The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-01
WAS IT 4 MANS SOUL?
a Mysterious Incident by tho Dcatkbcd of
Chattanooga Alan.

q Mysterious Incident by tho Deatkbed of
q Chattanooga Man.
CHATTANOOGA, Feb. 2S.-The killirg
of Lewis Owens by James N. Barnes On
January 10 last will be recalled. But
there is one peculiar feature of the case,
or rather feature that grew out Of The
case. that has just come to the surface,
and that is az yet known to but tfeT Chat
tanoogars.
A few months ago young Barnes came
here from Georgia and formed partner
ship with NJ. J. Nix TO engage in the
boot and shoe trade. After few weeks
Barnes sold out to Lewis Ovens, ore of
the wcalthiest and best known men in
Tennessee. 1tappears that Barnes and
Ovens quarreled over the settlement,
and, after being struck iu the face, Barnes
drew his revolver and shot Ovens three
times, the third shot being fatal, though
not instantly. The wounded man was
carried to his house, where everything
possible wss done, but nothing could
save him. However, be fought dssper.
ateIy to beat back the rider of the pale
horse, and SO gal!antly did he struggle
that he lived several days. Saturday,
January IA, came, ard Barnes vas for
the second time taken before the DIaei,.
trate, and after stubbcrnly fought trial
he was released On bail, the Magistrate
holding that inasmuch as the victim, Of
bis shooting vas still alive, murder was
not yet committed. The next day Owens
grew worse, srd toward evening sank
into 3 stupor. Those vho had been
watching By the bedside knew The end
was not far of.
Among those who remained through
the night vas ex Mayor Sharp. A little
after ( o'clock Monday moruing, Mr.
Sharp left the room in which the wound.
ed man wss lying for q moment, aad
circumstance that soon occurred is the
feature referred to in the beginning Of
this stor7. Mr. Sharp does not Ike to
talk CT the matter, bat he consented 10
tell it to your correspondent, and his o|n
words are used.
81 vas standing" he said, "Gilh my
elbow resting upon the msnte'picce,
locking down into tie fire. The ccals
we're nearly consumed, and the appareat
efforts OF the embcrs to burst again into
flames again reminded me of the heroic
efforts Of my friend to get q fresh and
stronger hold upon the soul that was
surely, though slosly, slipping away
from him. And I was running over in
ray mind the vicissitudes Of life-how
feet OF foot misfortunes are; how sorrow
comes across our path at the meridian
hour Of the brightest day, leaving
shadow by us-when tie lines of Horace
came to ne: Pale death with equa! tread
knocks at the cottage of the poor and the
palace OF the rich The thought was
still lingering in my mind when I was
aroused by tap on my shoulder. Sup
posing some enc had entered while was
absorbed in thought, I turned TO answer,
but no one WAS there, and the door vas
still closed. 1 was startled, and immedi.
ately returned to the wounded mans
side, where found the watchers as pale
as the watched, and trembling like aspen
leaves. They asked me if | had been
making any noise, and on assuring them
to the contrary they looked at each other
in amazement. They said that just be-
fore entered the room q sound as Of the
moaning of the wind seemed to pervade
the room, and peculiarly appalling sounds
mot loud, but ominous-were distinctly
hesrd; and that for an instant the lamp,
which had bsen turned low, almost went
out, and the little light left seemed to
shine as though through fog. What it
was I know not, bu! it couldn't have been
fancy on the part of us all. There we're
two other watchers besides myself. Be.
sides, 1 was in separate room, with the
door closed, and I had said nothing to
them of the tapping on my shoulder. If
were spiritualis.I i would believe that
the soul of Lewis Owen. just starting on
its journey home, stopped to say good bye
to me, for when We went TO look ct our
charge be was still in death"
Mr. Sharp is one of the best known
citizens of Chattanooga, member of the
bar, ex Mayor Of the city, intelligent and
fearless. He is so we'll known and his
word is 50 trustworthy that those who
have heard the story cannot but believe
that something supernatural attended the
flight of Lewis Owens's spirit from its
prison home of clay.