Michael Lowen
1870 - 1908
The following is an account from several newspaper articles from The Charleston Mail in 1908 from September 8 through September 17 and the Fayette Journal dated September 17, 1908. Naomi Thabet McCarron, Michael Lowen's granddaughter researched the murder of her grandfather, through newspaper articles located at the Cultural Center in Charleston, WV.
Syrian Robbed and Killed in Sight of Home
The Charleston Mail, Tuesday, September 8, 1908, Page 3
Montgomery, Fayette County Fruit Dealer Slaying is Seen by his Wife.
Issac Lowen, a Syrian fruit dealer at Montgomery, was shot and killed after midnight last night and robbed of $150 he had in his pocket. The killing and robbery was witnessed by hs wife who stood in the doorway of his home and shouted to him that he was going to be attacked.
Lowen did an exceptionally large business at Montgomery yesterday, being hundreds of people in the town for the observance of Labor Day. At midnight last night he closed his place of business and started home. He had left a policeman just about three minutes and was almost home when he was attacked. His wife standing in the doorway of her home saw a man hiding behind a peanut roaster and called to her husband that he was going to be attacked. The assassin fired three times and each bullet took effect in Lowen's body. He fell to the ground, his money was taken and the robber fled.
The Fayette officials are working hard on the case.
A number of Italians engaged in a fight a few hundred yards from the depot at Montgomery last night and one of their number, whose name is unknown, was cut almost into shoestrings by the other members of the small mob. The injured Italian was removed to the hospital, but it is said he cannot recover.
Offer Reward for Arrest of Slayer of Michael Lowen
The Charleston Mail, Thursday, September 10, 1908, Page 3
Three Citizens in Montgomery Willing to Pay for the Capture of Man who Murdered Syrian
Three citizens of Montgomery have offered a reward of $400 for the arrest of the murderer of Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer, who was shot and robbed of $200 at the front door of his home in the sight of his wife last Monday night.
T. J. Davis of Montgomery, has made an offer if $200, M. J. Sims an offer of $100 and J. C. Montgomery an offer of $100 for the capture and arrest of the murderer, and the Fayette County Court will offer a reward as sib as a meeting is held. Montgomery is still shocked over the brutal crime which occurred in that city on Labor Day night. The murder occurred not 100 yards from the fruit store owned by the Syrian. It was after one o'clock when Lowen closed his place of business, placed his money in his pocket and started home. His wife awaited him in the door and noticed he was being followed. She cried to him that he would be attacked and at the same time four shots were fired, all taking effect. The robber took over $200 from Lowen's pockets and then fled. The fruit dealer's wife attempted to hold him. She grabbed the murderer, but was scared away when he threatened to kill her. Mrs. Lowen says she can recognize the man.
The murdered Syrian has a brother in Charleston conducting a fruit store on Capitol Street. George Lowen, the Charleston fruit dealer, has been in Montgomery since the murder, assisting the officers.
On the same night Lowen was murdered, a white man was slashed to pieces with a knife at the Morris Creek bridge by a gang of Italians; whose motive was robbery. The injured man is now at the Sheltering Arms Hospital and his condition is reported to be serious.
Say Black Hand Slew Lowen, the Montgomery Man
The Charleston Mail, Friday, September 11, 1908, Page 1
Murderer of Fruit Dealer is Still at Large - His Brother From Charleston on the Scene
The murderer of Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer of Montgomery, is still at large according to the latest reports from Montgomery. George Lowen, the local fruit dealer who is a brother of the murdered man, is still at Montgomery and is giving the officers of Fayette County all the assistance he can in locating the murderer, whom many believe to be a citizen of that place acquainted with the habits of the fruit dealer.
Another report says that a great deal of credence is given the theory that the murder was the work of the Black Hand Society, which has baffled the police in so many of the larger cities. The society works usually among the foreigners and many believe that Lowen came to his death through a member of this society.
