Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-15
WAS IT 4 MANS SOUL.
Mysterious Incident by the Deathbed of
CnattanOOea Man

Mysterious Incident by the Deathbed of a
Chattanooga Man.
The killing of Lswis Owens by James
M. Barnes on Jan. 10 last will be recalled.
But there is one peculiar feature OF the
case, or rather d feature that grew out of
the case that has just come to the surface.
and that is as yet known TO but few Chat
tanoogans.
A few months ago young Barnes cam.
here from Georgia md formed a partner
ship with NJ. j. Nix to engage in the
boot and shoe trade. After a few weeks
Barnes sold out TO Lewis Owens, one of
the weaIthiest and beat-known men in
Tennessee. It appears that Barnes ana
Ovens quarreled over the settlement, and,
after being struck in the face, Barnes
drew his revolver and shot Owens three
times, the third shot being fatal, though
not instantly. The wounded man was
carried to his hOdse, where everything
possible was done, but nothing could save
him. However he fought desperately to
beat back the rider OF the pale horse, and
so gallantly did he struggle that he lived
several days. Saturday, January a.
came, and Barnes was for The second
time taken before the magistrate, and
after stubbornly fought trial he was re-
leased on bail, the magistrate holding
that inasmuch as the victim of his shoot
ing was still alive, murder was not
yet committed. Tho next day Ovens
grew worse, and towards evening sank
into stupor. Those who had been
watching by his bedside knew that the
end was not far off.
Among those who remained through the
night was ex- Mayor Sharp. A little after
4 O'Clock Monday morning Mr.. Sharp left
the room in which the wounded man was
lying for moment, and the circumstance
that soon occurred is the feature referred
to in the beginning of the stery. Mr..
Sharp does not like to talk of the matter,
but ne consents to tell it to your CORES
pondent, ard his own words are used:
II was standing" he said, "with my
elbow resting upon the mantelpiece,
looking down into the fire. The Goals
nearly consumed, and the apparent eff
forts of the embers to burst again into
flames again reminded me of the heroic
efforts of my friend to get fresh and
stronger hold upon the soul that was sure
ly though slo ely slipping away from him
And | was running over ia my mind the
yicissitudes of Iife-hoW fleet of foot mis-
fortunes are; how sorrow comes across
our path at the meridian hour of tue
brightest day, leaving shadow by US
when the lines of Horace came TO me:
Pale death with equal tread knocks at
the cottage of the poor and the palace of
the rich The thought was still linger-
ing in my mind when / was aroused by a
tap on my shoulder. Surprising som1
one had entered while | was absorbed IL
thought, I turned to answer, but no one
was there, and the door was still closed.
was startled, and Immediately turned
to the wounded mans side, where I found
the watchers as pale as the watched, and
trem bling 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 just before | entered the room
a sound as of the moaning of the wind
seemed to pervade the room, and pecu-
Harly appalling sounds-not loud, but
ominous-were distinctly heard, and tina
for al instant the lamp, which had beer
turned low, almost went out, and the
little light left seemed to shine as though
through a fog. What it was I know not,
but it could not have been fancy on the
part Of all. There were two other watch
ers besides myself. Besides, was in a
separate room, with the door closed,
and I had said nothing to them OF the
tapping on my shoulder. If I were
spiritUaIist / would believe that the soul
of Lewis Owens, just starting on 1t jounr
ney home, stepped TO say goodby TO me,
for when we went to look at our charge he
was still; in DEATH"
Mr.. Sharp is one Of the best-knnwn cit
liens of Chattanooga, member Of the
bar, ex Mayor Of the city, intelligent and
fearless. He is so we'll known and his
word SO trustworthy that those who have
heard the story can not but believe that
something supernatural attended the
flight of Lewis Ovens spirit from its
home of clay.