Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-24
JURY VERDICT
SELF DEFENSE
This is Probably the End of the Tyler
County Tragedy

i
over the body of Hon. Peter B
Lo~ry, who was shot and killed
Monday morning at the OIL Ridge
school house by Frank Van Camp,
brought In a verdict at $50 O'Clock
yesterday evening that the pistol
was fred In self defense. 1t Is be-
lieved that the case will close with
this verdict.
The inquisition was held In the
city hall, which was densely packed.
Coroner Kahle was assisted by
Prosecuting Attorney I. M. Under.
wood and r. L. Moore, and Van
Camps interests were represented
by Hunt & Staples.
VanCamp was released from Gus
tody after the inquest and left last
evening for his home on on Ridge.
The evidence In part Is as follows
aud the rest of the evidence will be
published tomorrow. Mr. Lowry
was buried this morning. We are
informed his brothers are satisfied
and will not prosecute the case any
farther. VanCamp can be arrested
any time by a justice or indicted
before the grand jury at the April
court or later on In the year.
Testimony Of Mr.. Frank yanCamp. [StatementI
Coroner instructed Mr.. Van
Camp that 1t was not necessary for
him to make a statement pertain
Ing to the case unless he desired.
Consultation by Mr.. VanCamp and
his Attorneys, Hunt & Staples,
and they decided that Mr.. VanCamp
would make a statement.
Statement
On Monday morning I started tc
the school house about 8 O'Clock OF
little before and 1 was reading 9
lecture on Common Law and Plead
iugs while sitting behind the stove.
Had not more than sat down when
Mr.. Hunts little girl came In.
Looked out aud saw Mr.. Lowry In
the yard and I supposed he was
looking around to see If was ir
the house. saw he looked very
angry. In order to keep him from
seeing me 1 showed my chail
back little northeast to put
the stove between US, so be
could not see Us through the win
dow. He came to the door and
knocked and I was very slow about
moving. saw he was angry and
was afraid of him. I laid my lee
ture down and told him to come In
1 did not 90 to the door and open
1t because I was afraid he might
shoot me or do me some Injury
What made me afraid OF him was
that l was we'll acquainted with Mr.
Lowry, as he used to be my friend
and really was yet to some extent
and, being so we'll acquainted with
him, 1 knew his temper. l knew
he was dangerous. He had often
told me what he would do In GER
tain cases, even frivilous cases
When told him to come In he
opened the door part way and told
me to come out to the door as he
wanted to see me. I went to the
door rather slowly, asking him In 9
kind way what he wanted. He said
In a very loud and angry tone, 81
hear sir that you have been some
what talking about me-" l told
him / did not think very serious
He said he heard 1t and believed 1t
I told him he might have been mis-
taken and he stepped back q little,
and I said now Mr.. Lowry we will
wait and see and probably you viii
see that somebody has made 6
mistake and talked little
too much. When I stepped
on the porch my intention
was to keep him from getting sc
angry. I was talking as kindly a:
possible. He said he heard I wa:
going to lick him or smash his face
or something on that order. I told
him that 1t looked to me that It was
largely a mistake. I told him
had heard that he was gsing to dc
considerable to me but, that l told
Others that I did not intend &c