The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-06
THE OUTLAWS ON THEMSELVES


In all my intercourse with the outlaws and their
mulatto friends l found a strong desire to have
their Justification OF their course given to the
country From full notes Of the many conversations
! had with them, submitted to and approved by
them before my departure, am enabled to give the
defences OF the three surviving outlaws Steve ana
Tom Lowery and Andrew strong.
PREDATORY.
Prior to the murder OF Sheriff King the Outia VS.
OF Robson county were Henry Berry L0weIy,
Boss Strong, George Applewhite, John Dial, Hen
derson Oxendine ana Zach Mclaughlin. All OF
these save George Applewnlte, who was pure
negro, and Zach Mclaughlin, white man, were OF
the mixed race that make up the settlement Of
Scufietown.
The circumstances that drove these men to the
swamps for refuge-the murder OF old Allen Lowery
and his son William by whites led by James Barnes,
the murder OF II. b. Lowerys three cousins by
Brant Harris, and the punishment OF Barnes and
Harris by the incensed mulattoes-have already
been ruy shown in your columns, as also the cause
OF the enmlty OF the whites against those people
VIZ, the assistance they extended to escaped fed
eral prisoners.
A year or two after the close OF the war; when the
outlawry Of Lowery's gang prevented their main
tanning themselves by labor, ex.SherlfY Reuben
King was wounded while defending his property
from which wound he died some SIX months after
wards.
Upon charge OF being concerned In this muir
der JOHN Dial and Henderson Oxendine were ar
rested.
HOW STEVE BECAME AN OUTLAW.
Dial, turning States evidence, testified that Steve
LOwery was one OF the band ut whose hands King
met his DEATH and soon afterwards Steve was ar
rested he Offering no resistance to the officers the
law.
Steve had until this time been unmolested by the
State or county officials To escape from work on
The rebel iortlfcauons during the war he had sought
and found situation that would exempt him from
military duty, and was for three years fireman on
the Wilmington, Charlotte ana Rutherford Railroad.
To be sure he was one OF the hated Lowerys, but
peacefully working in the woods getting out mate.
rial for the manufacture OF turpentne he had until
now avoided all trouble.
After he was arrested and imprisoned and before
his trial all his fellow prisoners escaped from jai
he going TO the outer door, but refusing to accom-
pany them ''ior' salu he, "God knows am limo.
cent of the charge brought against me, and il
should be unjusty convicted lie Will assist me to
escape"
STEVE LowERY's TRIAL.
Soon after this general jail delivery Steve was
called up for trial In Lumberton, and was ably de-
Tended by Colonel French. There was no testimony
whatever on the part OF the State but that OF John
|. Dial, who, however swore positively that Steve
was one or the party who attacked Kings house the
night ne was killed. Upon examination
Dial declared he had never said to any that his
he had been threatened in he did not testify
that steve and Tom Lowery were among the rob.
bers.
In defence IL was shown by three coored persons
that on the night Of the robbery, hall an hour pe-
tore It's occurrence, Steve was seen alone
EIGHT NILES FROM KINGS HOUSE.
Four or five negroes also testified that their pre-
sence Steve had charged John Dial. In Jail, with
having perjured himself In swearing to his com.
pllcty with the King robbers, and that In reply Dial
had said 1t was true, but that he had been CON-
PEELED to do it, that he had been visited In jail after
ms arrest by party OF white men, who had told
him that ne would be
KILLED UNLESS HE WOULD TESTIFY
against sieve ana Tom Lowery, and that II he
would, he would receive reward OF $4,000 and DC
sent North where the state OF North Carolina would
nay for two years course or instruction at good
school, These witnesses further testified that DIAL
said he was sorry he had sworn before that Steve
and Tom we're parties to this murder. but that he
would make It all right at the trial. where he would
testify TO the truth and steve would be acquitted
Judge Russell charged the jury that an abb was
olen the last desperate resort OF guilty man to
escape deserved punishment, and that they should
examine the evidence of the witnesses for the de-
fence suspici0usly, for they were all Of the same
race with the prisoner and were undisguisedly hts
friends.
the jury, after an absence Of fifteen minutes, re-
turned verdict OF guilty. and Steve L0wery
was
SENTENCED TO BE HANGED
by the neck until he was dead His counsel imme-
dlatey moved an arrest OF Judgment and for a
new trial, which was refused. He then carried the
case to the Superior Court Pending hearing Of
his case In the Superior Court
STEVE ESCAPED FROM JAIL
and Joined the baud Of Henry BeEry towery, ~.