The Washington herald., 1907-07-12
Mrs. Bowie and Her Son Cool
on Witness Stand.
GIRL TELLS OF HER WRONG
Breaks Down when Reminded that
Lover Is Dead-His Father Menaces
Slayer in CourtrOOm-Defens Asks
Jurors 10 Remember Their own
WOmen-State Seeks Compromise.
,ocisI - The Wasbinrton HeraId.

| honor. Miss Bowie told the jury the
story Of her alleged wrong at the hands
of the dead youth. Henry Bowie. the
girls brother. also admitted that he fired
at Posey.
The day was one Of exciting Incidents.
While Mrs. Bowie was testifylng. Hugh
Posey, father Of the dead boy, left his
place, and, with blazing eyes and clench-
ed hands, started toward the witness
stand. Congressman Mudd interrupted
him. and he was taken back 70 his seat
| by court officers.
Mrs, Bowie testified that young Posey
had courted her daughter four years He
asked Priscilla when she was seventeen
to marry him when he became twenty
one, she said and was accepted by her
family as her sutton. She told Of the
boys failure to appear on the day set
for the wedding. and Of efforts to get
him TO set another day. and then de-
/ scribed the shooting.
Describes the Shooting.
I'VE went up the road TO meet him"
she said, TO talk 70 him and advise
him TO come and marry Sis. He admit
ted that Re offered to marry her. but he
said that he did liot want 20 get mar
ried. told him * he did not marry my
daughter I would shoot him. And I did
shoot him. He said he was not going to
marry her. and I shot Before I shot
him had him BY the coat, but he jerked
away from me and was running away
when I fred. I had walked Up 10 him
few minutes before. and he walked
away from me before I could grab him
by the coat. He said he knew he was
wrong but he did not want 10 get mar
ried, because he was not able 10 take
care OF a wife ! said I would pay for
it all. and would even pay for the
preacher. My son told him that he must
get married. and II he wanted 10 leave
Sis later he could get a divorce"
Letters proving that Posey declared his
intention to marry the girl were intro
duced
cone Man She Cared For"
He was the only man my daughter
cared for" Mrs. Bowie testified. and
while sha had other boys calling at the
house a few years ago. he was the only
orc who called last summer
She admitted that she and her son con-
templated killing Posey on the day In
question. and went TO meet him with
that intention II he should refuse to
marry Priscilla
Immediately after Mrs Bowie stepped
from the stand her son was called TO
testify. Henry Bowie is q man OF small
stature. and he admitted without any
hesitancy that he fred one OF the shots
which ended Posey's life
He ruined my sister," he said, "ald
me and my mother shot him because he
promised 70 marry her, and would not
do it."
Girl Interrupts Court.
The statement was objected TO by the
State. and during a brief argument that
followed. Priscilla Bowie. who was seat
ed in a doorway Of the room. holding the
infant. turned toward the bench.
He did," she shouted from her seat
HE promised to marry me"
MY sister told me Re promised TO mar
~ her." continued Bowie; but he said
10 NE that he did not want 70 be married
I talked 10 him in November. and ne said
he knew he ought to marry her. but he
would not do so. was at Mrs. Leland's
house on the day set for :he wedding. but
Bert was not there. He told me that he
had no clothes 10 wear, and I assured
him that I would let him have a suit OF
mine"
Miss Bowie was the next witness. She
gave her baby 10 her mother to hold
while she was testifying She said she
was twenty-one years old, and had
known Bert" Posey "all her life Asked
where is he now?" size began TO weep.
and mOmentarily collapsed
Hes dead" she sobbed; hes dead
now" For brief space Of time Mr.
Posey asked no more questions, but the
girl did not entirely regain her COM
posure
we were engaged, she said, within ]
was seventeen years Of age.
He said he wanted me 10 marry him.
and he asked me If I would wait TIL
was twenty-oae years old. We were 10
be married not later than the middle Of
last October When that time came he
did not marry me. He turned HIS back
on me then. and he would not speak to
me-"
Priscilla then told Of her love for young
Posey and how they had planned to be
married Later she told her mother. she
said and related the story of her rela-
tons with him
apply the Golden Rule"
Summing Up for the defense, Attorney
Adrian Posey reminded the jury Of its
responsibility and justified the killing. He
added:
There is no written law 20 reach such
a case There is not a line upon our
statute books. If such conduct is not pun
ished any vile young man may enter the
confines Of the sweetest home and de-
stroy the loveliest flower budding there.
and the sorrowing victims are without a
remedy, save that which these poor people
resorted to.
If a trip to the gallows or the doors
Of penitentiary awaited the runners of
young women under false promises we
would hear OF but few such occurrences.
We of this county have not much OF
which to be proud, but we have some
thing-a thing that money cannot pur-
chase; We are proud Of our homes. and
we are proud OF our women. He who de-
files these homes or assatls our women
must die. 1 would be sorry TO think
otherwise
This is a case in which you should ap-
ply the golden rule. Ask yourselves what
you would have done. Their lives are IN
your hands Think kindly Of them, try to
feel and know q brothers and a mothers
love. Remember your OWE firesides.
Bear in mind that at this moment that the
life of every mother in this county is
uttering a prayer 70 heaven for these
poor people.
A surprise was sprung by States Attor-
ney Wilmer when. after an able argu-
ment for the written law. ne asked the
jury not to find a verdict Of murder, but
Of manslaughter