Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-02-24
WAS IT A MANS SOUL ?
A MYSTERIOUS INCIDENT BY THE
DEATHBED OF A CHATTA.
NOOGA MAN.
From the Philadelphia Press


NJ. Barnes on Jan. 10 last will be
recalled. But there is one peculiar
feature of the case, or rather a fea'
ture that grew out OF the case, that
has Just come to the surface, and
that is as yet known to but few
Chattanoogans.
A few months ago young Barnes
came here from Georgia aud formed
a partnership with NJ. j. Nix to en-
gage in the boot and shoe trade
After q few weeks Barnes sold out
to Lewis Ovens, one OF the wealth
lest and best. known men In Tennes.
see. 1t appears that Barnes and
Owens Quarrelled over the settle
ment, 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 house, where every.
thing possible was done, but moth
ing could save him. However, he
fought desperately to beat back the
rider of the pale horse, and so gal
lantly did he struggle that he lived
several days. Saturday, Jan. II,
came, and Barnes was tor the sec
ond time taken before the msgis.
trate, and after a stubbornly fought
trial he was released on bail, the
magistrate holding that irssmuch
as the victim OF his shooting was
still alive, murder was not yet com
mitted. The next day Owens grew
worse, and toward evening sank In
to a stupor. Those who had been
watching by the bedside knew the
end was not far off.
AmOyg 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
q circumstance that soon occurred
is the feature referred to in the be-
ginning of this story. Mr. Sharp
does not like to talk of the matter,
but he consented to tell It to your
correspondent, and his own words
are used. M
~ was standing" he said, with
my elbow resting upon the mantle
piece, looking down into the fire.
The Goals we're nesrly consumed,
and the apparent efforts Of the en-
bers to burst again into flames
again reminded me ofthe heroic
efforts of my friend to get a fresh
and stronger hold upon the soul
that was surely, though slowly,
slipping away from him. And l
was running over In my mind the
vicissitudeG of life-hOw feet of
foot mlsfortunes are; how sorrow
comes across our path at the meri-
dian hour of the brightest day, leav'
ing a shadow by us~when the lines
of Horace came to me: pale death
with equal tread knocks at the cot.
tage of the poor and the palace OF
the rich.' The thought was still
IN my mind when | was
aroused by tap on my shoulder.
Surprising some one had entered
while | was absorbed IN thought,
turned to answer, but no one was
there, and the door was still closed.
was startled, and Immediately
returned to the wounded mans
side, where I found the watchers
a. pale as the watched, and trem-
bling like aspen leaves. They ask
ed me If 1 had been making any
noise, and on assuring them to the
contrary they looked at each other
in smszement. They said that
just before l entered the room a
sound as of the moaning Of the
wind seemed to peryade the room,
and peculiarly appalling sounds
not loud, but omiDous-were dis
tinctly heard and that for an In
slant the lamp, which had been
turned low, almost vent out, and
the little light lett seemed to shine
as though through iog. What it |
was l know not, but it couldn't |
have 'se,n fancy on the part Of us
ali. There were two other watches
besides myself. Besides, l was in
q separate room, with the door
closed. and l had said nothing to |
them of the tapping on my BhOul.
der. II l we're q Spiiitualist
would believe that the soul Of Lewis
Owens, just startingjou Its journey |
home, stopped to say gOOd-by to
me, for when We went to look at
our charge be was still in death"
Mr.. Sharp is one OF the best
known citizens Of Chattanooga, a
member of the bar, eI.Mayor of
the city, Intelligent aud fearless
He is 80 well known and his word
Is 50 trustworthy that those who
haEe heard the story cannot but
believe that something supernat-
nral attended the fight of Lewis
Owens's spirit from its prison home
10 clay.