Father, Two Sons Convicted of Murder of Wisdom Patterson, Dec. 13, 1919

From the Brevard News, Dec. 13, 1919. Mrs. Owen was named Bessie in the headline but then Dassie several times in the article. I don't know which is correct.

Sherman, Robert and Leonard Owen Convicted of Murder of Wisdom Patterson. . . Quarrel Over a Hog Started Trouble. . . Robert Owen Gets 20 Years, Other Two 15. . . Bessie Owen Found Not Guilty

Following a trial that lasted seven or eight days, and one that consumed most of the time of the two weeks’ fall term of Superior Court, Sherman Owen and his two sons, Robert and Leonard Owen, were found guilty of murder in the second degree for the fatal shooting last August of Wisdom Patterson. The jury which was empaneled from special venires of 250 men and part of the regular panel of 24 men, reached its verdict in about 2 ½ hours after Solicitor J.E. Shipman closed the arguments. The men were sentenced by Judge J.L. Webb the next morning after the verdict was rendered. Robert Owen was sentenced to 20 years in the state prison, and Sherman and Leonard Owen each were sentenced to 25 years.

The verdict was given following one of the most bitterly contested trials every held in Transylvania County.

It was learned that the jury took seven ballots. On the first ballot five jurymen held out for first degree murder and favored electrocution for the three defendants. When Judge Webb received the verdict he intimated that the prisoners had gotten off with very light sentences, considering the cold-blooded plot by which Patterson was murdered. W.D. Patton was foreman of the jury.

Both the defendants and the state were represented by able and competent lawyers. The defendants having for their attorneys Mr. Walter Moore of Sylva, W.E. Breese and Coleman Galloway of Brevard. Solicitor J.E. Shipman was assisted by Felix Alley of Waynesville and D.L. English and L.C. Hamlin of Brevard.

The evidence showed that the killing had taken place at the Diamond (Daimond?) school house, about six miles above Rosman. Patterson had taken up a hog belonging to the Owen family and advertised that he would sell the animal to pay for damage the hog had done on his premises. The sale took place at the school house. Sherman Owen and his two sons and Dassie Owen were present. The hog was attached to a rope held by Patterson’s son-in-law. The trouble started when Sherman asked Patterson: “Whose hog have you got thar?” At this point Dassie Owen cut the rope, liberating the hog. Patterson then seized the rope, whereupon the shooting started. Robert Owen fired the first shot, striking Patterson under the left shoulder. As he fell Robert fired again, this time into Patterson’s chest. Meanwhile, Sherman had procured a gun and he and Leonard opened fire on the prostrate body.

The shooting took place in front of a crowd that had gathered for the sale. The jail was guarded night and day during the trial.

The trial attracted large crowds from every corner of the county and an aggregate total of a thousand or 1,500 people were in attendance during the trial. The court room was crowded during the entire trial.