The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-22
A NEW MEXICO DESPERATE.
The Career and Death by the Rope
of the Husband of Belle Fowler.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
''le was standing by the hotel bar
chawin' his pistols at o'clock in the
morning
This testimony was given in court by a
witness concerning the doings and mental
condition of Joe Fowler who, in 1888, was
being tried for his life at the general term
in Socorro, N. NJ. On being asked by his
counsel what he meant by the expression
'chawin his pistols" he explained that
Joe, after an all nights drinking bout, to
show his steadiness and nerve had put the
muzzles of his two loaded revolvers into
his mouth and was pulling the hammers
part way back and letting them snap
down upon the cartridges.
Joe Fowler, who figured as a dangerous
man for years in New Mexico. was at one
time the keeper of dance hall in Santa
Fe. From there he went to SOcorro coun-
~, bought or took up a stock range, and
was a ranchman for several years, at
which business he prospered. He was a
short, thtck-Set man, with whom homicide
had become a habit and his bearing ana
expression were a warning that he was a
man to be let alone if possible. He had
made his reputation as a bad man" be-
fore going to Socorro county, and he
added to it by several shooting exploits
while living at his ranch. The most muir
derous and characteristic one, perhaps,
was his killing of three men between
Socorro and his ranch. The four were
camping together on the prairie at night.
ana ne Killed them in their sleep. There
were no witnesses, and Fowler's account
of the affair was that in riding to hiS
ranch alone, he overlook them on the
prairie, and that they, not recognizing
him, confided to him their intention of
going to his ranch, killing the proprietor
and getting away with as much booty as
they could find. Whatever may have been
the general opinion as to the truth of his
story the men being dead there was no
means of disproving it, and Joe went free.
q wa hn hr,gI IS
Belle Fowler, the petite, black-eyed ST.
rem, once of the variety stage, who figured
so sensationally in the New Mexico cit
les in the eighties He had married her in
Santa Fe, and she lived with him during
his stay at the ranch. Their matrimo-
NAL life was not wholly rose streWn
for she carried upon her cheek as a me-
mento of one episode of it a deep, though
not dishguring scar. which was currently
credited to her husbands knocking her
down with blow from a carbine After
his death she came in for a share of his
property, which was considerable and
while it lasted she was famous among
Vegas and other New Mexico towns as a
player for high stakes, and sometimes
as dealer at faro.
1t was on the same night. in immedi-
ate sequence to the "chawin' of his pis-
tolls, that Joe got into the trouble that
cut short his life. He had sold his ranch
and stock, and with a large sum of money
had come into Socorro to enjoy himself
After his all nights drinking he was get
ting INTO dangerous mood, and now
that he was swapping pistols at his head.
two officers of the law thought IL time
to interfere for his own and the public
Isahety. They came behind him, each
seized him by an arm, and wrestling HIS
pistols from him, they took him out 81
the house and were walking him up the
street toward the lookup A citizen OF
Socorro, a friend of Joe's, seeing him in
custody, came up to the party to inter-
cede for the prisoner Joe waited until he
got near enough, and then. without provo
cation, drew a bowie knife and stabbed
the friend to the heart, killing him in
stantly.
lie was brought to trial, convicted
sentenced TO be hanged and placed in the
Socorro jail 10 await the day Of his exc
cution. From the desperate character OF
the man and the money that be had al
his disposal, there was special danger IA
his case Of escape or rescue This tho
citizens OF Socorro were determined Should
not happen, and they took effective meas
ures that the murder OF their fellow citl-
zen should be avenged steel cage was
ordered from the east. in which more
securely 10 cOnhne the prisoner and ev-
cry night a detachment 81 Wgilantes
on the outside.
Before the appointed time Tor the exc
cntiou OF the death sentence arrived tho
governor ~ the territory granted ths
priFouer "a repriege. The citizens N sos
zorro treated the respite a. waste paDer
un4 continued ~ @9aRI gugT4 over ne