Slayer is Said to Have Been Caught
The Charleston Mail, Monday, September 14, 1908, Page 1
Report Current on Streets that Murderer of Lowen in Montgomery, Has Been Captured
A report is current in Charleston that a barber, who formerly worked at Charleston, is being held in Montgomery, and is charged with the murder of Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer, who was murdered and robbed while going homie on Labor Day night.
The Mail endeavored to confirm the report by getting in communication with Mayor T. J. Davis, of Montgomery, but was unable to get him by telephone. The murdered man's brother, who live at Charleston, is still at Montgomery.
The reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Lowen has been increased to $700, and of this amount $200 will be paid for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty party. The county of Fayette has offered $200, the town of Montgomery $200, George Lowen $200 and J. C. Montgomery $100.
Hold McCullough as the Slayer of Montgomery Man
The Charleston Mail, Thursday, September 17, 1908, Page 1
Barber, who Formerly Worked in this City, is Charged With the Murder of Michael Lowen, the Syrian Fruit Merchant - Wife Identified Him as the Man - Held Without Bond
Frank McCullough, a barber, who formerly worked in Charleston, but who for five or six months has worked for a barber names Groves at Montgomery, is in jail at Fayetteville held without bond on the charge of murdering Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer in Montgomery on the morning following the big Labor Day meeting at the Fayette County town.
McCullough was arrested about a week ago in Charleston charged with jumping a board bill. He was taken back to Montgomery and the widow of the murdered Syrian identified him as the murderer of her husband. Mayor T. J. Davis did not hear the evidence in the preliminary trial because of the fact that he had offered a reward for the apprehension of the murderer and Justice Champe heard the evidence which was strong enough to warrant the holding of McCullough without bond.
At the preliminary examination McCullough did not introduce any evidence in his own behalf. The barber had no money upon him when arrested, while it is supposed that the murderer of Lowen secured something like $200.
Barber Accused
The Fayette Journal, Thursday, September 17, 1908, Number 24, Page 1
Or One of Most Cruel Murders Ever Known in County - Montgomery Assyrian Killed
Shot and Robbed as he was Going Home at Night - McCullough Identified By Woman as Murderer - Offers no Defense - Case of Mysterious Interest
Behind the bars of the county jail is a young barber, of a prominent Charleston family, charged with one of the most heinous, murders ever committed in this county. On Tuesday night, September 8 Mike Lowen, an Assyrian who conducts a small fruit store in Montgomery, was waylaid on his way home, shot and robbed at his door with his wife struggling to save him. Three bullets were fired into his body and death resulted in a few minutes. The murderer then robbed the dying man of $250 which he had in his pocket.
The killing was a great mystery for a few days and rewards amounting to over $700 were offered for the arrest of the murderer. A razor found near the scene furnished the first clue. It was identified as belonging to Frank McCullough, a young white barber who was employed in Wilbur's Barber Shop. McCullough was missing and it was learned he had gone to Deepwater and taken a train for Charleston The night of the murder he had tried several places to pawn a revolver saying he was compelled to have some money. He was arrested at his father's home in Charleston and brought to Montgomery. At a preliminary hearing Monday he was held without bail to answer for the crime.
The widow of the murdered man identified McCullough as the one who grappled with her husband. The moon was shining brightly and she is sure that McCullough is the murderer. There was no other witness to the midnight tragedy. This identification is the strongest evidence against the barber. He did not have any of the money stolen from the murdered man.
The accused refuses to offer any defense or discuss the matter. He will be represented in his trial by Vernon Champe and C. W. Osenton.
McCullough is only about 23 years old. He was married not long ago to a Miss Porter of Montgomery, and has been working in different shops about that town for several months. It is claimed he was a dope fiend.
Lowen, the murdered man, has conducted a fruit store in Montgomery for several years and was an inoffensive, quiet man. Robbery could have been the only motive of his murderer.
