Stand Your Ground in Old Prince George's (1877) - updated 30 Dec 2013

3-22-1877

SHOOTING AFFAIR IN MARYLAND.

Major Bowie, Prince George's Co. fatally wounds a young man.

               Yesterday, about noon, a shooting affair took place on the farm of Major Francis M. Bowie, near Forestville, Prince George's county, Md., in which Major Bowie shot, and,  is stated, mortally wounded a young man named Edward Oliver, son of William Oliver, who resides near Forestville. The facts in the case are said to be as follows: Young Oliver with a wagon on Tuesday last to the farm of Major Bowie, and, it is alleged, carried off some corn or fodder, the property of the major. Major Bowie, hearing of it, took up a bridge which crosses a creek, and by which access is had to the place, and locked his gates. Yesterday morning Oliver came with his wagon and succeeded in forwarding the stream. On making his exit he was compelled to pass near the Bowie mansion, and finding the gate locked talk it from the hinges. Bowie at this stage of the affair appeared and told Oliver if he removed the gate, he would shoot one of his horses. Oliver thereupon picked up a stone and approached Bowie, and it is alleged applied in on complimentary remark with an oath, all the while closing upon Bowie, who warned him not to approach. Not heating the warning, bowie drew and fired a navy revolver at Oliver, the ball entering the left nipple and lodging in the shoulder. The wounded man was removed to his home, and was attended by doctors bird, Thomas and Brent, who this morning pronounced the wound fatal. Bowie was arrested and carried before Justice fund, of Forest Hill, who committed him to the upper Marlborough jail to await the action of the grand jury, which will meet April 1st. The excitement in and around Forestville is intense, and opinions differ as to the justice of the affair, many alleging that Willie acted in self-defense. Though he is one of the oldest inhabitants of that section of the country. It will be remembered that Bowie was attacked sometime since on the road by a party named Fowler, and severely beaten.[1]

4-17-1877

TRIAL OF MAJOR FRANCIS M. BOWIE.

               The indictment against Francis M. Bowie, found by the grand jury for Prince George's county, Md., charging him with an assault, with intent to murder, A. Edward Oliver by shooting him with a pistol on this 21st day of March, 1877, whilst trespassing upon his (Major Bowie's) farm near Forestville, in that county, was called for trial at the opening of the circuit court and Upper Marlboro', yesterday morning. Prosecution was represented by William J. Hill, and the defense by the Messrs. Walter W. N. Bowie, Jos. K. Roberts, Jr., and A. Snowden Hill. The trial attracted a considerable crowd about the courthouse, and the case was the first case called upon the opening of the court; the regular panel of jurors was exhausted and seven jury men taken from it; the other five were made up from talesmen [sic], and in a few minutes the trial was opened by the prosecuting attorney.

THE FIRST WITNESS WAS YOUNG OLIVER HIMSELF.

               He gave a clear and explicit account of the affair, to the effect that during the last year he had rented lands from Major Bowie, and the difficulty arose from the division of some twenty-three shocks of fodder raised on the rented lands. Louis accused him of stealing fodder from the place. He turned and faced Bowie, dropping the reins of his team, being about 15 or 20 feet distant. Some oath past, and Bowie fired the shot, the pistol being about on a level with his waist; the shots struck Oliver in the right breast; his coat being folded over his breast.

               Tyler Suit and R. S. Cator, the state's witnesses, both corroborated Oliver; and the doctors then testified as to the injuries.

TESTIMONY OF THE ACCUSED.

               The statement made by Mister Roberts was that it was a case of self-defense.

               Major F. M. Bowie (as allowed by the recent act of the Maryland legislator) was called and sworn, agreed testimony with the prosecuting witnesses' statement up to exact moment of shooting, when he stated that Oliver, with most insulting epithets, was advancing on him, and uplifted as if to strike, and within four or 5 feet, Oliver was shot. The intention was to shatter his right arm, but not kill him.[2]  

        

4-18-1877

THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. (Md) SHOOTING CASE.             

MAJOR FRANCIS M. BOWIE ACQUITTED.

               The trial of Major Francis M. Bowie for an assault, with intent to murder, on A. Edw'd Oliver by shooting him with a pistol on the 21st day of March, 1877, whilst trespassing upon his (Major Bowie's) farm, near Forestville, in Prince George's county, Md., was continued in the circuit court in Upper Marlboro', Maryland, on Monday after our report closed. The prosecution was represented by Wm. J. Hill, and the defense by Messrs. Walter W. N. Bowie, Jos. K/ Roberts, Jr., and A. Snowden Hill.

               After the testimony of Major Bowie in his own behalf, as given in THE STAR of yesterday, Frank Bowie testified that the party trespassing on Major Bowie's farm left the public roads, which were then in good traveling order, to get into his field by and on frequented approach. Elisha E. Berry, living on an adjoining farm to Major Bowie's, testified to the same effect as previous witness. John H. Besn testified to threats made by A. Edward Oliver against Major Bowie - that he intended to giving Bowie a worse thrashing than Fowler gave him, if Bowie fooled with him. The case was presented at length and ably; all the Council submitting their views to the jury. At 5:10 p.m. the jury retired for consultation and to make up their verdict, and at 5:45 p.m. they returned a verdict of not guilty. [3]

3-29-1893  

Author's note - Interestingly, there were two men named Francis Magruder Bowie in 19th century Prince George's County.  The younger Francis Magruder Bowie (1847-1893) was a cousin of Major Francis Magruder Bowie (1812-1877), a wealthy slaveholder. While the newspaper described the younger Francis M. Bowie, see below, as being a millionaire, his elder cousin whose home farm and plantation was known as Dunblane, died broke. Dublane is located on Westphalia road near  I495 and Pennsylvania Ave (Rte 4) in Prince George's County, Maryland.

A full accounting of the murder of Francis Magruder Bowie in 1893 will be posted soon.

Earlier versions of this posting stated that Francis M. Bowie (1847-1893) was a Republican. This information was posted erroneously; there is a third Francis Bowie , J. Francis Bowie of whom I have no information at this time. December 31, 2013 

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[1] Evening Star, published as The Evening Star.; Date: 03-22-1877; Page: 4; Location: Washington (DC), District of Columbia

[2] The Evening Star.; Date: 04-17-1877; Page: 4; Location: Washington (DC), District of Columbia

[3] The Evening Star.; Date: 04-18-1877; Page: 4; Location: Washington (DC), District of Columbia

[4] Times-Picayune, published as The Daily Picayune; Date: 03-29-1893; Page: 2; Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

[5] Oswego Times, New York, March 30, 1893. p. 2.

Articles transcribed by John Peter Thomposn, December 2013