The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-29
THROUGH THE STATE.
A CELEBRATED CASE.
The Trial OF samuel ID. Hall Tor h'iihs
Charles fscwyer Twelve Years ago.

Charles Bcwyer Twelve fc"fs "~"
| correspondence OF the Richmond DispatchJ
CuRrsTIANsBURG. May 20, 1884.
The County Court OF Montgomery Das
been engaged for the past two weeks IN tne
trial OF Samuel ID. Hall, charged with nav
ing killed Charles A. Bowyer In Septem-
Der. 1872. Messrs. Phlegar johnson,
General James Walker, and Major James
c, Taylor appeared for the prisoner, ana
j. Hampton Hoge for the Commonwealth.
During each day OF the trial large numbers
OF people were in attendance. The case
has caused more excitement than any trial
that has taken place here for years.
The parties lived on adjoining farms at
the time OF the killing, and from the eyi.
dence 1t appears that there bad been an ola
feud existing between the families OF
Thomas y. Hall, the father OF Samuel. and
Charles A. Bowyer, caused by the Elder
Hall having sued Bowyer for SANDER and
obtained damages IN the sum OF $500. Bow
yer was at one time rich and well-to-do
farmer, and the owner OF number OF
slaves, and during the war contracted
debts which he could have paid easily, but
after the close OF the war became heavily
involved. After Hall obtained damages
he began to buy up the obligations OF Bow
yer, and then sued him for the full amount,
got Judgment. and had his property sold;
and to obtain possession OF it got q writ OF
eiectment. The officer who served the
writ removed the household furniture OF
Bower 10 an clubhouse formerly owned
by Bower, and used as q stable. This
caused difficulty between Charles A.
Bower. his brother John, and Samuel ID.
Hall. Thomas Il. Hall had the two brothers
arrested. Charles Bower, while under
arrest, requested the officer to permit him
to 90 by his house, which was n mile off,
to get his horse, promising that he would
meet the officer at the magistrates house.
The request was granted. and he took a
near cut through the woods. This was
about sunset, and be was met by Samuel
ID. Hall at place called ChildresS's still
house, where Hall shot him with 4
double-barrel shotgun. the shot penetra-
ting the breast and killing him instantly.
The officer on reaching the magistrates
and not meeting Bowyel, returned in
search of him. and was told that he had
been shot. Mrs. PLIERS, an aged lady, and
her daughter, who were in field near by,
witnessed the killing, and testified that
they saw Hall when he fred and saw Bow
yer endeavoring to hide behind small
gum-tree; also that they heard him scream
and saw him throw up his hands and fall.
The women were so frightened that they
ran to a neighbours house, Mr.. Bucking-
ham. and informed HIM OF what they had
seen and heard. Hall went to relatives
house about one mile in the opposite direc-
ton, where he confessed bv saying:
81 have killed Charles Bower. | was
near Childress's still-house when he came
along, and ] let him have the contents OF
nv gun. He threw up his hands aud beg
ged me not to kill him; that ne (Bowyer)
had nothing against me. Ireplied. You
are not fooling with Creed Taylor" aman
whom Bowyer had shot several years pre-
vious.)
The next day Hall made the same con-
fession to some of his other relatives.
As soon as the officer found out who had
killed Bowyer efforts were made 10y the
county authorities to arrest Hall, but he
had made good his escape.
One night about two years ago Hall re-
turned to his fathers home, Obtained
horse and buggy from his father, and
drove to Floyd county. When near the
Courthouse he stole a saddle, was detected,
pursued. and captured, and lodged in
Floyd Jail. He was there identified by
farmer from Montgomery county, and was
brought back and lodged in Jail here.
The ease was given to the jury to-day.