Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-20


Sam Hood, and two Memphis darkies will
figure, will be tried at Somerville thi, week,
Mr. A. ID. Douglass, the attorney for South
erland Bowers, the defendant In the case, left
for that place last night. Bowers is the son
of-an old and wealthy citizen of Fayette
county, and his family stand high in the e.-
timation Of the community. He is now
living at Commerce Landing, Mise. On the
26lh of last January
MULE WAS STOLEN
from G. A. Stainback, who lives Eve miles
e,st of SomerviIe. He got on the track the
next morning, his clew being glove which
he found in his horse-lot, and a track 10 the
soft earth. Late in the day he struck the
trail OF his mule, but lost it again, and did
not discover the whereabouts Of the animal
until abou; three weeks afterwsrd, when he
FOUND HIS MULE
in the possession of Switzerland Bowers at
Commerce. Bowers declared he did not ste al
it, and volunteered 10 go back to SomerviIle
for trial. Meanwhile circumstantial evil
dence was rapidly accommodating against
him. de was seen in the neighborhood OF
Somerville the evening the mule was missed,
aud be had told several persons he was going
TO Newcastle, but failed to do 80, turning
around and going back home. This was a
footprints and the glove, both of which were
like his, the evidence against him was con-
sidered too strong to be broken. The evil
dence
FOR TIE DEFENSE
meets all the points with a peculiar nicely,
though for a long time it seemed that the
accused must suffer as the thief. He admit
ted having made the trip to Somerville, but
before he reached Newcastle he learned that
the man for whom he was looking had come
to Memphis, and turned back. On his re-
turn he met a man with couple of mules
he was riding one and leading the other.
The man told him he could not manage
both, and would like
TO DISPOSE OF ONE.
Bowers says he was taken in by this plausi
bic story aud bought the lead mule, paying
fair price for it. This, however, he had tc
prove. Two negro men who said they lived
IN Memphis and we're out in that neighbor
hood hunting, Bowers declared, saw him buy
the mule, and he devoted several weeks to
looking them up. The whole city wal
searched by him aud his attorney withou
avail, and they were about to reiiaquish the
search when day or two ago, while Bowers
was standing in front of his lawyers office,
ONE OF THEM CAME UP
that he had not seen him since he made tina
mule trade" near Somerville. Bowers wa
half crazy with Joy, and informed his lswye
| of the circumstance. The latter realized il
| importance, and taking the dsrky, who sale
his name was Pollard, aside, asked him {,
describe The man from whom he had seeI
Bowers buy the mule. Pollard described th
notorious Sam Hood to nicely, and the de
scription
| WAS INSTANTLY RECOGNIZED
by the attorney. Bowers then visited tn
office of Chief Davis, and upon being show
the rogues' gallery pi cked out the picture o
Sam Hood. Bowers felt not the least doubt
though the darby said the man from whom
Bowers bought the mule had beard on hi
face, but otherwise the likeness was perfect
This fixes the theft pretty well on Hood, q
it was an easy matter for him to shave Of
his beard between the time he was seen b,
Bowers and his capture BY the police. Ii
Pollard Bowers has stout witness, but Their,
was yet another point in the strong chain t
| be met
THE FINDING OF THE GLOVE,
which was said to be like those Bowers ha,
been seen to wesr. Bowers stopped at
blscksmith-shop about twenty miles This sid
OF Someryille, on his way back home, an
got drink OF water. The blacksmith hat
ample opportunity to observe him and say
he will swesr positively that Bowers ha
both his gloves on when he passed his shoI
On account of the high standing Of the de-
fendant and the strength of the testimony o
both sides, the case, which is 10 be tried Il
day, will be of unusual interest.