Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-11-30
Spicy Scandal From sharpsburg.

Spicy Scandal From Sharpsburg.
Our neighboring town of Sharpsburg
has had good deal to talk about the past
week because OF a scandal which has in
volved some of the residents of that place.
For the past five or six years it has been
a matter of common knowledge that
Woodson c. Cobb, a wealthy banker and
business man of Norfolk, Va, was main
tanning Miss May Bowers in luxury in
Sharpsburg. Miss Bowers. who is said
to be good-looker, was the daughter oil
the late Henry Bowers, saloon-keeper
OF Hagerstown, formerly OF Sharpsburg.
Some years ago Cobb bought The old
Shay hotel property on the corner OF the
public square in Sharpsburg, and at the
expenditure of a considerable sum OF
money converted it into a handsome
Westinghouse. also furnishing il in ele-
CANT style. Miss Bowers and her mother
dwelt there, and Cobb made frequent
visits to the place. II was plain that he
had much affection for Miss May, who
was a grass widow. she having married
man by the name of McHenrY, a Ha-
gerstown horse dealer, when she was
but young girl, and afterwards sepa-
rated from him. Some time ago Cobb
bought an automobile for Miss Bowers,
and sent colored man to serve as
chauffeur and to teach her to run the ma
chine. She didn't want a colored man
for chauffeur, however, so she dismissed
him and employed Isaiah Glass, fine
looking young Sharpsburger, to fill the
position. This is where Cobb's troubles
began, for il seems that his sweetheart'S
affections were transferred to the good
looking chauffeur-indeed, it is reported
that they had been fond of each other
from childhood. While Cobb was foot
ing the bills, Glass was trespassing on his
preserves. II is said that some one from
Sharpsburg gave Cobb quiet trip, and
one night few months ago he Slip
ped into Sharpsburg unannouuced, and,
sure enough, found Glass making him
self quite at home in the Bowers place.
Cobb ordered him out, and in the alter
cation Cobb shot at Glass. The latter
caused Cobb's arrest, but the matter was
hushed up, Cobb having paid Glass $500,
it is said, not TO prosecute the case.
That $500 looked like easy money to
Glass, and he began to scheme for more.
But Mr.. Cobb was not as easy as he
looked, and what seemed rosy to the
conspirators was in reality their undoing.
A badger game was planned. 1t was an
nounced that on the 9Th of November
Glass and Miss Bowers were married at
Elkton. Four days afterward the woman
was found in Norfolk with Cobb, and
when Glass made the surprising discov-
cry his anguished soul called loudly for
reparation. He and his friend Lester
Bender, also Of Sharpsburg, went right
after Cobb, but they were not so awfully
indignant but that they were willing to
settle-for price. Mr.. Cobb is a mar
ried man, and they figured that he would
pay we'll to keep the matter quiet and
prevent the scandal from becoming public
in Norfolk. Their terms, il is said, were
that he should pay Glass $4,000 in cash,
give him deed for the Bowers residence
in Sharpsburg, with all its contents. and
also present him with that excellent auto
mobile. II he declined these terms they
would have him arrested on white slave
charge, as they could prove that he had
taken GLASS; alleged wife from Sharps-
burg 10 Norfolk for immoral purposes.
Cobb refused TO be blackmailed. 1t is
said that Glass then wrote him and put
his demands in black and wbite-Whicfl
is where he made his fatal mistake. For
titled with this letter, Cobb firmly refused
to pay one cent, whereupon Glass made
good his threat and swore out warrant
before a United States commissioner,
charging Cobb with violating The white
slave act. Cobb was arrested in Norfolk,
both Glass and Bender testifying against
him. But the tables were soon turned.
Cobb showed the letter Glass had written
him, and Glass was arrested on the charge
OF blackmail, while Bender was held for
perjury. The case Against Cobb was
Glass was held in $1,000 bail, and his
nerve left him. 1t is said that he con-
tessed his part in the conspiracy, and ad-
mitted that he had married the Bowers
woman so that he could get "hush
from the Norfolk man. He said
that he would plead guilty to the charge
against him. Bender, who was arrested
for perjury, has been in custody in Ha-
yerstown, where his hearing was set for
Tuesday. Some persons have their
doubts as TO The marriage OF Glass and
Miss Bowers, as they think that this an
nouncement was only part ofthe scheme
70 hold up Cobb for good round sum.
There are two morals to this story:
First, don't kill The goose that lays the
golden egg; second, don't buy an auto
mobile for your sweetheart unless you
ire going to be on the spot yourself.
Among the Churches.
Rev. Robert A. Boyle. for the past
seventeen years pastor ofthe Presbyterian
Church in Hagerstown, who recently re-