American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-03-25
Morgantown, (VaD Friday, March 25 1859.

(, The Mob Excitement Ia IIawes.
willie, Ky.-TerribIc Scenes
! i'm the Streets.
"A brief account of the tragedy al
4 I1awesville, KY, in which Thomas S.
Lowe lost his life at the hands of q
mob has been published. The Louis.
vile Courier publishes history of the
affair, which is as terrible as any in the
bloody record of Kentucky. Cicero
Maxwell, the Prosecuting Attorney,
had refused a challenge from Lowe,
and had also refused to name the arms
and place for a street fight. The
Courier says
In short time Lowe, with three
pistols, in his left arm and one in his
right hand,approached the crowd which
was near the Court house, and in a
loud voice, said eff Cicero Maxwell
is in the crowd or in the sound of my
voice, let him como forth. He has
stated that am political juggler. =
In return, / pronounce him liar, Ca
tlumniator, coward and son of a
w-c." This he repeated several
times. The denunciation was convey
ed to Maxwell or heard by him, and
IN few minutes he made his appear
ance in the street, with a double bar.
rel shot gun, and accompanied by a
MIR. Harris and Morton, of Hartford,
Judge Mayhall and Thos. Withrow,
of Hawesville and others. When with
in about fifty yards of Lowe, who fac
ed his foe, Maxwell discharged one bar.
rel of his gun, which was loaded with
buekshot, the contents striking the
left breast of Lowe; who sta ggered,
butlnstantly recovered his position, Ca
coat OF mail preserving him as is al
legged. He returned the fire, but mis-
sed, and seeing the mob present arms,
took refuge in the crowd, and eluding
pursuit for time, got into the house
of widow lady.
| Maxwell and his friends, discover.
ing where he was, surrounded the house
and threatened to tear it down if Lowe
was not given up. The lady implored
them to desist, and said it was true
Lowe was there, but she had no power
TO bring him out. A parley took
place, and three friends of Maxwell
entered the building. Lowe asked
that his life might be spared. They
assured him he should not be molsstcd.
provided he would disarm himself, and
accompanied by them he re-appeared
on the'street. The sight of him only
added fuel to the flame, and he was
again fired upon. Mr.. Harris, one of
the gentlemen who gave assurance of
protection, said, "Mr. Lowe, I cannot
risk my life longer to save you," and
Mr.. Lowe broke and ran followed by
the mob. Mr.. Aldridge the only
friend Lowe seems to have had.
fired at the mob, and as he turned to
fly was killed by ball from a rifle
a great number of shots we're fired at
Lowe in his flight. lie was wounded
in several places and his clothes rid
died with balls. lie ran as far as the
bank Of the river, his foes still firing
at him in his flight, and there fell ap,
parentIy exhausted. One, Thomas
Withrow also cut at him with his bow
ie knife while he was running, but the
coat of mail which it is said he wore
prevented his being hurt,
Mr.. Harris went to him where he
lay, and one of the mob ran up and
swore no would kill him anyhow, and
put pistol to Loves head. Harris
knocked the weapon up, and it was dis
charged without injuring any one
The crowd then gathered around Lowe.
and Maxwell asked him if he would
make aretraction. Lowe replied that
he retracted everything he had said,
that he was coward, and had dserac.
cd himself. Maxwell, 1t is said, beg,
ged his friends not to hurt his fallen
foe, as he had done all he required.
Lowe was then taken back to the
courthouse and delivered to Judge
Stuart. Some of the mob manifesting
wish to lynch Lowe, Judge Stuart
rose and said he was in the hands of
the law, which should be honored, and
Lowe should not ebinjured till the mob
passed over his dead body. His speech
prolonged loves term Of life at least
Tor few hours, ard after his wounds
we're dressed in the courthouse, ac.
companiod by Judge Stuart, lie was ia.
ken tojail. The Judge remained with
him until q late hour in the night,
wheuit was thought the excitement " as
at an end, and the prisoner safe from
the fury of those who had sought his
life.
On Wednesday morning Lowe sent
for Harris, and thanked him for say.
ing his lifo on the previous day, bu,
expressed fears that the mob would
! hnno him. and anlicitnd hia uia;lnr |.