1870 - 1908
The following is an account from several newspaper articles from The Charleston Mail in 1908 from September 8 through September 17 and the Fayette Journal dated September 17, 1908. Naomi Thabet McCarron, Michael Lowen's granddaughter researched the murder of her grandfather, through newspaper articles located at the Cultural Center in Charleston, WV.
Syrian Robbed and Killed in Sight of Home
The Charleston Mail, Tuesday, September 8, 1908, Page 3
Montgomery, Fayette County Fruit Dealer Slaying is Seen by his Wife.
Issac Lowen, a Syrian fruit dealer at Montgomery, was shot and killed after midnight last night and robbed of $150 he had in his pocket. The killing and robbery was witnessed by hs wife who stood in the doorway of his home and shouted to him that he was going to be attacked.
Lowen did an exceptionally large business at Montgomery yesterday, being hundreds of people in the town for the observance of Labor Day. At midnight last night he closed his place of business and started home. He had left a policeman just about three minutes and was almost home when he was attacked. His wife standing in the doorway of her home saw a man hiding behind a peanut roaster and called to her husband that he was going to be attacked. The assassin fired three times and each bullet took effect in Lowen's body. He fell to the ground, his money was taken and the robber fled.
The Fayette officials are working hard on the case.
A number of Italians engaged in a fight a few hundred yards from the depot at Montgomery last night and one of their number, whose name is unknown, was cut almost into shoestrings by the other members of the small mob. The injured Italian was removed to the hospital, but it is said he cannot recover.
Offer Reward for Arrest of Slayer of Michael Lowen
The Charleston Mail, Thursday, September 10, 1908, Page 3
Three Citizens in Montgomery Willing to Pay for the Capture of Man who Murdered Syrian
Three citizens of Montgomery have offered a reward of $400 for the arrest of the murderer of Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer, who was shot and robbed of $200 at the front door of his home in the sight of his wife last Monday night.
T. J. Davis of Montgomery, has made an offer if $200, M. J. Sims an offer of $100 and J. C. Montgomery an offer of $100 for the capture and arrest of the murderer, and the Fayette County Court will offer a reward as sib as a meeting is held. Montgomery is still shocked over the brutal crime which occurred in that city on Labor Day night. The murder occurred not 100 yards from the fruit store owned by the Syrian. It was after one o'clock when Lowen closed his place of business, placed his money in his pocket and started home. His wife awaited him in the door and noticed he was being followed. She cried to him that he would be attacked and at the same time four shots were fired, all taking effect. The robber took over $200 from Lowen's pockets and then fled. The fruit dealer's wife attempted to hold him. She grabbed the murderer, but was scared away when he threatened to kill her. Mrs. Lowen says she can recognize the man.
The murdered Syrian has a brother in Charleston conducting a fruit store on Capitol Street. George Lowen, the Charleston fruit dealer, has been in Montgomery since the murder, assisting the officers.
On the same night Lowen was murdered, a white man was slashed to pieces with a knife at the Morris Creek bridge by a gang of Italians; whose motive was robbery. The injured man is now at the Sheltering Arms Hospital and his condition is reported to be serious.
Say Black Hand Slew Lowen, the Montgomery Man
The Charleston Mail, Friday, September 11, 1908, Page 1
Murderer of Fruit Dealer is Still at Large - His Brother From Charleston on the Scene
The murderer of Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer of Montgomery, is still at large according to the latest reports from Montgomery. George Lowen, the local fruit dealer who is a brother of the murdered man, is still at Montgomery and is giving the officers of Fayette County all the assistance he can in locating the murderer, whom many believe to be a citizen of that place acquainted with the habits of the fruit dealer.
Another report says that a great deal of credence is given the theory that the murder was the work of the Black Hand Society, which has baffled the police in so many of the larger cities. The society works usually among the foreigners and many believe that Lowen came to his death through a member of this society.
