Death of Luther Lowe and Robert Lester, 1911 - Tazewell Co. VA Source: Clinch Valley News, March 23, 1911 Luther Lowe and Robert Lester, well known white men of the west end of the county, living about 17 miles from Tazewell were killed and Henry Lester was seriously wounded in a fight near Harvey Lester’s on last Monday afternoon. Benjamin Lester, a son of Henry Lester was tried by Magistrate on Wednesday and give bail in the sum of $1,000. Ben Lester fired shots which caused the death of LOWE and LESTER. Ben Lester, 21 years old, son of Henry Lester returned on Tuesday from a trip to Bristol and was met by his father in the road near Harve Lesters a short distance from Robert Lesters where the shooting occurred. At Harve Lester’s father and son and a young man named Billiups stopped and all had a few drinks together Ben having brought liquor with him from Bristol. After tanking up they all came down to Bob Lester’s and there at his front gate a row took place between Henry and Robert Lester. Luther Lowe, who was at Bob Lester’s house at the time came out of the house with a pistol in his hand, and shot Henry Lester, who was sitting on a mule at the time and is said to have had a gun in his hand and trying to shoot Bob Lester. Just at this time Ben came up and with a single barrel shot gun , shot LOWE, reloaded his gun and shot Bob Lester, who he said was trying to shoot his father, Henry Lester who had already been shot by Lowe. LOWE and Lester walked up the road a short distance and both fell dead together. Henry Lester will recover. Robert and Henry Lester are first cousins about 60 and 65 years of age respectively. An old feud has existed between these people for many years. Robert Lester was divorced from his wife 30 years ago, but is said to have lived in the house with her a great deal of the time. It is hinted that wine and women and not division fences is the primal cause of this tragedy, which seems not to have been a great surprise to the people of the county. A few years ago Reese Lester was shot to death on Flat Top Mountain by one Osborne, who it is alleged, had obstructed a passway through his land, which the Lester’s had been using. Henry Lester and Robert Lester are the cousins of the man who killed Sheriff Bogle of Tazewell County about 30 years ago about a half mile west of town. [note: This is how the article was written in the Clinch Valley News] Submitted by Barbara Boyce **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************