Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-05-31

La Plata, Md, May a0.-rhe May
term of the Circuit Court for Charles
County began here this morning, with
Chief Judge Briscoe and Associate
Judges Crane and Merriek on the
4 bench.
There is rarely much in the way of
trials ON the court docket here, and
/ this term of euurt would be no eXcep-
ton TO the general rule were il not for
the fact thai thls is the first jury term
since the killing Of young Herbert
Posey in January list By Mrs. Moilie
Bowie and her SOL Henry. inns case
arouses intense interest because of its
similarity TO so mady thai have re-
Gently occurred throughout the eoun-
try and because the ptooable /. ga VIII
be that most modern OF defenses, the
'sunwritten law This Is the first case
of the kind ever tried in Charles soun-
~. There is some doubt, however, as 10
whether the case Will come UP, ON &C
count of the illness of Miss Bowie.
The murder occurred in January.
Shortly before Thanksgiving, 1906, q
marriage license was procured from
the clerk of the court for Herbert Posey
and Priscilla Bowie, and Thanksgiving
Day was set for the wedding; the guests
all assembled, and the orlde-to-oe was
dressed IN her wedding tinery. out no
bridegroom appeared. Posey later gave
as an explanation that lac did not care
TO marry. Then it was that Priscilla
Bowie went TO her mother and told
her she had been ruined by young
Posey unaer promise of marriage.
The mother snd brother of tine girl
repeatedly imporluned Posey 10 keep
his promise, but without avail. On
January 10 the mother and brother, re-
alizing the disgrace that was lneVlta-
BILE if Posey still refused tomarry Prls-
ella Bowie, resolved 10 makea last APP
peal, so, armed with pistol and shot
gun, they went TO the roadside, where
they intercepted Posey as he was re-
turning from his work at Indian Head
anu begged him 10 marry Priscilla.
He, it is alleged, seorned their appeals,
ana finally becoming angry cursed the
woman and fled. Fire WAS opened on
hin and he fell 10 the ground with
several bullets IN his BODY peppered
with blrdshot.
Mrs. Bowie and her son returned TO
their home and the injured man was
taken 10 a Washington hospital, where
he died the next day.
A few days later an inquest was held
1T Pisgah, whence the body was taken
Tor burial, and Mrs. Bowie aud her
son were charged with the murder.
Haeeas Corpus proceedings were next
Instituted, and the TWO were released
on bail, MRS. Bowie claiming at This
time Justification for her act because Of
the great wrong that had been done
her daughter.
Court VIII in all probability last
about Two weeks and il Is likely that II
II is taken up the Bowie trial will not
begin before the latter part of the pres
ent week or the rirst part OF next. Mr..
Adrian Posey will appear ,tor the de-
fendaats ana States Attorney l.. Al
lison W Inner for the State. Both these
gentlemen are prominent members OF
the Charles county bar, being two o.
the oldest members, and both have
been States Attorney several terms.
Rumor has it that Congressman hudd
is being prevailed upon TO assist in the
defense.
A great deal of interest has been
aroused among the county people, ana
it is thought that there Will be more
persons in attendance at court than
have been seen in La Plata at one time
since the famous Farrall trial, in July,
1890.