The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-01-31
Sam Hunter, coIored, Shoots
at Mine Pit Boss to
XIII Him.
THE BULLET is lDEFLEcTED
Fowler Win Likely Recover.
Shooting Done on Account
of Dismissal.

Enraged because he had been re-
moved as operator OF an electric
mining machine in the Waldo coal
mine at wilsonburg, Sam Hunter. a
negro, shot his pit boss. o. j. Fowler,
through the stomach with revolver
in front of the mine ofIice late Thurs
day afternoon. Fowler is patient
at st. Mary's hospital In this city
and Hunter is large, a posse OF
deputy sherifis and other armed men.
aided by bloodhounds. having failed
to capture him after several hours
chase in the night.
Fowler and the negro were in
front of the mining company's Of
tice when the shooting occurred. The
pit boss had removed Hunter as the
operator of a mining machine and
put another man in his place be-
cause he had not done the work
properly. AS FolsIer neared the
company office In company with
Superintendent AL coburn, Hunter
approached him and demanded to
know why he had given the machine
to another person. Fowler told him
and Hunter is at large, posse OF
said that he would have to be shown
why he got such a dirty deal. The
pit boss said that the reason given
was sufficient and that Hunter
couldn't threaten him. The negro
then pulled a revolver from his
pocket and shot Fowler.
Fowler ran into the company Of
fee while the negro started for his
home. The pit boss tried to get a
weapon in the office though Super
intendent Coburn and the others
there tried to persuade him to keep
away from the negro, At first 1t
was not thought that Fowler had
been shot, but he began to weaken
and tottering to chair he asked
the men to remove his clothing and
find where he had been shot. This
was done and a wound in the center
of the stomach was found. Fowler
was Immediately placed on streEt
car and taken to st. Mary's hospital
where doctors performed an opera
ton at once and removed the bullet
near the spine.
In the meantime Hunter went to
his house. which is not far away
from the mine office, took loaded
rife, went out the back door and fed
over the hill.
Shortly after the shooting a posse
Of men was formed at Wilsonburg
and after providing themselves with
arms they started in pursuit OF the
negro. They failed to find any trace
of the pit boss's murderous assailant
after long chase over the hills and
a diligent search of the locality.
Not long after the news of the
shooting had been received at the
sheriff's Office. sherin Flanagan.
Deputy Sheriff Knox and several as
sistants went to the scene and began
a chase after the fleeing negro. AZ
ter searching the neighborhood in
the direction the negro fed, 1t was
decided to procure the Fairmont
Coal company's bloodhounds from
Enterprise and put them ON the
trail. The hounds took the scent
at Hunters house and led the party
over the hills and gullies in the di-
rection Of Lyneh's Mines. In that
neighborhood the dogs lost the scent
about 3 o'clock in the morning and
the posse gave up the chase.
The victim Of the shooting Is 81
years old and married Miss Allie
Ash, formerly teacher in the city
public schools. only few weeks ago.
Hunter had been working at the
Waldo mine for three or four years
and had never been in any trouble
during that time.
At st. Mary's hospital Friday af-
ternoon 1t was given out that Fow-
Ter was in good condition, resting
comfortably and had favorable
chances of recovery II complications
do not set in.