LAWSON, Florence Sowers - L-Obituaries

On the 30th of May at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Florence Sowers, an orphan girl living with her grandparents a mile and a half from Jacksonville (sic) in Fountain County was married to Henry Lawson. The family retired about 10 o'clock and when all was quiet a party of charivariers who had been waiting an opportunity came up and surrounding the house began their noise. Besides what is generally taken out on such occasions, they took with them several revolvers and two muskets and in order to make a loud report they loaded them heavily with paper wads and used an unusual quantity of powder. When the firing began the bride and groom raised up and crawled over to the foot of their bed with the intention of looking out of the window nearby and just as they were in the act of putting their heads out, a musket was fired, the contents passing into the woman's head, killing her almost instantly. Without a single utterance she fell back upon the bed. Her husband asked if she was hurt, but upon receiving no answer, he called to the family below and had the charivaring stopped and one of the party was immediately dispatched for Dr. Talbot. As soon as a light could be procured, the family ascended to the bride's room and upon entering, found her dead. The physician arrived shortly after and upon examining found the paper wad lodged in her brain. She was struck somewhere about the upper lip and her face was so completely torn to pieces she would never have been recognized, not even by those who knew her best. From the mouth up, the face was entirely destroyed with the exception of an eye and a portion of one cheek. The skull was badly fractured and the face powder burnt. A coroner's inquest was held the following morning, conducted by Esquire Hybarger, the same officer who had performed the marriage ceremony the evening before. The funeral took place in Jacksonville, Friday afternoon at about 5 o'clock, exactly 24 hours from the time she became a bride. It was largely attended and the occasion was one of great sorrow. The sad occurrence has created quite a sensation and has cast such a gloom over the vicinity that only time can banish it. Four of the charivaring party, Hiram Allen, James Allen, John Cunningham and Joseph Thomas were arrested, and a preliminary trial held in Jacksonville the following Tuesday, the result of which is not yet known. If it can be ascertained which of the number did the fatal deed, he may yet have to suffer for his carelessness. This is the fourth accidental killing that has happened in that township in two years, each of the victims being shot in the head. -- kbz