Slayer is Said to Have Been Caught
The Charleston Mail, Monday, September 14, 1908, Page 1
Report Current on Streets that Murderer of Lowen in Montgomery, Has Been Captured
A report is current in Charleston that a barber, who formerly worked at Charleston, is being held in Montgomery, and is charged with the murder of Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer, who was murdered and robbed while going homie on Labor Day night.
The Mail endeavored to confirm the report by getting in communication with Mayor T. J. Davis, of Montgomery, but was unable to get him by telephone. The murdered man's brother, who live at Charleston, is still at Montgomery.
The reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Lowen has been increased to $700, and of this amount $200 will be paid for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty party. The county of Fayette has offered $200, the town of Montgomery $200, George Lowen $200 and J. C. Montgomery $100.
Hold McCullough as the Slayer of Montgomery Man
The Charleston Mail, Thursday, September 17, 1908, Page 1
Barber, who Formerly Worked in this City, is Charged With the Murder of Michael Lowen, the Syrian Fruit Merchant - Wife Identified Him as the Man - Held Without Bond
Frank McCullough, a barber, who formerly worked in Charleston, but who for five or six months has worked for a barber names Groves at Montgomery, is in jail at Fayetteville held without bond on the charge of murdering Michael Lowen, the Syrian fruit dealer in Montgomery on the morning following the big Labor Day meeting at the Fayette County town.
McCullough was arrested about a week ago in Charleston charged with jumping a board bill. He was taken back to Montgomery and the widow of the murdered Syrian identified him as the murderer of her husband. Mayor T. J. Davis did not hear the evidence in the preliminary trial because of the fact that he had offered a reward for the apprehension of the murderer and Justice Champe heard the evidence which was strong enough to warrant the holding of McCullough without bond.
At the preliminary examination McCullough did not introduce any evidence in his own behalf. The barber had no money upon him when arrested, while it is supposed that the murderer of Lowen secured something like $200.
Barber Accused
The Fayette Journal, Thursday, September 17, 1908, Number 24, Page 1
Or One of Most Cruel Murders Ever Known in County - Montgomery Assyrian Killed
Shot and Robbed as he was Going Home at Night - McCullough Identified By Woman as Murderer - Offers no Defense - Case of Mysterious Interest
Behind the bars of the county jail is a young barber, of a prominent Charleston family, charged with one of the most heinous, murders ever committed in this county. On Tuesday night, September 8 Mike Lowen, an Assyrian who conducts a small fruit store in Montgomery, was waylaid on his way home, shot and robbed at his door with his wife struggling to save him. Three bullets were fired into his body and death resulted in a few minutes. The murderer then robbed the dying man of $250 which he had in his pocket.
The killing was a great mystery for a few days and rewards amounting to over $700 were offered for the arrest of the murderer. A razor found near the scene furnished the first clue. It was identified as belonging to Frank McCullough, a young white barber who was employed in Wilbur's Barber Shop. McCullough was missing and it was learned he had gone to Deepwater and taken a train for Charleston The night of the murder he had tried several places to pawn a revolver saying he was compelled to have some money. He was arrested at his father's home in Charleston and brought to Montgomery. At a preliminary hearing Monday he was held without bail to answer for the crime.
The widow of the murdered man identified McCullough as the one who grappled with her husband. The moon was shining brightly and she is sure that McCullough is the murderer. There was no other witness to the midnight tragedy. This identification is the strongest evidence against the barber. He did not have any of the money stolen from the murdered man.
The accused refuses to offer any defense or discuss the matter. He will be represented in his trial by Vernon Champe and C. W. Osenton.
McCullough is only about 23 years old. He was married not long ago to a Miss Porter of Montgomery, and has been working in different shops about that town for several months. It is claimed he was a dope fiend.
Lowen, the murdered man, has conducted a fruit store in Montgomery for several years and was an inoffensive, quiet man. Robbery could have been the only motive of his murderer.