The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-05-20
HOT HIGHWAY HOSTILITY
A Nay Morning Meeting
A Fatal Feud's Fierce Finish.
Smiths Slug 10 Lowry's Lead.
Serious Condition Of the Wounded
Nan.

Yesterday morning. seven miles north Of
Sedalia, very Ismeniable affair occurred
that Of shooting ARRAY between two
young men, viz: Vardaman Smith and
Claiborne Lowry, in which the latter va
seriously wounded in two places BY pistol
balls.
THE CAUSE
A BAzOO reporter freed Mr.. james
Smith, father of Ward. smith. . prominent
citizen Of the county, in the city yesterday
afternoon, and from him learned the Smith
side Of this difficulty.
II appears from Mr.. Smiths story. that
over one year ego Ward. Smith and Claib
Lowry met At the High Point school examin-
alton. The two young men sat On the same
seat and by accident Ward. Smith set on
Lowry's coat-iail. Lowry Vas wroth and
cursed him and accused Smith Of endeav.
oring to put his hands into his pockess
Words followed, when Smith invited Lowry
outside TO eight. Smith went, but Lowry
staid in the house.
THE MEETING YESTERDAY.
The two boys met yesterday morning foI
the first time since the unpleasantness, n
the High Point school house. Lowry was
on horseback riding south, while Smith
was in spring wagon with his brother,
going north, on the Sedslia and Marshall
Ioad. When Claib saw the Smiths coming
he was seen to put HE hand in his hir
pocket, a. il to adjust his pistol. Lowry
got his pistol out FIRST and shot, immediate
y followed by shot from pistol in the
hands of Smith. Two shots took effect in
Lowry, one in the thigh and the other in
the right groin, the latter coming out neas
the spine.
The reporter asked Mr.. Smith If he
thought Lowry would recover.
"That is hard to tell. hear diecoursg-
ing reports As TO his recovery" said Smith.
A brother of Smiths and Wilson Jones
we're the only witnesses 10 the short-range
shooting. When Jones saw the shooting
be cried out, stop that! stop that boys
and endeavored to act the part Of pesce
maker.
INTERVIEW WITH LOWRY.
Yesterday afternoon . BAzOo reporter
visited Mr.. Lowry, st the residence Of Joe
Bowers, about three hundred yards from
where the shooting was done.
Mr.. Lowry was lying on . lounge At
tended by DIR J. n. Ferguson, and friends
near and dear. lie MAS At times suffering
considerable pain. The reporter asked:
What time did the shooting take place?
I Lowry-Eight o'clock this morning.
Rep-Tell me how this happened.
Ii vas on horseback and had start.
ed for Benton county by the way Of Sedalia.
R-When did you first see Smith this
morning?
Ii did not zee him until be jumped
out of the spring wagon and Was within
thirty feet Of me, when he shot.
R-How long after you first saw him did
he shoot?
Ii did not have time to speak before
he shot.
R-What did he say before he shot!
las he jumped out Of the wagon, he
said to me in q loud tone: cd d-n
you, have got you now"
Rep-How long after he said that did be
shoot?
LAS soon "a he got the words out OF
his mouth-he was pulling h,s pistol - he
said it.
Rep-Did you speak to him before he
shot.
Ii have not said anything to him yet
Rep-How many times did he shoot!
lie shot five times to the best 0f my
knowledge-ihe sixth time his pistol failed
him.
R-When did this trouble between you
boys 6rst commence?
L-About the 18th of March. 1873.
there was au exhibition At High Point
school house, kept BY Judge Wsshburn. !
was seated in the school house that night
when Ward. Smith came in and sat down
1t my right side. ! hsd little change in
my pants pocket and he put his hand
in my pocket. told him "if be did
not keep his hands out Of my pocket, l
would knock hi out Of him" Il con-
fused him 40 that he did not say . word
for an hour. by th.t time be had his
three brothers behind me. He then said,
"I1l zee you sgain." Az he started home,
was told that when they vent outside
they each got . stick Of cord wood and
made demonstrations rs If they were COM
ing back into the school house, but the
men Outside advised them 10 let me alone
and their sister induced them 10 90 home.
R-When did you next meet Ward
Smith?
L-Not until this morning. The Smith
boys on the next Sunday after the difficulty
threatened an attack on my brother viii
liam, Who was With me at the school house.
They called william liar, and be being
alone did not resent il.
Rep-Hov many shots did you Ere?
Latter Smith had shot three times,
fred my pistol once and only once.
Rep-Which of the shots hit you!
1.-The FIRST and second shots took effect
on my person. The third vent throssh ny
coat The ball which vent through ~
thigh vent into the horse, and the horse i
badly wounded.
R-Had you expected whenever you did
meet that there would Be trouble?
L-No. sir. I thoushl the didkculty he'd
cooled down between %.
Rep-What else occurred?
Latter Smith had flashed shooting.