The Washington herald., 1907-01-21
PLEAS, THEN BULLETS
Mrs. Bowie Tells Why She
Shot Herbert POSey.
LAUGHED AT HER WARNING
Declares She Told Him He Must
Carry Out His Pledges to Her
Daughter, and that He Met Her
Demand with RidicuIe-Says Her
Son Fired the Last Bullet.

Special to The Washington Herald
La Plata, Nd, Jan. 20-Mrs Mary Z.
Bowie, who is charged with the murder
Of Herbert Posey, whom she shot on
Friday last because of his refusal 10 wed
her daughter. will be brought 10 Jail here
tomorrow, and will remain until her
case is taken up at the MAY term Of
court, unless a special session of court
is ordered. Henry Bowie, aged twenty
three, the eldest son Of Mrs Bowie, is
still here in Jail, and viii be charged with
being an accessory to the shooting.
Il am sorry Bert is dead" said Mrs
Bowie to-day. There were tears in her
eyes, and her kindly face showed she
suffered as she tried to hide her emo
tons.
L pleaded with him to right a wrong"
she continued, "and I told him if he did
not do it, I would shoot him 1 met him
near the bridge over Mattawoman Creek,
near Indian Head, Friday afternoon. 1
talked to him and begged him to do what
was right. / told him that II he would
marry Sis I would pay the expenses Of
the wedding, buy the license, pay the
minister, and all that.
Il told him, also. if he would only keep
his pledge to Sis that l would nil his
dinner kettle for him each day. and would
work and strive to make him and her
happy, but he laughed at me-
Brother Laughs Also.
His brother. Augustus, rode up at this
time, as word must have been sent TO
him that Henry and I were talking to
Bert on the road. He, too. laughed at
me, and told Bert to come with him. He
rode Of. Then, when I found Bert would
not keep his promise. took hold OF the
end OF his coat and begged him TO think
well Of what he was doing. lie saw the
pistol in my hand at my side, and still he
laughed at me. and dared me TO shoot.
Then he struck me three times in my
breast. It hurt, but the other hurt was
worse. and when / saw him getting away.
fired.
Then Henry said. I don't think you
hit him mother and raised his gun and
sent a load after Bert, who fell in the
road"
Priscilla Bowie almost swooned when
she heard Posey was dead. She wept and
moaned as she rocked in her chair or
walked about the room in the neat, little
hilltop cottage. II saw Bert week ago
on Friday at a dance" she said and
asked him 10 walk home with me. lie re-
fused I saw him again at church, at
Mount Pisgah. and he refused TO speak
20 me. l loved him and he knew It."
Saved His Letters.
Miss Bowie showed a number Of letters
and trinkets she said she received from
Posey She had them in box tied with
ribbon in her trunk. She was anxious 20
know when Posey's body would be
brought home.
At the Pcsey home there was great
grief. but the members Of the family did
not care to discuss the tragedy Henry
Bowie. in the little jail here said he did
not care 10 make any detailed statement
that his mother would do all the talking
On the day set FOR the wedding, when
the bridegroom failed 20 appear there
was fear that harm had come TO Posey
but a messenger sent TO his home re-
ported that he was not there The bride
to-be heard the news before any one else
and wept. The wedding guests were told
''ht UNIV "'''tN ~ ia' "NNNi"as anu N'''
minister and the rest went their way. OF
course the countryside talked. and the
gossip reached the ears Of Priscilla Bowie
and her mother
Henry Bowie, the twenty three-year-oId
brother of the girl, says he wrote 20
Posey several times asking for an expla-
nation of his conduct. He also SAYS he
got no reply. Then he started out TO hunt
up POsey and the chase. according 20 the
statements made by Counsel Adrian
Posey, continued up 10 the day of the
Shooting