The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-11
STATE OPENS CASE
Trial of Mrs. Bowie and Her
Son Is Begun.
GIRL BRINGS BABY TO COURT
Jury Is Quickly Secured, No Cues
ton Concerning Their Having
Formed an Opinion as TO the
Merits of the Case Being Put to
Them-weddins was Postponed.

Special 10 The Washington Herald.
La Plata Nd, July 10-When Mrs. Mol
lie Bowie and her son. Henry Bowie. were
placed on trial this morning for killing
Hubert Posey, the alleged betrayer Of Miss
Priscilla Bowie, the courtroom was crowd
ed with curious persons, who hoped 10
hear Miss Bowie recite the story Of her
wrong Many were barred from the court
room, because there was no space for
them.
Miss Bowie came into court with her
mother and brother shortly after Judges
Briscoe, Merrlck, and Crane took their
seats. She carried in her arms two
months-old baby, Of which the defense viii
try 70 prove Hubert Posey was the father.
The girl was shown into an adjoining
room, and her mother and brother sat in
the prisoners dock. Mrs. Bowie and
young Bowie seemed unconcerned, but
the girl-mother showed distress.
Little time was consumed in selecting
jury. The jurors are Patrick Hamilton.
Edward T. Mcpherson, Thomas NJ. VIII
kerson. John n. Reeder. Richard F. Mat
tingly. William H Christ. Joseph 3. Jar
Doe. r. T. Wiley, ]. Holland Adams.
James / Davis, John N. BuTch. and
George p. Good. Aubrey A. Posey, a
kinsman. was excused because ne is re-
lated 10 Adrian Posey. but neither man
is kin 10 the victim Of the Bowies.
Jurors Not Asked Opinions.
Congressman Sydney E. Mudd and Adri-
an Posey are representing the accused.
Oh r., uscrv, xFryIv,o- c.o..r1 d, .
tOTney. is conducting the prosecution
After the reading Of the Indictment
Gen Wilmer opened the argument, out
lining the case as told In The Washington
Herald yesterday.
This case. he said in beginning his
address, has been SO widely published
in the newspapers that il would be an
insult 20 assume that you members Of
the jury have not heard about it and
formed some sort Of provisional opinion.
You have not been asked. as is GUS
tomary, whether you have formed any
kind Of opinion. 1 never knew Of such
case before IN my experience as States
attorney ana q lawyer. and I consider II
a compliment 10 the integrity Of the
men OF this country"
Mr. AIudd followed the States attorney,
setting forth the attitude Of the defense
that the murder was justified by the
"unwritten law"
George Glodden who was with Posey
shortly before ne was shot. was the first
witness called. He testified that POSey
and he had planned a double wedding on
last Thanksgiving Day. He married a
daughter Of Mrs Mamie Leland. a sister
Of POsey's. he said. but Posey. who was
20 marry Miss Bowie. postponed his we'd
ding.
Brother Fails TO Interfere.
The most important evidence Of the
day was that OF Clayton Posey. brother
OF the dead man. He said he was sitting
on the porch Of his home, a short dis
lance from where the shooting took
place. when a man told him that d
woman and a man had his brother. He
said:
Il found Mrs. Bowie with a pistol in
| her hand and holding Hubert by the
coat. They said they would take him
with them or kill him right there One
/ Of them said: II You don't go with Us
and marry Sis. we viii kill YOU
/ q" I am not responsible, and won't dc
| it,. / heard Hubert say. Then I con-
| tinued down the road. I did not wait
/ nor try TO persuade the BOwies from car
4 rying out their threat. and went on my
way. When I returned I found my
/ brother had been shot"
/ Mrs. Bowie viii go on the stand to-
morrow, as well as her daughter PRS
/ ella.