"Bad Killing Near Soldier" 

             			Grayson Journal Enquirer September 22, 1927    
 
	
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 
Elliott 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 seems 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 the way he met Norma Clay, 
who lives a short distance from the shooting, and told him that his "buddy," Farris Bowen, had been killed and 
that Wince (W.H.) 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 nearly 
badly wounded. They went immediately to get help to care for him.  They found Wince (W.H.) 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 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 leaves a loving wife, a kind and devoted father, W.C. Underwood, a prominent merchant and businessman 
of Soldier, and a loving mother, whose home is in Illinois, besides a host of friends and relatives to mourn his loss.  
His body was laid to rest in the family cemetery Saturday afternoon on Dry Branch.