The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-08

he was one of the ronghest of his class, over
bearing and abusive to them. The gravest
charge they bring against him was the killing
Of two sons of George Lowery, cousins of b.
B. Lowery. The dead bodies of the two
young men were found, and the presumption
OF the LOWerys was that Harriss had shot
them, and for this they swore vengeance
against him. Harriss soon afterwards surren-
dered himself to the civil authorities, or gave
bond for bis appearance at court for trial the
month afterwards, (September,) but he was
shot by the Lowerys before court met. After
the killing of Harriss, 1t is supposed that 81. B.
Lowery was Joined by some two or three
others of the mulattoes, probably some Of the
same ones who have since formed q part of
his band, aud they continued fugitives, from
Justice from that time. After this the depre.
dations of the band consisted principally Of
petty thetts and robberles, or, as they called
It, foragng for living, until some time in
January, 1865, when they fell In with some
twenty escaped Federal prisoners from Flor
ence, of mixed nationalities and headed by an
officer. These they joined and commenced
a general system of robberies, the Lowerys
plotting and participating in them. They
soon became the terror of the county,
though have never heard of their commit
those who hesitated about opening their
doors. Some time in the latter part of Febru-
ary they were reported as being on the Rock
ingham road, working their way up towards
the upper end Of the county, and the proprlety
of Offering resistance was generally discussed
among the fai mers living on the road, most
of them declaring that as no efectual resist
ance could be offered to such force, Qhey
were varlously stated at from twenty to dtty,)
the best way was to open the doors to them
and let them plunder at will. particularly as
the county was then nearly depleted OF men
capable Of bearing arms. In this discussion
my present wife, then the widow of DR.. Neill
pretty warmly her appreciation of their want
of nerve In determining to open their doors to
a band Of robbers, and vowed she would never
open hers; that II they came in they would
have to break them down. At that time there
was refuging here with Mrs. MacRae two
families, her sister and family and her
brothers wife and family. These two ladies
counselled moderation, and the discussion con-
linued until the afternoon OF the 9th of Feb.
ruary, when two young men, acqnaintauces
of Mrs. MacRae, came down from Richmond
County on visit OF two or three days, and
Mrs. MacRae declared that with such an ad-
ditlon to the defensive force she would resist
them to the last. On the same night, abont
twelve O'Clock, the band came to the front
door and demanded admittance. Mrs. Mac
Rae ran up stairs and aroused the two youRg
men, telling them the robbers were Rt the
door. One of the young men, the wounded
Confederate soldier, had his pistols With him,
one large naval revolver and the other
small pocket revolver, which be brought
down with him. handing the smaller one TO
Mrs. MaeRae. When he reached the lower
passage theTobbers had broken into one Of the
room windows and were engaged In plumber
ing. BE opened the door and fired on one man
who was on his knees over trunk, which he
was about breaking open. This frightened
them and they sprang through the window,
not seemingly anticipating any defence. They
axe and torches and came back, swearing
they would break the door down aud murder
eyery one In the house. They commenced
splitting the door panels with the axe, and
while doing 80 one OF the number stood lm-
medlately In front of the side light, holding
a torch for the others to see. The wounded
soldier and Mrs. MacRae we're STOPPING on the
same side Of the door, and Just below tne siae, h
light, watching their proceedings. AS tne
man outside leaned his back against the sasn,
the young soldier placed the muzzle Of his
pistol against the glass and fired, driving the
ball through the man, little below tne
shoulder, who, falling forward on his fare,
pitched the torch out into the yard. InlS
created great confusion outside, ana tne
parties picked up their murdered comrade
and carried him out Of the front gate some
distance, swearing they would come back
and have revenge. They did return IN few
minutes bringing other torches with tnem,
and as they approached the steps fIed vol
lev through the aide iighta, shlVering the glass,
and almost binding the young man WIN ,a e tne
particles which were knocked Into his lace
and eyes, and cutting Mrs. MacRae's neck
SLIGHTLY. Fortunately the shot did not strike
either. but lodged In the ceiling overhead.
After this the door gave WEI, alG the party
rushed in. Before they did, however, Mrs.
! "a Ll..accnIsas mad pushed the young man IN room
and met them herself, and on being quesuon-
ed as to who had fired the shot through Tue
glass, declared she bad done 1t herself. AT
with the crowd, swore he would Kill ner, ana
raised his gun tor the purpose, but ihe
officer In command ordered him 10 detist,
| and threatened to shoot any man VINO o1ereo
her violence. His threat, however, alo lot
prevent the mulatto, whom she TOOK 10 pc
q. B. Lowery, from striking her severe
| lick in the back with the butt OF his gun; es
she walked down the passage sneaa 800 oi Inm l,m'
The officer again intertered, and showed Low
ery back. After this no further violence was
offered, but the crowd began to help them
selves TO whatever they found TO suit them,
taking all the silver, jewelry, &C., thes could
| find. together with quantity OF clotm9g,
blankets, &c. The day after the attack az
Argyle, several of the neighbors assemoien
here, ana QeCermlneu W ouIaiu 1i.o oSeiotoooe
| of a small body of the home guard, VINO were
stationed above here, and follow the robbers.
| Accordingly, next day they assembled TO the
number OF twenty-five or thirty, and followed
on to Scufietown, where the band were re-
ported to have halted to divide their plunder
The band had dispersed, however, peiore
they got to Scuf1etown. The party tneI
hear;Sg that q. B. aud William LoWery
vera at heir fathers tAllen Lo%eryl
honsa Q" nroceede6 there and arrested Inc
thrse, ,tlen 81. B. and Willlam-aud helc
them prisoners while some OIL Tue pat.s nags
searched the premises, ana ionau ~ Linde Gat,
under the house stolen goods OF various ooa hinus
guns, pistols, &C., some OF Wnlcu We,e iesO go,
n&zed as the property Of some VI CnS pa.
then present. They then held etina ~.
and some Of the party voted for shos''"s w. ~
three; others, and generally the older me-
the party, counselled moderation, and advised
that they should be carried to Lumberton to
be dealt with by the law. The others, how
ever, prevailed, declaring that they would be
| liberated by Sherman's army, who were then
daily expected to reach this county, and
declaring that II. B. and William deserved
shooting for the two murders they were
known to have committed. They. finally
tied the three, and squad stepped OH 10
shoot them, but just before the firing com
menced, d. B. Lowery burst his bolds
and fed, escaping to the swamp. which E;
was close by. The other two, Allen and ms
son William, were then shot: some otner
rash measures were proposed, but overruled'
After this 81. B. was joined by his brothers
| hu ho