Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-29
The Tennessee Tragedy.

| KILLING OF HER HUSBAND BY MRS.
LOWE DAvIs.\
We noticed the fact last week that Mrs
Lowe Davis formerly Miss Lutte Merri.
wether) had shot and killed her husband at
Rhea Springs, Tenn. This lady resided
III Staunton last year. and was for
| some time resident here, boarding near
the school and taking course of study at
the Augusta Female Seminary. She has
many friends here who esteem her highly
not only for her intellectual accomplish
ments, for she was young lady of extra
ordinary mind, but for her elevation of
character and warm heart. They will be
shocked to hear of her insanity, and of the
tragedy to which it is said to have led. A
letter from Huntsville, Ala, says:
Lutte and Matte Merriwether are the
| daughters of Mr.. and Mrs. Niles Merri-
wether. residing for some years in this
| city. though Col. M. has been for years
City Engineer OF Memphis. where be spends
| most Of his time. They are people of un-
usual culture Mrs. M. being graceful
writer: sister to the poetess, the late L..
Virginia French. Matte and Lutte were
cSto0tU6u ZOE kToaG tDOQe6Cy, .amlHOlIlCV
and had literary tendencies.
Lowe Davis, young lawyer, belonging
to an old family, ann Rostan Belts, also d
young lawyer, have for year or more been
CONSTANT visitors to the Ms. Both young
men we're poor and no one supposed there
was any prospect for any marrying, when
| suddenly last Jan'y the town Was electri-
! fled at hearing that the two Merriwethers,
Matte and Lutte, had eloped with Belts
and Davis, and been married in ChatanOo-
ga. They came back, the odd folksn re-
Tented, and things became serene, until
some two months ago, when the rumor
got abroad that Mrs. Davis had become
insane-would not allow her husband to
approach her, and had been taken by her
mother to Rhea Springs, East Tennessee,
for her health. Lowe Davis seemed to be
somewhat uuhinged. mentally, by the sep
aration, but did not show 1t to the Casual
observer. He attained his majority since
his marriage. 1t is said that he went twice
to Rhea Springs without seeing bis wife !;
that she had recovered her mind that
some terrible secret led to her leaving him.
that he went to the Springs the last time
for the purpose of making her return to
him. She refused. then followed the Jrag-
edy. One story is that she discovered him
to be an opium eater, nobody else knows
it to be 80. Another story is that she
found him fast, proaigate and a gambler. He
did gamble before she married him, but it
is said not afterwards. He was remarka-
are thousand stories as to what turned
this love match into the most awf ul trag-
edy of the times.
He said on his death bed that he did not
blams her. that he brought it on himself.
but that he had no idea of harming her.
think they both were undoubtedly derang.
ed. The MS have removed to Memphis.
it is said they will not return here. The
reaction is now said to have set in with
Lutte and suicide is feared.
From the Rhea County Tenn, Ners
There has been stopping at the Rhea
Springs Hotel for the last six or eight
weeks an elderly lady by the name of Mrs.
Merrlwether, wife of Mr.. Niles Merri.
| wether, City Engineer of Memphis, and
her daughter. Mrs. Lowe Davis, both reg
isteIed from Huntsville, Ala. A few
weeks ago. Mr.. Lowe Davis, the husband
of the younger lady, arrived at the Springs,
and it was apparent that things were not
working as lovely AS is usual in such ca.
ses. Further developments caused many
parties to question the sanity If both Mr..
and Mrs. Davis, as their movements gen.
orally were noticeably peculiar, if not
cranky. 1t was plain to be seen that there
was a first-class sensation brewing, and on
last Tuesday night at 10 minutes of seven
o'clack the public appetite for startling
. occurrences was satiated. The report of
pistol in the rear Of the hotel building.
and the intelligence that man was the
unlucky recipient of the discharge, was
the signal for the immediate presence of a
News" reporter. 1t appears that Mrs
attached to the hotel building, when she
was approached by Mr.. Lowe Davis who
told 10 stop. as he wanted to talk to her.
On her refusal to do so, he threatened to
make her, at the same time making sus-
picious movement with his hand, and was
promptly shot by the lady. the ball passing
clear through his body. He was attended