The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-11-06


the following interesting story of a rc.
markable trial:
remember once, at Crawtordsville
md, man named Owen, indicted
ior the murder of his wife by poison
III was twenty-odd years ago. Owen
was respectable farmer in good cir
cumstanccs, and a consistent church
member. He had been twice mar
RED. He had several children by his
hrst wife; his second was chlldless,
circumstance which peculiarly af-
fected her mind and temper. She
would not permit his children to re-
side with her, and compelled
him to find a home for them
elsewhere. She had also frequently
threatened suicide in consequence of
these troubles.
One night Owen was awakened from
sleep to find her dying. He called in as
sistan3e and sent for a physician, but
she was dead before any one arrived.
Her sudden demise excited suspicion,
and three days after her burial this
was communicated to him by friend,
who further informed him that ar
rangements had been made to disin-
ter the body and investigate it,
Owen was greatly agitated at this
intelligence, and after short pause,
replied: If this is done, and poison
is found in Kazia's stomach, (his de-
ceased wife's christian name,) | will
be accused of her murder, convicted
and hanged. But l am as innocent as
that tree" pointing to one near by.
That night he transferred ali his
property TO his son, disguised himself
and fed the country. The body of his
wife was eXhumed and AN autopsy
had. Enough strychnine was found
in her stomach to kill a mule. There
was II universal expression of horror at
the discovery, and large reward was
Offered for the arrest of the fugitive.
After some months he was found in
Canada, where he was living under an
assumed name. He was brought TO
Charlottesville in irons, and it was
with difficulty that his execution by
mob could be prevented.
Joe Mcdonald (now my colleague in
the Senate), Jim Wilson, once a repre-
sentative in Congress, and subsequent-
ly Minister to Venezuela, and myself
defended him. There was formida-
bic prosecution, Lew Wallace, Judge
Gregory and others appearing against
him.
1t was proven that Il short time be-
fore Mrs. Owens death her husband
had purchased strychninc at drug
store in the neighborhood, telling his
druggist that he wanted it for poison
ing rats; but he asked that it should
be charged to him, fact upon which
we laid great stress in the argument,
that if he had entertained Il
design in buying the drug he
would not have put the evidence of
the fact upon record. A daughter who |
was visiting her fathers house when !
the poison was brought home testified |
that he handed it to her stopmOther !
in her presence, cautiOning her to be |
careful with it. A brother of his wife |
who was greatly embittered against |
him, and was witness for the State, |
upon cross examination,
that Owens treatment Of his sister was
considerate and kind.
This was all we had to base II de- |
fence on. The odds We're fearful. There
was the remark Of the marked agita-
lion of Owen when first informed of
jhe suspicious existing against him,
MS admission that if the post mortem
showed that poison was
he cause of his wife's death he would
De accused of administering it and
hanged his purchase of the poison
his transfer of his property and his
light, all combined nearly irresistibly
ed to the conviction of his guilt.
Mr.. Voorhees," he said to me, chow
,ver darkly things may appear against
he, am not guilty - and [ believed
lim. We fought the case like tigers
lpon the reasonable doubt which we
leemed the evidence had not excluded,
md won it.
Such an uproar as followed, never
Owen was taken to Will
On's private residence, pursued hy
'rOwd, craZed with disappointment
md thirsting for his blood. Wilson,
Mcdonald and | stood at the front
rate with pistols in our hands, and
heCked the approach of the mob until
owen could escape from the rear of the
lOuse in conveyance that had been
'rovided him. 1t is the only time in !
istOl. He showed an unmistakable :
urpose to use it if necessary.
Owen went to Texas and died there,
presume, as | have never seen or
card of him since. His wife had com ,
litted suicide. He knew it, but pre- !
erred to keep the fact to himself to
void scandal and exposing her. He {
yas a weak, but an honest man. For t
is safe deliverance he was indebted '
, capital jury, men who could be {
either bought nor scared. The fore (
nan had served the country in the |
tate Senate, Others had held Office, {
nd all were persons of consideration {
nd influence.