Heritage Scrap Gallery - The Shoot Out

The newspaper reports tell what happened when they arrived at Uncle Wint Porter's house...

Bad Killing Near Soldier

At the store of W.H. Porter last Thursday afternoon, September 22, late in the day, Paris Underwood met his death and Farris Bowen met what caused, or will cause his death. It is said these two young men became too heavily laden with whisky, sad as it is, last week, and having a hatred in their heart toward W.H. Porter, one of the most prominent citizens of this or any other county, they went to his place of business and to his home on Wednesday of last week, shot under the feet of his wife and raised quite a little excitement. This should have occurred after they had visited the quiet little city of Soldier, just a short distance away, and shot the windows from some of the business houses of that place.
They seemed to leave without any trouble or further excitement that day, but the next day - Thursday - the automobile was seen to drive up and they leaped from it, as is reported with intent to kill, as they had told previously to their coming, and a shooting match resulted. W.H. Porter, Charles Justice and Mr. Roe, the latter from Elliot County, on one side and Paris Underwood and Faris Bowen on the other. Shotguns, pistols and anything that could be gotten hold of were used, but it seemed that neither took immediate effect, but resulted in the death of one and almost a certainty of another.
After several shots had been exchanged, Paris Underwood, who seemed to have been shot several times, left to go to the home of Sam Porter, a short distance from where the shooting took place, and on his way he met Norma Clay who was a short distance, and told her that his buddy, Faris Bowen had been killed, and that Wint Porter was killed, and went right on toward the home of Sam Porter. After his arrival at the home of Sam Porter he called for water and said, "I don't want to die in your house, so I'll get on the outside," and they went for water, but while they were gone, he fired a shot into his left breast with his own pistol, causing immediate death.
Norma Clay and a man who was with him went down to the scene of the shooting and found Faris Bowen lying nearby badly wounded.
They went immediately to get help to care for him. They found Wint Porter wounded with a shot through his foot and great excitement prevailing. Mrs. Porter, who witnessed the shooting, said she knelt and prayed to God to take care of and protect her family, and she avows that He did. They returned to find Bowen had gone, and moving on up the road they found him in a very dangerous condition. Dr. Sparks, of this city, was called and he recommended that Bowen be taken to the hospital at once, but that he thought his chance for recovery was very doubtful, and that he must be rushed to have any chance. Upon his arrival at the hospital in Ashland it was announced that an operation was necessary because several of the shots had entered his lungs and that although they could take care of the perforated bowel, the shots that had entered the lungs would finally kill.
Local undertaker Clarence W. Henderson was called and he took care of the body of Paris Underwood and prepared it for burial, took it to his home at Globe, where a broken hearted wife and mother of a fine young boy awaited its arrival. The scene was one that can never be described, although it may be said they expected it, still an anxious heart awaited the arrival safely of Paris at his home.

Paris' sister Carrie always believed that the Porters killed him. Some of the Porters also believe this was not a suicide. If so, there was a cover up by either the Sheriff, the Porters, or the Newspaper. At any rate, it is certain that Paris Underwood planned to die that day. He was prepared to have a shootout to the very end.

Credits:

Mother's Photo Album Page Kit by Victorian Rose Designs