Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-17
WHATS THE ROW ABOUT?
NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW
Continued from Page One

about that burglar; that IT wasn't a
burglar. but a drunken outburst.
Mr.. Howard says Mr.. Cowan offered to
apologize to him next morning Qast Sat
urday) but he replied that no apology
was due him, but that ne (Cowan) would
have to apologize to the ladies for the in
situations he'd made. Mr.. Cowan. on the
other hand. says that Mr.. Howard tried
to make him apologize. and he replied
he had nothing to apologize for.
CHALLENGE REFUSED.
Here the two versions converge for a
moment. Both men agree that Mr.. How
ard invited Mr.. Cowan to come down on
the street and fight it out; and that Mr..
Cowan declined the invitation, or seemed
to ignore II, re-entering his house. Mr..
Howard then left for town.
MI. Cowan says that that evening (Satur-
day.. as he and a friend were crossing
the street from the friends home to the
Howard residence. a street car stopped
and Mr.. Cowan stepped of, unwrappins
a pistol, and backing OF to his own house.
up the steps, up the front walk. and up
on the porch and within, always holding
the revolver in q rather delicate position
as regarded Mr.. Howard, who. unarmed,
had taken refuge behind a tree, accord &.
ing to both versions. Mr.. Cowan, how
volver, which he says, he had bought
that morning. He says he did not take
Il out OF the box in which II had. been
handed to him from the shelves. He says
he had suspected just such a plot tC
meet him, though. and he was prepared.
This incident seems to have worked up
both households and the surrounding
Ineighborhood.
Sunday afternoon Just at dark Mr. How
ard returned from the country, to find a
neighbor and her three little daughters
visiting the ladies Of his own household,
sitting on the porch. AS he went to enter
the house. he says, Mrs. Cowan, who had
been sitting on her own front porch. call
ed him to the porch rail and across the
narrow space of about eight feet inter
vening told him that II he had any idea
her husband was a coward he was mis-
taken.
Mr.. Howard says that just then Mr.
Cowan appeared from somewhere right
behind Mrs. Cowan. with the ubiquitous
revolver in his hand. Mr.. Howard says
he darted into his own door, and the
neighbor and her children ran from the
porch and sped to safety at their own
home.
Mr.. Cowan says he had just returned
from an afternoon at Ponce de Leon park,
and he didn't even see Mr.. Howard as
he came up his steps. He says his wife
tells him that Mr.. Howard. on the next
door porch. had been laying on the brag-
cadocio talk about the affair till she
couldn't stand II any longer She didn't
know her husband was coming, and he
didn't know whom she had been talking
to or about what. till she told him after
Mr.. Howard disappeared.
That appears to have capped the situa-
ton. for Mr.. Howard called a friend In
conference. and the peace warrant was
the result. While the conference was In
progress. the friend saw Mrs. Cowan's
father leave the Cowan home (where
he lives with his daughter and her fam
ilyl. and caught up with him on the
sidewalk for a short walk down the street
and a talk about the seriousness OF a sit
Nation attributable TO nothing in par
ticular.
Mr.. Cowan is a dangerous. desperate
man." the friend says the father-in-law
kent repeating.
Late Sunday evening the peace warrant
was served. and Mr. Cowen. unable to
reach any Of his friends at that hour Of
the night. stayed In the tower I'll Mon
day morning. He was out in town with
baniff he says. on his way to get a
friend make his bond. when he learned
that Il had already been arransed.
Nr Howard came to The Journal office
and told MS version of the matter straight
through.
Mr.. Cov.an was found at his Office In
the Tem0le Court building, and told his
eide OF the case. opening a drawer Of his
@esk to show The Journal representa-
tive the revolver. a .3s-caliber automatic
ma razine gun. that he had purchased last
SATURDAY..