Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-02-25

Shooting Affair Between r.. b. DeweiI and
@-ss George w. Rowling.
A Bride Called to Decide Between a Hus.
band and Father.

|
A Bride Called to Decide Between a Hus
/ band and Father.
Some of our readers, no doubt, recognized il
our article of yesterday, entitled +" Cupid
| Vagaries," the actors in what came near being
a tragedy later in the day.
About twelve o'clock yesterday, George w
Bowling Esq, and daughter, Mrs. l. r. Dowell
were walking down Gay street, when they wer,
overtaken near r. n McEwen's store by Mr.
Dowell, who spoke to his wife, saying he wished
to have some conversation with her. The lady
stopped in compliance with the not unreasonable
request, when Mr.. Bowling turned, and in ar
angry manner told Dowell to leave, and ordered
his daughter to..follow him. Mr.. Dowell repeat
ed his request, when Bowling drew pistol and
pointed it at his son-in-law, who told him moi
| to shoot. Mr. Bowling then dropped his hand
| to his side and walked slowly down the street,
Dowell following. The former then turned and
| again raised his pistol, when Mr.. Dowell drew
| a navy and fred two shets, the second taking
| effect in the upper part of Mr.. Bowling left
hip the ball striking the bone and glancing
around, infctihg flesh wound.
As soon as he was struck, Mr.. Bowling ran
around the corner of John loves saloon, and
Mr.. Dowell seized the opportunity offered and,
accompanied by his wife, went into McEwen S
store, the doors of which. were closed on the
crowd which rapidly collected. 4ts4
Mr.. Bow ing was taken to room over Major
EO Conners saddle and harness establishment,
where his wound was dressed by Drs Bailey
and Tadlock.
In the afternoon, at 2 o'clock, Judge III. l..
Hall heard the arguments on the writ Of habcas
corpus sued out by Mr.. Dowell, which, for Mr..
Bowlings convenience, he heard in Mr.. o. Con-
ner's room, where he was lying. w. II. Hem
derson, Esq, appeared for the prosecutor, and
Col. John Baxter for the defense.
Mrs. Iduma R. Dowell was examined, and
stated that on the night she was married she
had gone home with her father willingly, and
had been under no restraint whatever. Her
husband had called to see her the next morning,
but her father warned him not to enter his
grounds, and she had refused to converse with
him. On being asked by Mr.. Henderson if her
reason for refusing to see Mr.. Dowell was not to
avoid difficulty, she replied in the Affirmative
Her father had told her she could do as she
chose, but advised her not to live with Mr..
Dowell.
The position of this lady was most embarrass-
ing. Called on to choose between an affection
ate father and a loving husband she had prom
ised TO honor and obey, was indeed trying. fct
she bore herself bravely under the ordeal, and
showed true womanly spirit.
Mr.. Dowell stated the circumstance of the
marriage, and that soon after the ceremony
was performed, his wife had concealed herself,
and he was told by one of his friends that Mr..
Bowling had spirited her away, which was
simply a fiction to tease him. However, the
gentleman soon came and talked calmly at first,
but soon became excited and told his daughter
peremptorily to accompany him home. He told
Mr.. Bowling he was little too late-that she
was his wife, and asked her to remain, and re-
peated the request several times. Mr.. Bowling
here interrupted Mr.. D., and asked him if he
DowelD had not told her to remain every time.
Mr. Dowell assented, like dutiful son, and
passed over Mr.. BIS attack on him as nothing
serious.
Mr.. Bowling made some statements concern
ing the facts, when the case was briefly argued
by the counsel on both sides, Col. Baxter in
sisting that Mrs. Dowell was tower young to
marry yet" while Mr.. Henderson seemed to
think she wasn't, and that if marriages at Gretna
Green were lawful this one was.
Judge Hall said that he would consider the
cost involved, which was really the most trivial
part of the question, and gave his decision that
he could not order the Sheriff or any other Off
Ger to release Mrs. Dowen from duress, as no
proof had been adduced to show THAT any re-
straint had been imposed upon her. He told
her she could exercise her volition and go with
whom she chose, without fear of hindrance.
Mr.. Bowling left for his, home on the Ken
lucky train, accompanied by his daughter.
During the brief period they were the guests
of Maj. OConner. Everything that could be
was done by that gentleman to conduce to their
comfort, though this characterize OF our genial
friend is so we'll known it is almost superhous
to mention.
Dowell was arrested by Deputy Sheriff John
Gibbs, and taken before Esquire Jourolmon.
but no prosecutor appearing, he was released.