The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1879-06-02
FIRST EDITION.
SHOT DEAD
A Councilman Killed.
A Sad Saturday Night
eensation.
Result of a ROw.
COL. RICHARD H. ROWE ALMOST
IN0rANrLY KILLED by A
MGSSENT BULLET.
Result of a ROw.

A WRETCH's REMORsE AND A SAD
FAMILY SCENE-THE CORONER's Sc
cRET INQUEsT-THE MAN WHO FIR
ED THE SHOT COMMITTED TO JAIL
THE AFFAIRIN DETAIL.
The humble story and half frame
structure standing at the corner Of Thir-
teenth and Heald streets in that not
very classic part of Wilmington, lying
beyond Eleventh street bridge, and
known as Pickleville, has for a long
time past been noted for doings of dis
order and reckless festivity; and on last
Saturday evening it was the scene of a
tragedy which gave Pickleville in par
ticular and Wilmington in general all
other of those startling homicide sensa-
tions, which our city has been so un-
fortunate in of late years. Much more
interest attaches to the sad event
through the prominence of the victim,
who instead of being poor negro, or a
drunken Irish laborer, is one of those
VIII HOluS seal Ill OuT SOuIlCll anu
helps make the city laws.
The actors in the deed were Col.
Richard ii. Rowe, well known citizen
and Councilman, Edward McG cGaughey,
and Hugh Dugan. The first named was
shot with pistol in the hands ofDugan,
which was evidently fired at McGaughey,
and was wounded SO badly that he ex-
pired shortly afterwards. The house in
which the affair occurred is occupied by
Dugan and his family. The news
spread like wild-fire through the precincts
Of Pickleville, and the excitement
among the citizens of the neighborhood
was, in short time, very intense. In
formation of the affair was received in
the city shortly after the shot had been
fired.
THE TRAGEDY.
The crime, for such 1t may be called,
took place, as near as can be ascertained,
at 4.30 o'clock. From statements made
by those who are either connected with
the sad affair or some of its circum-
stances, it appears that Mr.. Rowe was
sitting under one of the numerous
shade trees which grow In that rather
rural part, talking with Martin Coleman.
Coleman is quarryman by craft and
the conversation was upon the blasting
and removing of the rocks in what is
known as "quarry lot," which Mr.. Rowe
has been engaged in grading for some
months. While thus engaged, two col
ored men, Charles Foster and James
Levins by name, who have been work
ing for Mr.. Rowe upon the grading con-
tract, came up to them and asked Mr.
Rowe if he could pay them for the work
they had done. 1t seems that wages
were owing the two men for two weeks
work. Mr.. Rowe, for some reason, put
them off, and invited them over to
Dugan's saloon to take drink. They
assented and the four, Mr.. Rowe, Martin
Coleman and the two negroes Foster and
Levins, proceeded to the saloon. Enter
ing they were waited upon by Mrs.
Agnes Dugan. Mr.. Rowe took a cigar,
Martin Coleman and the two negroes
took beer. The only person about the
house at this time, besides Mrs. Dugan
and the four just mentioned, was Hugh
Dugan, her husband. After standing a
few minutes at the bar, Mr.. Rowe and
Martin Coleman, went back into the sit
ting room and closed the door. They
remained some minutes in conversation
upon the contract for the removal Of
stone. While they were still talking
Edward McGaughey, who was intoxi
Gated, came to The sitting room door and
knocked noisily for admittance. JUS
here it may be well for the arrangement
of the two rooms to be described, in or
der that the reader may understand. The
house fronts on both Head and Thir
teenth streets, and the entrance to tht
bar room is on Head street. The sit
ting room is Immediately back of the ba
room and is connected with it by door
A door also opened upon 18th stree
from the sitting room, and it was at thi
door that McGaughey knocked. DugaI
refused to let him in, saying that he wa.
drunk and had given him much troubl,
that day already.
Mr.. Rowe, however, remarked, Gle
him in, we don't care and he will no
hurt any one." With that he, (ROwe
stepped forward and unlocked the doc
for McGaughey, who Immediately enter
ed. A sharp discussion at once arose be
tween the two meI, McGaughey an
Dugan, as soon as the former came in
to- the house, and nearly all the state
ments show that McGaugheJ hit tn
other sharp blow with his fist. Afte
this the fight al p ,ars to have been thong
uuelled in a measure, for Dugan wen
out into the bar room and McGaughe
entered into conversation. Coleman
Mrs. Dugan and the two negroes wer
all in the bar room. After being abser
} for a minute, Dugan returned with
pistol in his hand; he stood in the doc
an instant, and then pointing it at tn
two men, fired. The shooting appear
to have been intentional, but whethe
the fatal bullet was intended for the III
fortunate victim or for the man VIII
stood close beside him conversing, car
not be stated with any degre
of certainty. Rowe at ono
fell to the floor with the bullet throug
his brain and never spoke again. II
died in 20 minutes, and for the create
part of that time was senseless. Mrs
Dugan sent colored man for docto
and minute or two afterward sent he
husband after him, fearful that medics
aid would not be secured. 81 may Sc