Evander "Bucher" Lowrey Arrested for Killing Willie Lowrey, June 1, 1925

Fatal Shooting Near Pembroke. . . Evander “Bucher” Lowrey in Jail Here Charged with Murder—Willie Lowrey Instantly Killed When Bullet Pierces Abdomen—Teasing Dancing Boy Starts Trouble—Accused Man Surrenders to Deputy Sheriff. . . Inquest Friday Morning

Evander Lowrey, Indian, is being held in jail here without privilege of bond, charged with the murder of Willie Lowrey, Indian, the killing taking place near Pembroke Thursday night about 9 o’clock.

Coroner D.W. Biggs held an inquest over the remains Friday morning, and his jury signed a verdict that “Willie Lowrey came to his death from a pistol shot in the hands of Evander Lowrey, and we order that he be held for higher court.”

It was in evidence at the inquest that the shooting was done after Evander Lowrey walked up to a place a few yards off the Indian Normal school campus, where “June Bug” Hall, 12-year-old negro, was dancing “hambone” for Willie Lowrey. Evander, better known as “Bucher,” began teasing the dancing boy by taking his cap away from him and hiding it. Willie told “Bucher” to stop fooling with the boy, and from that harsh words were passed, but not a witness testified that there was profanity used by either. It was reported that Willie told “Bucher” that he was “fooling with the wrong man this time,” after which “Bucher” walked a few steps backward and fired one time, the bullet taking effect in Willie’s abdomen, causing instant death.

Some of the witnesses testified they heard something that sounded like two more pistol shots after the wounded man had fallen, but they said it could have been the back-firing of an automobile. Immediately after the shooting, “Bucher” walked to the steps of the school building and sat down. He came back to where the shooting occurred as soon as Deputy Sheriff H. Lowrey had been called, and surrendered. Coroner Biggs and Sheriff B.F. McMillan went to Pembroke about 10 o’clock and brought the prisoner to jail here.

Friends and relatives of the alleged murderer were in Lumberton Saturday and were trying to get bond arranged, but were advised that it would be necessary to bring habeas corpus proceeding before Judge N.A. Sinclair at Fayetteville. After this it was understood that they abandoned the idea, and have begun work in behalf of the defendant.

From the front page of The Robesonian, Lumberton, N.C., Monday, June 1, 1925. The victim, the assailant and the sheriff were all named Lowrey. I was expecting an explanation of any relationship among the three.

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