Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-20
Correspondence OF the virginiar
The Fincastle Tragedy of
Bower.
TENTH AND LAST DAY.

ing declaration. which is AS follows:
Question by Jasiirr .immen.--Stnte whether
you believe yourself in dying condition, or in
other words, in extrems!
.iasrer--"l have thought since Inst night
and the attending physicians have confirmed my
impression"
Yesterday Goth of August ls52. was behind
the counter in the Bank receiving a transfer of
stock, from Andrew Obenchain, 10 Geo. e. Carpcr
and W. Ii. Smith ! was writing at the counter
with my hand down taking tie transfer, when the
first thing heard, was the click of what took to
he Colts five shooter, presented at me by Mr.. H.
w. Bowyer. The pistol missed fire and gave me
an opportunity Of asking him what he meant.
wha, that was for? don't rccollect which. lie
did not reply, but fired gain and shot me through
the left arm. never was more surprised in my
life than was ut this attack having never that
can recollect Of had any difficulty with Mr.. Bow
yer. or given him any just cause of offence. |
still asked him what he was shooting at me for .
and being completely unarmed, having only
steel pen in my hand | endeavorcl to get some
thing to defend myself with, while he kent shoot
ing at me- attempted to 60 around the desk to
get Mt the opening that goes behind the counter;
my cane being outside of the counter He then
met me at the opening of the counter, un.trmcd as
was. and shot me through the left shoulder rs |
think, or to be entirely correct few inches above
the nipple the left breast. | then stepped
back to get chair, and was standing sideways to
him. when he shot me again three or four inches
above the groin, on the right side Of the abdomen
| picked up the chair, wounded rs was, and
threw it ut him. lie lodged the chair and left
the Bank. lie never spoke IL word from the time
he came into the Bank until he left it. am still
unable to say why he made this fatal attack upon
me" This declaration is signed in very unstea-
dy hand, JAS, Mcdowell" JAS" in one place
and "McDowel' in another.
Mr.. Anthony, Attorney for Commonwealth, be-
ing present, stated that he considered it his duty.
though an unpleasant one, to inform Mr.. Mcdowell
that Mr. Bowyer had done what he did because
he, Mcdowell. had assisted in getting his daugh-
ter away. In reply to this, Mr., Mcdowell, said
We'll sir so help me God had nothing to do
with it on the face Of the earth, and if the facts
could be known, wa, as much opposed to it
her father could possibly be. These are The words
ola dying man. My object in going to the North
was to fulfil duty which felt incumbent upon
me. have two sisters living there and wanted
to see them and give them some aid. These sis
tiers have not seen for % years. This is TO be
an oath. and part of the deposition have given
August 9th, 1858.
W. J. Price recalled 10y prosecution:
received letter about the first of june last
asking tho loan of $50 to 90 away on; said her
friend Mcdowell had positively refused to let her
have it.
Cross Erdmined.-Did not state this Yesterday
because the question not asked; only, under
rule of Court, answered such questions
asked. did not tell John Wolff, last January,
TINT 1 uau never TeCeNeu llIc IRON Miss DOW
yer. Had n conversation with Mr.. Chas Ander-
in the Courtyard about meeting her at the
fence but nothing farther.
BIZ Commonwealth Have frequently had per-.
sons attempt to pump me when | denied receiving
any thing from her. Had conversation with
John Woltz last wnter-cant state what il
Defense put witness question, laying ground
to impeach Mr.. Prices testimony whereupon
considerable argument and confusion. upon
which the defence finally agreed to Withdraw the
question
BIZ Defense.-I received the letter las. fall was
year, through the Post Office; and the one last
June from Mr.. Bowyer's carriage driver, Moses.
James A. Bass called:
| am acquainted with Miss Bowyer-was absent
at the time she left-absent six weeks.
Question.-Did she not write you for money to
@ away on? Objected to by defence. Court do
cded to hear the answer:
received the note applying for money on
Thursday after returning from prayer meeting
and she went away the following Tuesday.
Witness here produced the note not directed to
any one, and reads as follows
Il write you few lines TO ask you if you will
be so kind as to loan me ten dollars l would not
trouble you, but both my friends absent. and
am compelled to have it at this time if possible.
l will return it in short time. In the meantime
this note will servo bond for the amount
By so doing you will oLlige friend" Signed
az. NJ. BOWER"
did not send the money.
At the request of the defence, Mr.. Anthony
Commonwealth's Attorney, then made statement
of the circumstances attending the taking of Mr.
McDowell's dying declaration. His statement is
as follows:
At the time of the homicide was Mt Roanoke
Circuit Court. Mr.. r. Kyle came up there about
Q 1elock the night following. bringing me letter
from James Mcdowell, Jr., asking me to come
down. as might be needed in taking his fathers
declaration. Mr.. Kyle also requested me to CO.
there great cxcitement--that l might do
something to allay it.
arrived here about ten o'clock the following
morning.
The testimony here closed on both sides, when
Mr.. Niche, counsel for defence, asked that coun
sci mis- ht retire and consult which allowed
by the Court. After absence of few minutes
they returned, and it was announced that, by an
agreement of counsel, the case would be submitted
without argument
The Court consulted for a short time upon the
bench, when the Presiding Magistrate declared
the opinion of the Court: THAT the prisoner be
discharged
This announcement produced gush of feeling
among the spectators, which sought relief in
flood of tears. HOMO.
FREIGHT TRADE The receipts of freight at the
Depot of the Va. & Tenn. Rail Road Saturday
We're as folows
lo loaded cars from the West consisting of 9 gig
bushels Wheat; 900 barrels Flour; II 800 TBS.
miscellaneous. Sent West same day lS loaded
cars.
orNrERFEITT.-Counter on the Northwes-
tern Bank of Va, at Wheeling make payable at
Jacksonville, are numerous in Baltimore. At the
same place on Thursday. the brokers detected sew
cral counterfeits the Merchants Bank Of Lynch
burg.