The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-05
NEW MARTlNSVILLE'S TRAG
EDY.
DIR. I4Owther. President of the
Lowther OH Company Dead.

the Lowther Oh Company, ano
Friend Cox, u prominent New Mar
tinsville citizen, are both dead, and
Mrs. LOwther is seriously though not
fatally shot.
The details of the affair, as we get
it from newspaper reports, as well u:
from persOps who were ON the ground
at the time, are substantially as fol
lowe: DR.. LOwther had neen in this
county several days, looking after the
interests of the L0wther Oil Com
pany. in which he was the largest
stock holder, aud its president, and
left here last Tuesday morning for
home. He was accompanied ny his
daughter iu.law, Mrs. G.. +. Low
Their Arriving ut New Martinsvi!le
at eleven o'clock Tuesday night,
they were met at the depot by Mrs.
Luwther and their youngest daugh-
ter. Friend Cox, with wlion. DR..
Lowther had had some trouble before,
saw them at the depot, ana he with
two companions went up side street
meeting the Lowthurs near their
home un Main Street. The Doctor
was carrying in each hand a dress
suit case which he had taken from
this county with him. Upon meet
ing L0wther, Cox pulled out his re-
volver and began firing at the Doc
tor aud his wife. He fired four shots,
one entering the breast aud piercing
the right lung of Mrs. l. Dwther. the
other three taking effect in the bod
of her husband. One of the shots enter
ed about the shoulder, took down
ward course and lodged in the lungs.
The other :wJ entered the abdom Ell,
severing the intestines in a
half dozen or more places.
AS soon as DR.. Lowther could free
his hand, he reached for his revolver
and hogan shooting. Two balls had
entered his body before he fired a
shot, The first shot fired by him
would have penetrated CoX's heart,
had 1t MT been for bunch of oil
leases which he had III his inside
pocket. Some reports say Cox was
padded about the chest with sole
leather, but this lacks confirmation.
Cox was felled to the ground by the
force Of the first shot, LOwther also
falling at about the same time. An
other shot was fired by each after the
men fell, the one fired by Cox enter.
ing the abdomen of L0wther, and
being the one which proved fatal;
The shot fired by L"wther hit Cox
fairly between the eyes, passing clear
through the brain, from which he
never regained consciousness aud
died within half hour.
After the shooting was over with
DR.. Lowther went to the closest
house and had them telephone for a
doctor, saying he was fatally shot.
DIR. and Mrs. Lowther were remov
ed tn their home where all that med
zeal skill could 10 was done for them
A special train from Wheeling
brought down three Of the best ply
sicians in that city, but all of no
avail And DR.. Lowther died Fri
day moraing, Nov. l.
Cox WAS member Of the B. p. o.
Elks aud his funeral was conducted
by that order. DR.. LIwther was q
member Of the Masonic fraternity
and his funeral which oc CURED las
Sunday, was under the auspices 0
the Masonic lodge.
The trouble between DR.. Lowthe
and Friend Cox was If long standing
and WAS said to have had woman
Cox's wife, connected with it, /
seems, however. that w Il. Fitch
Low hers sonin.law, had had troubl
with Cox, and that Dr. and Mr,
Lowther sided with him. For thi
reason, Cox had said he would xii
both at the first opportunity, and h
came woefully near carrying hi
threat into execution.
DIR. Lowther was the head ant
shoulders Of the Lo@ther Oil Com
pany, which was the first to discove
oil in paying quantities in this cour
| ty. file was we'll known TO larg
number Of people here, all Of whor
held him in the very highest esteem
Cox was a prominent oil contract,
and The son Of exsherif Cox Of We
eel county aud was regarded as
good citizen. Every one deplores III
sad affair, which resulted so fatallt
VIM. Dyer a highly respected co
ored man, died at his home ON NJ