The Elbert County tribune., 1907-08-22
INSANE JEALOUSY OF RANcHER
OVER SCHOOL TEACHER
ENDS IN DEATH.
SAID HE'D MAKE ROOM
WAS TO HAVE BEEN GROOM IN
FEW DAYS BUT CRUEL FATE
INTERFERED.

Meeker, Col0-lmagtn1ng that MIS-
sweetheart, Miss Ethel Caldwell, a
pretty school teacher. had been
slighted by Clarence Mathes. e. Nc
Dowell mounted his horse rode to the
Mathes ranch and stated that he was
going to kill everyone on the place.
Mathes, who was forced to run from in
front of McDowell's gun, ran into a
barn, secured a shotgun, and, emerg-
ing, shot Mcdowell three times, kill
ing him instantly. Both men are
wealthy ranchmen and Mcdowell was
to have been married next Wednesday
to Miss Caldwell, who was the inno-
cent cause of the duel
An inquest in the case was held here
and the coroner's jury, after hearing
all the testimony, brought in a verdict
to the effect that Mcdowell had met
his death on the morning of the day
of the inquest and that death resulted
from gunshot wounds inflicted by Clar-
enee Mathes. The jury held the killing
to have been justifable.
Had Many Sutors.
The circumstances which resulted in
the killing and in bringing sorrow to
the heart of the pretty school teacher
who was soon to have been bride
are most unusual. Miss Caldwell had
been teaching school in the country
near the ranches of Mathes and Nc
Dowell for the past few years and had
many suitors among the sturdy ranch
men. Mcdowell won her hand after a
violent courtship and is said to have
thought much more of his sweetheart
than he did of his life. The ranch
house of Mathes was the closest to
the school house and Miss Caldwell
desired to board and room there, but
was told by Mathes that he had not
the room to accommodate her, as his
family was large. This caused Nc
Dowell to become enraged and in the
morning he got on his horse and with
his gun thrown across the saddle
started for the Mathes ranch to de-
mand an explanation. On the road he
met Miss Lottie Burdick and Homer
Maxon and told them of the slight that
he believed had been offered to his
bride-to-be. Both Miss Burdick and
Maxon stated that they did not believe
Mathes intended to slight the young
woman, but simply had not the room
to accommodate her. ''Ill make some
room up there, them Mcdowell said.
"I'll kill every on the Mathes
ranch, then therell be room enoughl"
Mcdowell pulled his gun and ordered
Maxon to accompany him to the
Mathes ranch. Maxon talked McDow-
ell out of this idea and the enraged
lover proceeded alone.
Told to Prepare to Die.
Arriving at the Mathes ranch, Nc
Dowell encountered Clarence Mathes.
When within three feet of his intended
victim Mcdowell drew his gun and
told Mathes he had to die. Mathes ran
for the barn and Mcdowell began fir
ing One shot went through Mathes'
coat.
Mcdowell dismounted. drew a six
shooter, and, cornering Mathes in the
barn, told him to go into the house and
shave and change his clothes, as he
had better prepare to meet his Maker.
Mathes jumped for his gun which hung
by the door of the building, and, secur-
Ing 1t, opened fire on Mcdowell. Three
bullets took effect in McDowell's body.
One entered the left eye, another
lodged in the neck, severing the jugu-
lar vein, and the third went through
his right arm. Mcdowell fell dead at
the third shot.
At the inquest Mathes insisted that
he never thought in any but a kindly
way of the school teacher and would
have been pleased to have her lodge
at his house If he had had sufficient
room.