The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-01


around the great headlaud. Soon she will
strike the wharf and we will go aboard her.
Tears for ships going out. Laughter for
ships coming in. Now she touches the
wharf Throw on the planks. Block not
up that gangway with embracing long lost
friends, for you will have eternity of re-
union. Sand back and give way until
other millions come on. Farewell to sin.
Farewell to struggle. Farewell to sickness.
Farewell to death. All aboa ID for heavenl
CAPT. DAWSON IN LEE COUNTY.
A "Reminiscences of the Famous Bowen
Damage Case.
A correspondent of the Americas Record
err, writing from Leesburg, Ca, relates a
story told him regarding the late Capt. F.
w. Dawson's visit to Lee county many
years ago. The Bowen referred to was a
prominent republican politician in South
Carolina in the days of reconstruction.
Bowen during the war was a captain in
the Seventh Georgia cavalry and was
well known i'll this city. The
regiment was first commanded by Col
william p. White, prominent citizen of
| Savannah, better known as Gen. White,
and afterward by the late Col. E. G. An
derson, Jr., of this city. Bowen took Of
Tense at something that Col. White did to
| him, and hired man to assassinate him,
who shot him while be was stti lg in his
tent while the regiment was on duty in
| South Carolina. The rest of the story is
outlined In the account of Capt. Dawson's
visit to Lee county:
"Have all of you forgotten the circum-
stance that brought Capt. Dawson rere2 |
can recall it as if it was yesterday; how he
looked when he left the jail with Sheriff
Tison that day for Charleston, and think
! ing Of that reminds me Of how few of us
that composed that posse ara now citi
zens of old Lee. Let's see-Sherff Tison,
Judge Kimbrough and DR.. Coleman are
dead, DR.. Hit and Hood Hit have moved
to Augusta, ex-Sheriff Salter and myself
are left, and the only two OF the plrty that
live in the county at this time.
But tell us about Dawson's being in jail
and how he came there"
"Well, it was this wav. He was here to
carry Ely Grimes to Charleston as a wit
ness for his (Bowen's) damage suit 1t
seems that during the war one C. G. Bowen
was major in Ely Grimes regiment, and
the major and colonel did not get along
well together, and Bowen induced Grimes
to shoot and kill Col. White.
II any of you remember Ely Grimes.
he was, when a young man, said t.
be reckless and Indifferent. After
the war Grimes moved t. Lee and lived at
John Larrmores, and while there told of
centive to do so, that Bowen had promised
reward and his release from service.
Some years after this, when South Carolina
was making an heroic effort to rid herself
of radical rule and ruin, this same Bowen
was a candidate for congress. His charac
ter was not so good and the NelUs and
Courier was making it warm for him by
making plain some of his history as a SOL
der and citizen.
"Will Larrimore, an Ameticus boy was
then travelling for some eastern house, and
gave to Capt. Dawson Grimes story of
Whites murder and Bowen's connection
with it. The race was run and Bowen de-
feated, and damages set up against the
NelUS and Courier by Bowen.
"When the case was to come up for trial
Ely Grimes had been made to believe that
il he gave in his testimony he would be
handled for the killing, and therefore he
was no willing witness BY some authority
Grimes was arrested and placed in jail here
to await the coming Of Dawson.
"On the evening before he WAS to accom-
company Capt Dawson he seemed perfectly
satisfied that he would be allowed to re-
turn without mOestation, and in a CON
versation with him myself he spoke of
Capt. Dawson's manly assurance that no
harm would befall him and spoke with
much confidence of the captain, and was
willing to do all he could to keep man
like Bowen from receiving damages from a
gentleman like Capt. Dawson, when he was
in possession Of evidence that could pre-
vent it.
''On the day, however, when Grimes was
to be carried, his mind underwent an
other change.
"This was made known to Dawson and in
company with Sheriffs Tison and Salter,
Judge Kimbrough, DR.. Coleman. Hood
Hit and the writer, Capt. Dawson walked
down TO the jail. just as Sheriff Salter
was turning the l0ck of the outer gate We
heard commotion in the Jail as if some
one was fighting. As rapidly as possible we
made our way upstairs, aud there upon the
cell floor lay Ely Grimes lifeless.
He was taken in the hallway and Drs.
Hit and Coleman gave him their atten-
ton, while George Brown, another Ameri-
Gus boy, told us of Elys strange and sud
den attempt to take his own life. George
and Ely occupied the sams cell, and as
they saw us coming down, Ely remarked to
| George: What are so many folks coming
here for, and who are they and without
stopping to learn. Ely Grimes made a run
for the back Of the cell, and hurled himself
head first against the iron doors. The third
attempt left him lifeless and his scalp so
swollen in so short a time that it was with
difficulty that the physicians were enabled
to make out whether or not there was q
fracture or a conclusion.
at was there that | noticed the feat
ures of Capt. Dawson, aud the change
in his countenance. Yet he did not forget
his case, and was the first to say i will take
your interrogatories and explain why the
witness cannot attend court He had but
a short time TO prepare them, and giving
directions about Ely-if he should get over
his shock, he left DR.. Coleman and the
writer with Grimes, while the others re-
paired to the jailor's room below, where
Judge Kimbrough drew aud signed the nee
essary papers.
YES, Grimes got we'll and went TO
Charleston afterwards and is now living
in Berrien county.
"Who was George Browna He was a boy
raised in Americas, moved to Lee, killed
negro, gave bond and had to be brought
back from Texas for trial, was acquitted
and died in this county"
Things We Would Not Say.