The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-03-05
The HawesvilIe Tragedy.

happy and bloody ARRAY at Hawesville, KY.
on Tuesday and Wednesday last. Being in
timately acquainted with the place, and its
generous, peaceful and law abiding citizens,
we can fully appreciate the terrible provo
cation, if not necessity, under which they
acted. The occurrences illustrate with most
impressive force the shocking evils that the
introduction of one lawless and reckless man
may bring apon quiet, united and happy
community. Whatever unenviable fame
this bloody ARRAY 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
a more hospitable, orderly, generous and
united population in any town upon the
banks of the Ohio. He came to the place
somefve or six years ago, and connected
himself by marriage with one of the most
respectable families of the neighborhood,
and attained respectable position as mer-
chant. He is acknowledged to have been
upright and faithful in all his bushes af-
fairs, and although apparently amiable and
courteous in his general bearing, he has,
from the beginning of his residence in the
town, been engaged in a series of most vio-
lent and outrageous broils, till he had become
the terror of the county, and the peace of
the community seemed to demand that he
should be expelled from it. His first
act of violence was shooting and dam
gerously wounding teamster for whip
ping his cattle. AT a trial soon after, be-
fore justice at Lewisport, he drew his pis-
toll in the court room and shot his opponent
A large button, on which the ball glanced,
saved, however, the life of his intended VIC
tim. This affair led to series of other acts
which disturbed the neighborhood for some
time. e<E ls
On another occasion, when attending a
trial, in fit of rage he drew revolver and
fred several shots at man standing in a
densely crowded court house; but as if by
a miracle, only young lad was injured,
and he was shot in the leg. He has been
for years in perpetual feuds and breils with
parties around him, who would not submit
to his imperious will, often threatening vio-
lence, and, in many instances, shooting
persons in the most reckless and wanton
The tragedy that ended his career has
been apprebended for some months. Du-
ring the canvas for State offices in Ken.
lucky, in July last, Mr.. Maxwell made a
speech at Cloverport, in which he cast some
reflections upon the political party to which
Lowe was attached. The latter demanded
a retraction, with threat of personal vio-
lence. Maxwell defed him; but as Lowe
found Maxwell better armed than himself
he prudently deferred the encounter, hut
declared he would force retraction or
horsewhip Maxwell the frst time he met
him. Mr.. Maxwells duties, as Prosecuting
Attorney, made it necessary for him to at
tend the February Court at Hawesville; and
the citizens have looked forward to the
meeting as one that would end in blood
Before Mr.. Maxwell reached the town, Lowe
had prepared himself for deadly con-
fict He made his will and placed it on
record and on Monday on leaving his
home-which is a few miles from town-he
took farewell leave of his wife and babes
In town he prepared perfect arsenal of
arms, of every description, which he depos-
tied in various places, into which he calcu-
lated to retreat and defend himself
The respectable and order-loving citizens
interfered and endeavored to produce re-
Cancellation. A committee of mutual friends
met and conferred for day and nearly all
night; but loves exactions were SO unrea-
sonable and humiliating to Maxwell, that
Loves own friends would not present them /;
and they finally told him if he would not quail
ify them, they would abandon him and his
cause-which they did, and left him to adopt
his own measures On Tuesday morning
he placed a stack of loaded muskets in a lot
fronting the public square, on which he APP
peared with FIVE or six pistols under his
arms-as many more in a belt-and with
his coat pockets apparently loaded with re-
velvers and bowie knives. He paced the
sidewalk, denouncing Maxwell as a liar and
coward, with the most insulting epithets.
He deied him to show himself and meet
him in fight. Maxwell, with two friends,
appeared upon the street, armed with mus
kets. At the sight of them, loves courage
seemed to fail him, and he retreated to the
lot for his muskets, and as his opponents APP
preached, he fired on them and turned and
run. They pursued, and in the pursuit it is
supposed twenty shots were fred and hit
him, but none of them took effect, except
one that took off his thumb. He found
shelter in the house of widow lady, who
protected him from 4. the indignation of the
crowd. BY her, 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 infuriated
individual fired a rife at him within few