The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-09-15
Deed OF Blood by an Alcorn APP
pOfmIee---I'he Tragedy Ht
Goodman.
one Brother Killed and Aaoticr Woaadee

lJllg DIOlfttT htttLN anu -lltetttlf "
From tie Central Star.
| Goodman was the scene on last Mon
dav night, of one of the bloodiest ARRAYS
which this county has ever witnessed.
The plain unvarnished facts of the case
show beyond peradventure, that James
r. Bowen, the murderer, is n fend IN
human form-a regular Hai-cat, who
Graves life. but for the privilege Of gloat-
ingly Teasing upon the blood Of man.
Mr.. Phil. Raiford, his brother I'D.
Raiferd and Mr.. Green, all citizens of the
county, came to town on Monday even
ing. They took, perhaps, several drinks,
and doubtless some Of them felt the effects
of their drinking 10 a limited extent.
About o'clock in the night, the party
began TO make preparation TO go home,
Mr.. Ed. Raiford drove his buggy up in
front Of the hotel, Mr.. Phil Raiiord led
his horse up, ready to mount Green
seemed a little disposed 20 linger and
manifested some disposition TO be noisy,
but by nomeans annoying. Ed. Raitord
got into his buggy and lie and his brother
both told Green TO get into the buggy
that they might all 80 home. just At
this moment Bowen came down from his
room in the second story of the hotel
building, and assuming to be magistrate,
ordered several persons present TO arrest
the Raifords and Green, accompanying
his order to arrest with such denunciation
of the Raifords and Green, n, "you are
a id set of scoundrels, liars, etc Mr..
Phil. Raitord' said 10 Bowen, that none
of his party had done anything 10 be
arrested for, and that they were starting
/ home, and that they could not be arrest
ed unless they had done something 10
Justify it. Bowen, with his pistol in his
/ hand, under his coat, continued his de
nunciation of the Raifords, until Mr..
( Phil. Raiford said to him that he was
acting the fool, and had better 60 to his
room and 20 to bed, and that they would
20 home. At this point, Bowen, who
4 seemed to imagine that the pacific con
duet of the Raifords was indicative of
cowardice, became keenly severe in his
denunciations These dcnunciatiOns were
repealed by Mr.. Phil. Raitord, denoun-
cling Bowen as a liar. The words had
not fallen from Railroads lips ere Bowen
fired, his first shot taking effect in the left
breast Of Phil Raiford, from the effects
of which he died in one hour. Bowen's
second shot took effect in the abdomen of
Ed Raiford, and was fred just as Ed.
! Raiford was jumping from the buggy to
rescue his brother.
! Bowen fred two additional shots into
the general crowd Of human beings pres
ent, not seeming to care who he killed.
Having completed his bloody work, and
while the crowd were standing in mute
astonshment, not knowing exactly what
had been done, he fled, and on Tuesday
morning boarded the upward bound train,
at Pickens Station. When the train ar
rived at Goodman, search was made and
Bowen was discovered and captured by
the law-abiding citizens.
/ The community was much excited and
that excitement was greatly augmented
/ by the wholly unnecessary dcmonstra-
tions Of the negroes, in the interest Of
Bowen. This bloody deed has desolated
/ the hearthstones OF two or three OF our
worthiest families. The people-we
mean the white people, are determined
that the law shall take its course, and
/ that Justice shall he done according 70 the
facts. They don't desire, nor will they
willingly resort TO violence, but, il may
as well be said now and here, that, by the
eternal God, all the powers Of loyal
leagueism, aided by carpet-bag devilism,
in its most hideous form, shall not pre-
vent the law from taking its regular and
/ legitimate course in this case. Bowen
/ has, since his advent here, been working
upon the negroes, day and night, trying
to win them 10 his support, and il would
seem to a great extent has been success
| ful He went last Saturday night into
the midst Of several hundred, secretly,
and advised them that it was impor-
tant that they organize colored compa-
ny Of militia, for mutual protection, with
him for Captain.
Bowen was taken to the county jail,
and was to have had a preliminary trial
on Friday last.)