The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-01-27
The Murder of Jack Owens.
BEAUFORT, S. c., Jan. IA, 1875.
Editor ofthe Tlibhne:


Editor ofthe T,f6hne:
Robert smails' paper of the 7th, In.
tormsus that the tour prisoners commit.
ted To- Jail by Deputy Coroner Lewis q" as
accessories" have been DISCHARGED by
virtue of writ Of hdbeas corpus their
cases having Been brought before lrial
Justices Carleton and Williams. w.
learn from another source, that bail the
amount OF $500 was required. We don't
know whether each of the prisoners fur
nlohed suretles OF like anouut, but we do
say that one, at least, OF the prisone els
should have been refused bail.
through the courtesy of the Deputy
here, In charge of the Coroner's Office, We
have been permitted to examine, tho YER
dict of the jury Of inquest, as we'll AZ the
testimony upon which it was based: DR.
FOLK who made the post mortem exam
lnatlon says, the knife catered the chest
between the 2nd and Bird ribs, r =
passing through the ascending aorta and
pcnetratlng Into tho lett auricle of the
heart" This WAS quite sufficient to es-
taollsh the TACT that u knife or other cut
tinS instrument was the weapon used
hence the jury said that tho deceased
came co his death by some sharp pointed
cutting instrument III the hands of scme
unknown person." II tho account in
Robert Snlalis' paper Is correct either
these PRISONERS have been discharged
without any investigation OF the evidence
on winch they have been committed, OF
the discharge Was In utter disregard both
of the testimony aud the hnding OF the
jury. Let Us zoe: Barny Brown, the
second witness examined says, Tom
Pnester caine up with knife opened In
his hand, and said who arC you curSiuy
VI hen turned Jack loose, he
backed and 1 ON Priester was still raring
and charging at Jack Owens with knife
opened In hand" Ben Bryant the thlro
witness says, 1 saw the lire Ut pisloi
and heard the report aud saw Jack faii
anu thought from ell appearances that
II Was either irwin Brown or Tom Prizes
Ter that had killed him, rs they were the
only Two that had had any dliiculty
with deceased, and rum had his knlIe
.ut and opened, and Irwin Brown wish q
pistol drawn, DC"
Jacob Brown another witness Gays Tom
Priesser came up and asked Jsck what ne
meant; ehd caught Iom aud told him
wanted no row, DC. Ihis Ni.ncss docs
not mention the knlfe.
The ninth witness Suary Hay, says, 81
mad Tom Pricster around the waist ; and
myself and his her Carried him out OF
the yard" Priester's name is elscM here
mentioned in the eyideuce, but surely the
above Ii enough to SHOW that he was not
only present, uut took al active part in
the row." and was the only person pres
ent SAID to have displayed knife. In
the lace OF this we are told that "no al
lusion " was made 10 him IN The rYideuce
before the Coruucrs Jury.
A pistol was fred but whether charged
with ball or not, it took no effect. Ihe
evidence points to Bowers, and his escape
and secretion corroberate the suspicion
that his pistol was the one discharged
The fire OF the pistol ana the fall of the
deceased were simultaneously. Doubtless
Bowers thought he had shot him, and
:ook to flight. He should be arrested aud
committed for assault with Intent to kill;
but we are at a luss to understand how
his position furnishes ground for the dis
eharge OF Priester, with any amount OF
pali. We have been informed that Dep
uty Coroner Lewis elected farther eyi.
dence, after the dismissal or the Jury.
which justified him in mis- course. AS 1ar
as Pr1ester Is concerned, no more evidence
In our opinion, was necessary. lmprison-
ment until the February term OF court
would have been triling punishment
for one who acted so violent q part on
this occasion. We regret that the trial
Justices thought proper TO discharge him,
and fear that they acted without Cooking
at the evidence. We commend the mat.
ter to the notice of the Solicitor.