Daily national Democrat., 1859-04-05
Life In Kentucky---Tragedy Extraordi-
nary at HaWsville.

An extraordinary tragedy has taken place
at Hawsville Kentucky. 1t appears that the
public mind there had been for some time
greatly excited by threats emlnating from
Thomas S. Lowe against Cicero Maxwell, the
attorney for the common wealth The Louis
Vile journal thus tells the sequel of the
story.
On lst March, Lowe sent word to Maxwell
that he wished him to remain part of the
day in his room. Maxwell accordingly. staid
in his room, having employed Judge Y eat
man to attend to his duties rs prosecuting
attorney. Low sent him letter by friend,
inquiring whether he would accep Il challenge
rom him Maxwell refused to commune ate
with Lowe by note loves friend then
asked Maxwell whether he would appear up
on the street, with long or short arms Max
well declined to give any explanation of his
intentions simply saying that he should go
upon the street when he pleased and as he
! pleased.
Shortly afterwards, Lowe made his appear
ance upon the street and calling upon Max
well if within the sound of his voice to
come forth, stated that he had been stigma
tised bv Maxwell as political juggler, and
then proceeded to denounce Maxwell as a
"liar. a calumniator and the son ola W
repeating the denunciation several times
Maxwell, accompanied by Messrs. Harris
and Morton of Hartford, Thomas Withrow
and Judge Mayhall of Hawsvile left his
room Maxwell armed with double barreled
shotgun, Mayhall with a rifle and the two
others with pistols. Maxwell, as soon as he
got within shooting distance Of Lowe fired at
him. The shot struck Lowe on the left
breast, but he was protected by coat of
mail, which was subseq quently given bvhim to
Judge Stuart. of Brandenburg. Lowe i'm
medately returned the fire, and then wheel
ed and fled. He ran into a crowd at the
Court House, where John II. MclIenry of
Owensboro', made a speech, invoking the
citizens to do no violence but to let the law
take its course
Lowe afterwards took refuge in wild
ow's house, but Maxwel's friends pursued
him, demanding him of the widow, and
threatening, in case of refusal, to demolsh
her house. She told them he was there, but
entreated them not to iniure her house, as
she had no power to remove him Three of
MaXwell's friends went iuto the house and
assured Love- that, if he would 90 out with
them he should not be hurt. Lowe, asking
them to spare his life, left with them, but
after his proceeding some distance, the crowd
commenced firing One of MaXwell's fri ends !
then said to Lowe that he could no longer
risk his own life to save his Lowe ran and
called on Harris to follow him, pursued by |
he crowd who continued firing Aldrdge, |
a friend of Love- ran with him and fired |
once or twice at the pursuing crowd He
was instantly killed by n shot through the
head. Lowe was shot in the thigh, and had |
a finger shot off. and his clothes were literally |
riddled. his life being saved bv his coat of |
IN 10 70, tba hop &c tI
where he fell, exhausted followed bv the
crowd. He fell on his face as if killed.
Thomas Withrow had fired at him in the
pursuit until his shots were exhausted and
after Lowe was down ran up TO him, cut
at him with a knife, but the coat ofmail
prevented the penetration of the weapon.
This coat-of fmail which was of Steel was so
closely linked, that a pigeon shot could
scarcely penetrate it, and it extended up over
the whole of the back part of his head. being
concealed bya thick wig. Harris Maxwcll's
friend, went to Lowe to protect him One
man presented pistol, swearing that he
would kill Lowe, but Harris knocked the
pistol up, and it was discharged in the air.
Maxwell then went up to Lowe and asked
him if he would retract what he had said of
him. Lowe replied that he retracted every
hing he had said, and that he was coward 7
md had disgraced himself Thereupon Max
well appealed to his friends not to hurt
Lowe, stating that the latter had done all he
could wish him to do The appeal had its
effect, and Lowe was conducted before
Judge Stuart at the Court house
Judge Stuart made speech to the crowd.
telling them that they would have to walk
over his dead body to do any further injury
to Lowe, that Lowe had surrendered himself |
10 him and should be protected. A surgeon
was sent for and loves wounds were dress
ed at the court house. Judge Stuart then
took him to the Jail and remained with him !
till halfpast 10 p. NJ Nothing further oc-
theL occurred during the night The next |
morning Lowe sent for Harris and thanked
him for his protection He was still afraid
of the mob, and begged Harris influence in
behalf of himself his wife and his children.
In the meantime a rumor became current
in the streets that Lowe had threatened to
kill the last man of the mob, at the risk of
his own life, as soon as released Thomas
WithrOw and Dr. Davidson went to Mr.. Old
ham, the jailor, and demanded the KEYS of
the Jail. He refused to comply with the de
mand, whereupon they pointed their pistols
lt his breast and said they would kill him if
The keys were not surrendered. He surren-
1ered them, and the two men went to Loves
,ell and unlocked the door. The prisoner in
he adjoining cell saw them enter. Lowe,
who was lying upon his bed, begged for mer.
y, beseeching them TO spare his life for the
IKE of his wife and children The prisoner
If the neighboring cell states that the tall
nan (Winthrow) shot first, and the short man
Davidson) next. The two then passed out
Of the cell, but Immediately went back, and
each fired two more shots. ANY one of the
six shots would would have been mortal
Two balls were lodged in Loves body, and
one in his head.
The Louisville journal, of 7th March. saws:
The Grand Jury report that Lowe was
proved to have coat ofmail on the day be-
fore the affray. but they say nothing as to his
having worn it in the fight. Well known
facts can scarcely leave a doubt that he did
wear it upon that occasion. Our informant.
who was a spectator of the scene, saws that at
least between seventy five and hundred
guns and pistols were fired at Lowe, and that
there were thirty.two bullets and buck.shot
holes through all portions of his coat, but
that not q solitary ball or shot enter, d his
body, or even drew q drop of blood Ueav-
lly loaded guns were fired at him at a dis
lance ct not more than six feet, and he was
repeatedly knocked down and whirled around
by the leaden missiles, yet no wounds except
c1ntusions were inflicted The ball which |
struck his thigh made very severe bruise.
but did not enter the skin, Our informant
saw strong man strike him four times with
bowie knife, but the point of the weapon
turned without penetrating.
The NIGur WoRKERs.-V often as our
non-laboring citizens turn in their comforta-