Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09
TIE UNWRITTEN LAW
COMING TRIAL HAS FEATURES
LIKE sTRoTHERs CASE.
Special Correspondence Of the Star.

LA PLATA, Charles County, Nd.
March 8, 1907.
People living in this section Of the coun-
ty are taking much interest in the case Of
Philip and James Strother, who were ac-
Quilted at Culpeper, Va, Thursday OF
charge of murder, in which the defense
won out under plea that the victim OF the
tragedy had committed a violation of the
"unwritten law" The interest that is be-
ing taken mere Is due to the fact that at the
spring session Of the court there is. to be
tried case In which a similar plea b Hike
ly to be entered The case Is that Of Mrs.
Mollie Bowie and her son, Henry Bowie,
who are charged with having shot to death
Hubert Posey, son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh
i. Posey, January 10 last. The case PROM
ises to be an interesting one If the grand
jury should return an indictment, which
seems more than probable.
Hubert Posey, who had several brothers
and other relatives living in Washington.
was employed at Indian Head. He lived
with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh L.
Posey, near Hilltop, and much Of his time
was spent at the home of Mrs. Moilie
Bowie, near Ironsides, and 1t is said Miss
Priscilla Bowie, or ISIS Bowie, as she was
that there was a relationship existing be-
tween the young man and his sweetheart
in about the same degree as that between
William Bywaters and Miss Strother In
the young woman had been wronged he
was called upon to right the wrong for
which he was alleged TO have been respon-
sible, and it is said made promise OF
The time for the marriage was set, the
wedding feast prepared, and other arrange
ments made. At the appointed time the
minister was on hand to tie the knot. but
Posey failed to appear.
Double Marriage Scheduled.
A double marriage was to have been per-
formed that night. but the failure of Po-
sey to appear resulted in the minister hav-
ing to perform but one ceremony. isis"
Bowie was disappointed and disheartened.
When the time came and she realized that
her alleged betrayer had no idea of making
good his promise she became ILL., At the
home of her widowed mother the members
of the family had discussion OF the af-
fair, and Henry Bowie, it is alleged, deter
mined that the betrayer of his sister should
not live. His conduct toward Posey was
such that the latter procured peace war
rant, and the showing made before the
magistrate was such that Bowie was placed
under bond to keep the peace.
In this respect the case differs from the
one in Virginia. Here there was no way
in which the ruin Of Sis Bowie could be
concealed, and it was the gossip of the
neighborhood. Young Posey. 1t is said,
would have married the young woman had
not his parents advised him to the con-
trary. Wnen ne ndu ueT
Bowie determined that she would avenge'
the double wrong that was charged against
Posey. Her alleged threats were commu-
nicated to Posey and he was advised to
leave the county.
Leave nothing" was his response. Il
was born here and have lived here all my
life, and intend to remain
The Killing Follows.
) He remained too long for his own sake
however for Mrs Bowie and her son met
him on the road while he was on his way
home from work and shot him to death, it
Is claimed. The mother is said to have
used a revolver and the son a shotgun. His
death occurred in the Casualty Hospital in
Washington. Shortly after the holding Of
the inquest Deputy Sheriff NJ Hampton
Cox arrested Mrs Bowie and her son. Judge
Merrick came here in response to a request
from Attorney Adrian Posey and released
the mother and son on $1,000 security.
At the time the case came before the
court on a writ of habeas corpus Judge
Merrick refrained from making any re-
marks, but the fact that he accepted bond
in so small a sum is taken to indicate that
his feelings leaned toward the defendants.
The attorney for the defendants has not
yet outlined what his defense is to be. but
he may appeal to the unwritten law. 1t is
believed there will be no plea of imDulsive
insanity entered in the case but counsel
may set up claim of self-defense. the
mother and son met Posey on the road.
the mother with a revolver in her hand
and the son armed with the gum he struck
Mrs. Posey
The spring term Of the circuit court will
be held In May.