The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-01-20
DEATHS DECREE.
1t Affects Court Case, and Leaves
an Important Legal Point
to be COntended.

Yesterday afternoon at 5:45 O'Clock
Robert Lowry, of LeClaire. lowe, died at
the residence of his brother, l.. Lowry.
at Port Byron, this county. Mr.. Lowry's
death removes one who. had he lived unS
til the next term of the Rock Island
county circuit court, would have been
the defendant in one of the most sensa~
tional cases that have been tried before
the Rock Island county courts for years.
The ARGUS of December 21st last. de-
scribed the case alluded TON which
Mr.. Lowry was party-as follows:
On November 9th last, there was en-
tered in the district court al Scott county
Iowa, a suit which created considerable
of a sensation, and of which detailed
account was given in the ARGUS at the
time The case was briefly this: Through
her attorney, W. A. Foster Esq, Of
Davenport, Miss Eajth E. Danforth. of
lie Claire township, Scott county, filed q
suit against one Robert Lowry. wealthy
farmer, also of LeClaire township, i'd
which it was alleged by the plaintiff that
| the defendant was an unmarried man
| about SO years of age. and that about
| October l. 1888. he engaged her as a
| housekeeper at his farm 10 LeClaire town
ship. A month later he made overtures
of marriage to her. resulting in their en-
gagement. Although the agreement was
never contaminated, he made solemn
protestations TO her of his affections and
his intentions to marry her. and by reason
of arts aud batteries and declaration OF
his devotions, he succeeded in seducing
her, and she become pregnant, and tc
| prevent the result which seemed immin'
ent he, by means of various noxious
drugs, administered to her great injury
and health, he performed an abortion.
She claims that he then refused to carry
out his part of their verbal contract. and
at the time of the alleged seduction she wa:
unmarried, of previous chaste character.
and that she sustained damages by the
plaintiff, Lowry, to the extent of $15. 600
and under the charges of beach of prom.
Use and seduction she sues for thai
amount.
To evade service on the part of the
Iowa court at the time Lowry, aftel
transferring his worldly possessions val
ued at something like 5000 to his rel
atives. he crossed the river to Port By
ron where he has since resided Miss
Danforth is now pregnant again. and OF
Saturday she came to this city anG
retained J. T. Kenworthy. Esq, as bel
counsel in bringing her seducer to justice,
at the same time adding the charge o.
bastardy to the two charges preferred in
the Iowa court-those of breach of prom
Use and seduction-and Mr.. Kenworthy
entered suit in the circuit court of Rock
Island county accordingly. Sheriff Re
ticker took the warrants aud proceeded t.
Port Byron, where he found Lowry sick
too i'll he claimed to appear at present
and the officer accepted an indemnifying
bond for his appearance next Saturday 81
there are now two suits of similar charac
er pending against Lowery, one in lows
and one in Illinois, and Mr. Kenworthy
proposes to show the defendant no mercy
as far as the cases on this side are con
cerned
Mr. Lowry was a farmer quite vel
known in Scott county. bachelor, o.
years of srge. Miss Danforth is young
lady probably "a years of age, is blonde
and has good complexion. is vel
formed and possesses fair conversations
powers. She has relatives in LeClair
and an uncle in Hampton. The plaintiff
and defendant, prior to the scandal, Dor
excellent regulations Now there arise
an interesting part of law. as the plaintiff
will push her claims and attempt to re
cover damages from the estate. The re
suit of this litigation will be watcbe
with interest BIZ the legal fraternity.