The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-22
MURDERER DOWDEN
Only the Governor Can save
Him from Hanging.
STORY OF THE CRIME
Shot Engineer Dodd Dead III
His Locomotive.
a Murder in Cold 6locd, with Malice
Aforethought"--He Fears the People
of Halifax More than He Does the
GalIows---The Story He Tells.

Only the Governor OF the state can
now save the neck of murderer DOW
den. He was convicted in Halifax SUI
perior Court of murder in the first de-
gree. and sentenced ''to be hanged by
the neck until dead. " An appeal was
taken to the Supreme Court. That
court of last resort has affirmed the de-
cision of the lower court. The official
decision will probably be certified to
the Governor in the usual way j une LIST,
and he will then set the day of eNecu-
ton. which cannot be less than thirty
DAYS later, and may be whatever date
the Governor selects. The attorneys
for Dowden will appeal to Governor
Carr for Communication of the sen
tence, but it is unlikely that this will
be granted.
The murder of Engineer Mack Dodd
by Henry Dowden has no parallel
in the history of the State. In the rail-
road wards at Weldon the engineer was
in his locomotive waiting to haul out
the train for Norfolk. The negro, who
was drunk, stood on the step of the en-
cine. The engineer and fireman both
told him he must get down, but he
doogedlv refused. When the bell-cord
was pulled they started to put the ne
GRO off by force. He reached back into
his pocket. pulled out pistol, and shot
Mr.. Dodd through the head. The en-
giner fell out of his cab, stark dead.
The tragedy was all over in a mo-
ment. Immediately a crowd gathered
at the spot. SO sudden was it all
that Dowden had no chance Of escape,
and was caught within two hundred
yards of the place where the murder
was committed.
The people were stirred up as they
have seldom been in Halifax, and it was
with difficulty that a lynching was
prevented.
On the trial the defence brought out
several theories, among others that the
engineer and fireman had not been on
good terms. and that the fireman had
fred the fatal shot. Dowden steadily
proclaimed his innocence, and SAID he
did not fire the pistol But the evil
aence was so strong that the jury
brought in a verdict of murder in the
first degree, verdict that presumes
malice aforethought and deliberate
Intention.
1t is said that since he has been in
Jail Dowden has told four of HIS fellow
prisoners that he shot Dodd by mis-
take; that he intended to kill Engineer
Heihg, who would have gone down or
the neXe train.
Dowden was employed at the Sea-
board Air Line yards in This city. He
is said to have served term in the pen
itentiary for minor offense.
Dowden was told yesterday that the
Supreme court had refused him a new
trial, and that he had not long to live.
Since he has been in jail, he says he
has got religion" and is not afraid
to die.
In the most strenuous way he main
tains his innocence, and makes all
kinds of explanations as to how he
came to be mixed up in the murder.
He says that the pistol he had in his
possession when captured, belonged
to his brother, and the missing car
fridge was fired ON Christmas day. He
was captured in a drugstore near the
place of the murder, and he aflirms
that he was in the drugstore when the
shooting occurred. The only reason,
saws he, that he can assign for his ar
rest is that he was the ''only stran-
ger in the town."
His story varies widely from the
facts. 1t varies SO widely that neither
Judge nor jury could give it eredence.
He will hardly be carried back TO
Halifax until just before the day fixed
for his execution. More than the gal
lows does he fear the wrath of the peo-
pie of Halifax, and he thinks ii he
were carried back they would tear
him in pieces"