common
wealth. and Messrs. ThomasJ. Michie. Hon Hen.
~ A. Edmondson, WIN. W. Boyd. Col John T.
Andr,sUn ana Vim. Watts for the defence.
The witnesses for the Commonwealth we're then
called.
VA. 1-Creery Cashier of the Farmers Bank
being sworn. deposed-'I was standing at my desk
Thursday, the 18th Of August, aud Mr.. Mellow
ell wss writing at the counter, when Mr.. Bowyer
catered. When he got opposite Mr.. Mcdowell he
L =
ell picked mp a book, and Mr.. BowyeE kept on
firing. WIN. Ii. Smith, George W. Carper, Andrew
obenchaip and j. Cnmrer, were present Mr..
Bowyer said nothing, to my recollection. He stood
about six feet from me, end / would probably
have heard him if he bnd spoken. When he came
ia gentlemen were betweed me and Mr..
Bywyer, who walked around, and when he snapped
the pistol was Just across the counter. Mr.. Mc
Doweil made no attempt to draw weapon. He
vas at the counter between the two desks He
seized an account bCok-caunot say whether he
held il before him not. Mr.. Bower kept on
firing. Al the time of the occurrence, Mr.. Nc
Doweii writing in the transfer book, transfer
ing some stick. He was President of the Bank -
Dout remember to have heard Mcdowell say any
thing. did hear Mr.. Bowyer say anything
After he ceased firing, Mr. Bowyer turned and
wont out at the front door. One of the gentle
men present caught hold of him while he was fir
ing, bu; can't say which one it was.
think fJur shots were fired. Don't know how
mary took eject. The book which Mr. Mcdowell
picked up foun1 afterwards iu the window
There was bleed on Il. and also on the window.
l never the wounds, and can't say how
many there were. There is hole through the
PARTITION in front Of the counter, opposite " here
Mr.. Mcdowell stood, and another through the
wash basin which sat on the safe. A ball passed
through this basin-in at one side and out at the
other. Mr. Mcdowell stepped behind large dask
where he picked up the book. which was laying
there. Consequently. Mr.. Bowyer must have
changed his position or shot through the deck; but
cannot say what his position Was Mr. McDoweIl
was taken ont immediately, through the front
door. (rhe witness here defcribed the position of
the parties, aud the basin, before alluded to- was
proouced) Mr.. Mcdowell was leaning down on
tue counter writing, near the right hand desk
Nj BowSer walked IN at the front door. The pis-
tO seemed 10 snap. Mr.. Mcdowell imuediate,y
Arose and grabbed book, while Dir. Bowyer con-
tiuned firirg. Tie safe, on which the basin sat-
wss not much higher than the counter. l did moi
sre Mr.. Bowyer when he first came in. | had just
Httedt he book to fluid " hen the stock note Of Oben
chain was due. The window was up, and there
was no weapon in il.
By H,e Def5Hce:
was 10 the bank, occupied in tie discharge of
my duties at the desk, nearest the door. Mr. Nc
Dowell Was between the two desks, writing on the
counter. ssw nothing of Mr. Bower until the
pistol snapped. Mr.. Mcdowell was writing but
cannotsay with certainty that he was in leaning
postufe. My impression, however, is that he was
siii ~ leaning posture when the pistol snapped.
The front window Of the bank was at Mr. AcUow-
ellis back-not more than six or eight feet distant
The window up. Any one on the street could
have seen Mr.. Mcdowell through the window and
could have shot him from the street without diff.
Guilty Ny attention was first attracted about the
time tie pistol snapped Had noticed Mr. Bower
AN instant before, but he said nothing. MIR. Nc
Dwell retired back and grabbed the book. One
person present either took hold OF Mr. Bowyer or
attempted TO do go. Don't know that be taken
hold of round the arms. Mr. Mcdowell was but
short distance from Mr.. Bowyer, but rather around
the desk One shot struck opposite the couBter in
Mr.. Bowyer's rear, and another went through the
basin. was excited aud confused, and cannot
STATE positively everything that occurred. Mr..
MeDowei had not finished transferring the stock
before he asked me to fad Mr.. Obenchsin's note.
There we're Two tranefers to make, and therefore
more time vas necessary. / have examined the
bnoks since. They seem to be completed in Mr..
McDoweiPs hand writing, and he could have done
nothing after the shots were fired
waa uot particularly noticing Sir. Mcdowell.
but was looking ia that direction. Don't think he
had raised up. Mr. Bowyer WIS Immediately in
front OF Mr. Mcdowell when he snapped the pistol.
The opening in the counter was not closed. Mr..
Bowser did not 10 behind the counter. l know
There was pistol belonging to the Bank, of which
ar. Mcdowell had control, but do not know of my
own knowledge where IL was at the time 1t had
been laying In the desk for some time, but had
been taken out and don't know what became of
II. II wasa i've shooter An order made by
the Board the lst of April for its purch ass
Think it had been there but short time. had
little to do with that desk. Ii was o desk COO
irollsd by Mr.. Mcdowell 1t was 10 the back room,
previously occupied by the bank.
z. At whose instance was the pistol purchased,
tnd by whom was II pnIchassdf
The C'mmonwealth said-We don't see the object
OF that question
The defence repled-we want to see II he was
In lhe habit oi having such things.
The qn stion Was admitted.
could not say exactly. The order directed the
President to purchase pistol for the bank. Those
itt'e matters we're usually dictated by the advice
OF the President.
Sir. aeDoweli had been absent before this occur
fsaee think be 60. home on the night of the
VAS gase from here when got home on the 18th |
OF Jnis-left the day before. Ikuew he intended |
10 leave Don't know bow long he iuteDdet to |
say away, bnt think about six weeks. lie did not
iea'e earlier than he expected to leave. There |
was no uhdetstanding betw u.s. lie said he was |
going TO Detroit, pitsburg ana New York. hut not
on the business Of the bank. lie returned hoaae |
from the Sweet Springs, but 1 don't know how he |
came from the North to the Sweet Springs. Don't |
Enow what places he visited. Heard him speak Of |
MAJ ara aud of New York. Not certain that he /
spoke Of baltimore or Chicago Don't know when |
he get TO the Sweet Springs. Heard he was there |
eight or tea days before coming home. Don't |
Know That he said anything to me about going 10 |
Toe swest Springs Spoke Of having been there on
me return Don't know that letters were returned |
20 hr. asDoweli after be got home that had been |
forwarded % Detroit and other places.
nave lived here nearly two years, the last |
sms, l was q merchant previously. Have known |
sf bosssr to bes peaceabis and iaw-abidng man. |
S5 ote raasmonweaitA:
Inc Ifont door Of the Bank 10 TO the left Of the
soantbf, aod Immediately 70 the right IL the desk
!oceapy. The window Is between tbs desk and |
Ihs e'fner OF the building. was standing at my /
ss esss. Ahd NJ heD. was writing between ths two
,s person might have shot him through the |
S,hae~, aed xonld i,ot hare bsen In the way
. .sss nesef measured the height Of the window. /
Das e,et fsipk Mr. Bowyes vsuid have had 10 |
1A!ss bimssti up 10 sh0ot ID
nao ssAFd Mr.. Mcdowell ~ hs was goiuE 70 |
- ~ tsssslonss sistsrtp fsssburs for instsscs