The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-04-06
The Murder of Thos. s. Lowe, a
Hawsville, Kentucky.

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The Louisville Courier of Saturday con-
tains a complete history of the difficulty
between Cicero Maxwell and Thomas S
Lowe. Newfacts regarding the origin of
the trouble and its fatal results are given,
but the whole case is stated in detail and
there are points having intense interest. Il
1t appears that Lowe was gentleman Of
liberal education, respectable connections
and associations, and a comfortable a.
mount of property. His parents arc liv-
ing, and he leaves wife and two children,
the eldest daughter of three years old,
the youngest an infant son He had an
ticipated that this difficulty with Maxwell
would cost him his lie, and drew up an
account of its origin aud progress. 1t
appears that among the persons who in
terested themselves to reconcile Lowe
and Maxwell, was the editor of the Lou
isvilie Journal, who in letter written at
tempting to prevent bloodshed, said, 'I
have known Mr.. Lowe we'll for ten years
and entertained warm friendship for him.
When Lowe in the streets of Hawesville
challenged Maxwell to come forth, and
mob rushed out and fired upon him with
rifles and shot guns, he retreated back
ward, and while the mob were loading
their guns, took refuge in house, where
he intended if pursued to sell his life as
dearly as possible. He has told, however,
that if he would surrender his arms he
should not be harmed. He gave up his
pistols and walked forth unarmed. That
which followed is thus narrated.
Judge Mayhall took him by the left
arm and some one else by the right, and
in that condition started with him to the
Court House. They had advanced with
him only few steps when Thomas With
ros1 sneaked up behind him, and leveling q
gun within few feet of his head fred
The ball glanced upon his skull, and only
stunned him. Other shots were then
| fred upon him from behind. -.
He was not killed at this moment, but
wounded and placed in Jail. The Courier
says; ..-....--f q,
When they reached the Colrt House
Judge Stuart addressed the mob, and said
that if any other violence was offered to
Lowe it should be over his dead body
He persuaded Lowe to go to Jail for his
own safety, and agreed to remain with hin,
during the night and to keep the key him.
self until all danger was over While
they were at the Court House Lowe wep,
bitterly. He said he had fed from a moi
which had taken his arms from him to
murder him in cold blood, butthat he was
ready to meet any one of the crowd, yea
all of them, one by one, upon equal terms
and fight them in any way that they
would designate.
The murder of Lowe in tie jail is thus
told: E 81
When the morning came. Git wa
Wednesday, the I'd of March, 1852 ant
Judge Stuart had opened court, he callet
Mat Oldham, the jailor, to him. and Offered
him the key of the prison. Oldham fear
ed the fatal key. and tried to evade tn
responsibility ofkeeping it at such time
| The Judge then threw it upon the table
and the trembling Oldham was compelled
to take it up. Not long after the ke
passed into. the hands of Oldham, while h
was going from the Court House to tn
Jail, Thomas Withrow and II. A. David
son approached him, and, presenting
pistol to his breast, demanded that b
should open for them the door of the pris
on. Oldham did as the assassins bade hin
He unlocked the door, and the two assas
|, sins entered to commit the foulest murde
thate disgraced the annals Of Kentuck
crime.
They found Lowe in his cell, lying upo
his bed exhausted from the excitement an
fatigue Of the previous day. and from
S sleepless night. caused by his wounds, an
the terrible memory of what he had passe
through. Thomas Withrow shot him fir
md 81. A. Davidson next. They both she
again. although the life Of their victil
passed away with the first fire. The assa'
sins then went ont of the prison, but feal
ing they had not completed their work, an
that Lowe might meet them again in lif
they returned and fired number of shot
into his corpse. j.
The story that Lowe wore a coat c
mail, was fabrication, not a word I
truth in it. The murder of Lowe, it wi
be remembered, was justified by the gran
jury on the ground that it was done
e self defense. II is clear that no man We
e ever murdered in more treacherous On
cowerdly manner The Justification {
this deed by the grand jury is the crown
ing infamy of the transaction.
Withrow that sneaker low-ffed scoul
u drel, should be hung as high as Hama
! Any set of men who would guarantee ma
o safety, and tell him a lie to get him to su
e render his arms, so that they could tai