Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-02
THOMPSON AND FOWLER.
A Full and Impartial History of the
Affair
THAT RESULTED IN THE KILLING
OF Ebert Fowler by Speed ThompsOn---
A Sketch of Fowler Shows Him
to Have Been
AN IRAscIBLE AND DANGEROUS MAN.
Special 10 tie RepiRr.

| hlSiOs,"' VA, ApEll l'-Oui tASuueo'H
town has been unusually excited for the past
few weeks over the Fowler.Thomp-
son difficulty. AS both men were
wellknown over the State the
tragic affair has gained much notoriety
and widespread comment. Therefore a
sketch OF the two gentlemen and detailed
history of the events which led up to the
fatal termination of the trouble WI i be Of
interest.
Elbe,t Fowler, who was shot and subse-
quently died, was native of Monroe coun-
ty, son of DR.. Thos Fowler, who owned q
fine estate at the mouth OF Indian creek on
New river, in this county, and where Ebert
spent the greater part of his life.
| Fowler.
Elbert Fowler was a man OF more than
ordinary natural ability and possessessed Of
fertility of resourse that would undoubtedly
| have raised him to eminence in his protes
sion as LAWYER had he been q student. He
was hasty and impetuous as an advocate,
and dealt largely in invective which added
20 IN irascibility Of temper that amounted
10 n infrmity made him many enemies
md involved him in numerous broils.
| A Murder
Ih hectly after the war he had difference
with a tenant named Weatherford, and shot
him. For this he was compelled to take
refuge IN Canada until the affair was com-
promised by the payment OF money. After
lis return from Canada he and his father,
| ]. c. Fowler. engaged in publishing a news
paper at Bristol. Tenn. 1t was while edit
ing the Bristol News that he got into
trouble with Colonel John ~ Clarkson.
Two Duels.
About 1870 he removed TO Union, in
Monroe and published the Border Watch
man. Here q controversy sprung up be-
tween him and Richard Burke, of the
Monroe county Register, which ended in a
street fight with pistols.
Aoout 1872 he quit the newspaper busi-
ness and began the practice OF law at this
place, and not long afterwards the fight took
place between him and DR.. Thrasher in
which Fowler was shot in the arm.
The Affair With Thompson.
The disagreement between Speed Thonp-
son ard Fowler began somewhere about the
,esr 1873, and grew out Of contest for the
Legislature between VIM. Haynes and Syl
,esisr Upton. A convention Of the Demo
cratic party had been held. William
tlaynts, Marion Gwinn and Ebert
Fowler were the candidates for
he nomination. Haynes was nomin-
ated, Fowler refused 10 support him and
| brought out Silvestor pton as an indepen
cent candidate. Thompson :ook an active
rart for Haynes and charged Fowler with
| being a bCl.er thus much bad blood was
| stirred up in the race which resulted in the
lection of pton. After this the two were
never on good terms, and the breach be
tween them grew wider at each succeeding
election, until last fall or summer, when at
public meeting, q row occurred and Thomp.
son drew his pistol on Fowler. For this
his Fowler swore out a warrant aud had
| Thompson arrested. At the exam
lining trial there was much
excitement, and there seemed to be danger
| of collision in the very presence OF the
Justice. To prevent this, Major B. S.
Thompson, the father of Speed Thor pson
iplerffred, and was struck on me head with
a loaded cane BY Ebert Fowler. This in.
tepsifed the feeling that filed the breast Of
both of tho parties, and fuel was added TO
!bc angry flame Of passion By an artcls
which Fowler published in the Charleston
Tireg, and referred to Thompsous crippled
cordlion u a very harsh manner From hat
day al hope Of a peaceful settlement was
| abandoned. Each man went armed and
awaited the day Of adjustment. 1t came
on the 18th day OF March, 1885, when
| Thompson met Fowler on tie walk no. far
! from the Court House They were alone FOR
the first time since the publication Of the
bitter article referred 10, and no one knows
VI 6. tassed between them. bat it is said
| Ttcmp pson proposed 10 settle all flsp1,es
,h,n ard there.
The Fight.
Fowler declared he was not armed
bot both drew their pistols and
oponed fire. Fowler shot once, and Th0mp-
son three times lodging two balls
n his opponents left leg beloS
the knee Those who know say that Ihomo'
son Is a good shot, and the impression pre-
gsi,s that he did not wish 20 XII his aatazo'
nist but only put him on crutches. The two
.bo's in the leg so close together gives color
10 this theory.
Tbompson's Goodness.
After the shooting Thompson continued
his walk to the barber shop whittier he had
started when he left his Office. On his way
to the barber be met Justice Dunn aDd said
10 him: If am needed you will find me at
Woodson' shop" In short time a warrant
was issued and the arrest made. The &C
Gus. waived an examination aud was sd-
mi,,ed 10 bail. The wounded man was taken
70 lis rcom at the Central Hotel aud DR.. S.
P. 5'eck called in to dress the wounds An
exsrnir alton satisfied the doctor tbs. the
limb would have to be smpgtated. To this
Fowler objected most strenuously and one
! Of the surgeon skill was then taxed 70 save
The leg from the knife.
Death From Blood Poisoning.
Or. Gsbe Mcdonald. a Union, and DR..
Isaiah Bee. of Princeton, two Of the bes;
SURGEONS in the State were subsequently
called to assist Dr. Peck in trying 10 cave
leg. After consultation smputation WSs
DELAYED for g few days with a hope that
favorable turn might occur, bat the tAVora
be symptoms never came; on the contrary
paprrene set in. The limb was snpusated,
but blood poison had done It's work and
death ensued.
Thompson Arrested.
After Fowler died Thompson WAS ar-
rested and placed in jail Application Was
made to Judge Holt for bail and good cause
being shown be granted bail 10 the sam of
$4,000. which was promptly given and the
prisoner liberated
The Hea.
The two men engaged in this unfortunate
affair were lawyers aud each had warn
frierds, AMI the deplorsbse event Is much
regretted by all in any way connected With
the parties Both we're native Wesi VIZ
eiuiaus and highly connected Speed
Thompsor having fe,n born in KaasEha
eouury q; The mouth Of Coal, nov g. Al,
bans. His father is Mayor b.