Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-14
THE HAwESyILLE TRAGEDY.
A Remarkable and Most Sanguinary Nara


One of the most painful events that we have
been called upon to narrate is the unhappy and
bloody afray at Hawesville, kentucky, on
Tuesday and Wednesday last Being intimately
acquainted with the place. and lis generous.
peaceful and law abiding citizens, we can fully
appreciate the terrible prOvOcatiOn, If not ne
eessity, under which they acted The occur
rences illustrate with most impressive force
the shocking evils that the introduction of one
lawlesS and reckless man may bring upon n
quiet, united, and happy community. What
ever unenyiable fame this bloody STRAY may
give the town abroad, an intercourse with its
population for fifteen years authorizes US to say
that, before the advent of Lowe among them,
there was not more hOspitable, orderly, gen.
crous, and united population to any town upon
tho banks of the Ohio. He came to the place
some five or six years ago, and connec cd HIM
self by marriage with one of the most respec-
table families of the neighborhoo I, and attained
respectable position a merchant.
He is acknowledged to have been upright
and faithful in all his business affairs, and,
although apparently aihiabie and courteous in
his general bearing he has from the beginning
of his residence in the town, been engaged in
series of the most violent and outrageous
broils till he had become the terror of the
county, and the peace Of the CT immunity seemed
tO demand that he shoull be expelled from it,
His first act of violence was shooting and dan
gerOusly wounding teamster for whipping his
cattle. At trial soon after, before a Justice at
LewispOrt, he drow his pistol in the courtroom
and shot his opponent. A large button, on
which the ball glanced saved. however the
life of his intended victim. This affair led to n
serious of other acts, which disturbed the
ncighborhood for some time On another oc-
caSion, when attending a trial, in fit of
rage, he drew revolver and fired several
shots at man standing in densely crowded
court house; but. "a If by miracle only
A l3I wa iDfurrI nd ba oh
in the leg. He has been for several years
in perpetual feuds and brOiis with parties
around him who would not submit to his impc-
Iious will. often threatening violence and. in
many instances, shooting persons in the most
reckless and wanton manner.
The tragedy that ended his career has been
apprehended for some months. During the
canvass for the State officers i'm Kentucky. in
July last, Mr.. Maxwell made q speech mt ClO-
verport in which he cast some reflections upon
the political party to which Mr.. Lowe was at
tsched. The latter demanded a retraction.
with a threat of personal violence. Maxwell
defed him; but as Lowe found Maxwell was
better armed than himself he prudently defer
red the encounter, but declared that he would
force n retraction or horsewhip Maxwell the
first time he met him. Mr.. Msxwell's duties
is prosecuting attorney made ii necessary for
him to attend the February court at Hawsyille
and the citizens have looked forward to the
meeting "a one that would end in blood
Before Mr.. Maxwell hal reached the town
Lowe had prepared himself for deadly con-
fict. lie made his will and placed it on re-
coEd and on Monday, leaving his home, which
l. few miles from town. he took farewell
leave Of his wife and babes. In town he pre-
pared perfect arsenal of arms, Of every de-
s;Tiption, which he deposited in various places.
into which he calculated to retreat and defend
himself Tho respectable and order-loving
citizens inteTferod and cHdeavorcd to produce
l.ut.- n
friends met and conferred for a day and night;
but loves exactiOBs were so unreasonable and
humiliatiny to Maxwell that Lowe own friends
would not present them; and they finally told
him if he would not qualify them they would
abandon him and his cause; which they did,
and left him to his own measures. -.
On Tuesday mornin; Mr.. Lowe placed
stack of loaded muskets in a lot fronting the
public square, which he appeared with five
OF six pistols under his arms, us many more in
belt, and with his coat pockets apparently
loaded with reyOlyers and bOwie-knive. He
paced the sidewalk, denounced Maxwell as a
liar and coward, with the most insulting epi-
thets. He detied him to show himself and meet
him in fight. Maxwell, with two friends, ap-
Pearod upon the street, armed with muskets.
At the sight Of them loves courage seemed to
fail him; and as his opponents approached he
fred on them, and turned and run. They pur-
sued, and IN the pursuit 1T IS supposed twenty
shots were fired and hit him. but none of them
took effect, except one that took of his thumb
He found shelter in the house of a widow lady
who protected him from the indignation of the
crowd. BY he- he was induced to give up his
arms and submit, on condition his life should
be spared. He was taken to the court house
On his way, an infurated individual fred rifle
at him within n few inches of the back of his
head; the hair few, but the ball dropped ut his
feet, and the only effect WAS to knock Lowe
upon his knees; recovering his feet, he walked
on to the courthouse, bearing, apparently, u
charmed life.
At the courthouse he supplicated for mercy,
and retracted all his threats and insulting cpl
thets; and his opponent, Mr. Maxwell and other
citizens plead for him. During the parley some
one in the crowd presented apistol at his breast
and fired, but with no other effect than to stag
ger Lowe, who, at this demonstration of unre-
lenting hostility, broke from the crowd and
made a race for his life down the street In the
pursuit the crowd fired thirty forty shots at
him. without any apparent effect. lie was
finally overtaken and captured, when it was
found that his body was entirely encased in mr.
NOR that extended up the neck and covered
the back part of the head, where it was COW
cred by wig. He was taken back to the
courthouse, where the court was in session, and
in whose presence all these proceedings had oc-
Cured without any power on the part of the
civil officers to arrest them. The judge appealed
20 the crowd To give their prisoner into the
the Judge that he should be safely kept and
made amenable to the law. he was given in
charge to the judge, who took him to Jail and
remained with him protector the greater
part if not all night.
On Wednesday morning the village was com
parstiveIy quiet, and all was still about the
prison. The public fury appeared To have ex-
hauSted it'el and the pope Seenel Fad ~ d
melancholy over the death 0f Aldrick, who had
been killed fnr assisting Lowe the previous
day but about ten o'clock number of shots
ia rapid succession were hesrd within the pre-
rincts of the prison. On rushing 90 the Jail the
citizens found the keys hal been forced from
tine iailoT by two men, who proceeded to Loves
cell, AMI. IN the presence II another inmate of
the cell. had ridllcd his head aud chest with
balls. The unhappy man lay a corpse in pool
II blood upon the hoor The terrible deed, not
WithStanding the great excitement and the
r;eh"- OF the previous day, sent a thrill of hOr-
Tor through the community II he had been
20: down in the fight, his fate probably won d
hot have excited much sympathy or regret but
tn n.aass,na!'Gn Of helpless prisoner in his
cell after night OF reflection. wore too nncb
the aspect Of deliberate and ,,-o,.aI;..I