The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-17
RESULT OF A FAMILY FEUD
The TOws and Bases Make a Lively
Effort to Exterminate Each Other.
Their Suits in the Federal Court Lead to q
Fight ON the Journey Home That Results
Disastrously for Several of Them.

The most interesting case on the docket
for trial in the federal court this week has
been postponed until September Itisthat
of the United States against Henry Tow, of
Mitchell. Lawrence county. indicted for
selling liquor at Wholesale without
license and for removing from a bonded
warehouse liquor upon which no tax had
been paid. Some days ago Tow
der the impression that he could
get of with a nominal fine. He was scared
out, however. by the information that his
offense might subject him to a fine of 81 COO
and costs on each of the two indictments
found against him. Securing Congressman
Jason Brown to defend him he came up
yesterday To stand trial. bnt finding
that one of the most important Of
his witnesses was sick secured
continuance on that ground. Not only
was the Tow family well represented. but.
their enemies. the Bases, were also here In
numbers sufficient to present a strong array
of evidence for the government.
Concerning the family feud of the TOws
and Bases. who have iDtermarried and 1t
seems should dwell in unity, much
has been published in the news
The suits pushed by William II. Tow
against Curtis Bass and Others. some time
ago, intensified the feeling, and when the
Bases retaliated by bringing Tow into
court on equally serious charges the bitter
ness and hatred reached a point where a
personal conflict was liable TO be- preciDi-
tated at any time. When it was de-
clded TO postpone the case, yesterday. the
two factions left for home on different
trains. They met last evening, however.
at Greencastle Junction, there they all
took the McnOn train for Mitchell and then
the llveliness began. The train had no
no sooner pulled away from the junction
than hostilities were 0psned and the lows
and Bases made targets of one another.
1t is not known who fired the first shot,
which was the signal for vOlley. Every
body not interested In the fight made
frantic dash for the nearest door, and the
cOmbatants soon had the car to themselves
Bud Tow was shot in the back. and, it is
believed, fatally wounded. Harry Burton
is thought TO have fired this shot. One of
the Bases was forced from the car by q
hand struggle on the platform was thrown
from the train. which was running at high
speed, and so badly hurt that he will prob
ably die. Another OF the Bases fired at
Martin Tow. the ball passing through the
latters hand aud lodging In the hand of
the wife of the man who did the
shooting. There were dozen or
more men and women engaged in
the tight and several were injured besides
those mentioned. 1t was In the ladies'
coach that the shooting began. and when
the smoke cleared away the beiligerent fam
lilies had full possession of the car. Hav-
ing exhausted their ammunition. and
the trainmen interfering. truce was
necessi tated, and the journey to Mitchell
was completed without further hOstiiities.
Bud lows wound was dressed soon after
he arrived home, but it is thought he can