New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-20
HORRIBLE MURDER.

HORRIBLE MURDER.
Michael J. Bewden, . Young School
Teacher. Assassinaeed for his Money
HE Body Found Barred under an old
stahle-Cari Alberg, q Young Swede,
supposed to be the Murderer.
1t becomes our painful duty, this week, to
record one of the most cold blOOded. PIE
meditated murders that was ever commit
ted in this state. Nothing 80 atrocious has
ever before occurred in this parish, and it
is to be hoped, for the credit of humanity,
ever will again.
young man named Michael j. Bowden, who
had been employed for the last four months
as school teacher in the Buens Vista
school, situated n the fifth ward of this
parish. He was q native of New Orleans !;
twenty-five yea. of age; of pleasing adj
dress, agreeable manners, land exec edingly
popular among o" bis associates both here
and in the city, where he wes known on
account Of his connection with an amateur
Grammatical company. His. habits were of
ciety, and had no .ces common to young
men of his age. He was the nephew of
James Malone, one of our NEST respected
citizens, who took fathe-ly interest in the
orphan boy, and through whose influence
he was first appointed a teacher in the
public schools of this parish in 1874. Not
one young man in thousand possessed so
many noble and manly qualities, or was
more beloved and respected in this COM
munity than Michael j. Bowden.
The person charged with the murder is
known BY the name of Carl Alberg. He
came to this country from Sweden some
time last year, and was sent to Mr.. V. +. NJ.
Anderson by P. S. Anderson of No. 1873
Rampant street. New Orleans, and COM
menced work for the former in January OF
this year.
He is about twenty three years old. five
feet ten inches high, dark hair, but little
rather narrow forehead, suoop shouldered,
downcast look, walks with his toes pointing
we'll out, usually dresses neat. and may
possibly have on some of BOwden's clothes,
which are too small for him.
On the morning of Thursday, July LIST,
young BOwden went to bis school as usual,
intending to teach half day and take the
evening train to the city. TO spend the
Fourth Of July, and gee an old and valued
friend take his departure for Europe.
About half past ten o'clock, while he was
instructing a class, CAL Alberg called to
him from the outside of the sch0ol-hOuse,
but what he said is not known. BOwden
turned to his assistant, Charles Pearce, and
said: 'I'll be back in few minutes; some
one over there wants to see Ine:" took his
hat ana went out. He was next seen by
his wash woman Phoebe Thornton, color
ed woman, who lives about halt way from
the school house TO the stable where the
murder was committed. walking with Carl,
along the rear Of her enclosure towards the
main plantation road. She says she saw
them turn around her fence, walk towards
the river, and when nearly in front OF her
gate, saw them stop and converse together.
Phoebe thought he was coming to her
house for some clean handkerch!efs, az he
had told her he was going to tie city and
would need some. and was on the point OF
taking them out to him, but just then the
two moved on and passed through . gao
leading into the Enclosure whore the stable
stands short distance from the entrance.
Another colOred woman named Felicie
Dominique, who lives on the upper side OF
the main plantation road. saw the two
men come from toward the school house
and turn u the direction of the stable.
This IS the last that was seen Of Bowden
alive Neither Of the women saw them
enter the building, as the stable door ID on
the opposite side, fronting the river, and no
one has vet been found who saw either of
them come out. The assistant teacher and
both cOlOred women agree A. to time
about half past ten o'clock.
Il is quite certain that the murder was
premeditated, and that every preparation
had been made for disposing OF the body.
Some fence pickets-of which the floor was
made-had been raised near the corner Of
the stable, and hole some two feet wide,
four feet long, and two and a half or three
feet deep, had been dug to receive the body.
Having, by some pretext, induced his vic
tim 20 enter the neutrality-suspicious. TO show
him some pretended iiscOvery-Car1 sue
eeeded in Turing him TO the spot, and prob
ably while etooping over to examine the
hole struck him from behind fearful blow
upon the back Of the head, fatal in its con-
sequences, and then to make sure his hellish
purpose, struck him another terrible blow
lpon the lett temple. after he fell. The in
strument used was an iron gas pipe coupling,
about six inches long, and weighing about
four pounds.
His assassin then robbed him Of large
pocket book, containing not more than $l5
in money; q school warrant for his pay as
teacher of tho "Buena Vista School, from
May 81 70 June IS, 1857 few Confederate
notes. q number of advertising cards re-
sembling greeubacks; bunch OF keys; two
gold rings. one plain, the other with the
initials M. C. New. engraved on the inside;
three gold shirt studs with the initials n.
B engraved on the smallest side; an open
faced silver watch, valued at about $40, and
a gold base ball badge, representing two
bats crossed, with ball between them and
the word Mutual cut upon the face.
After robbing the corpse he buried it in
the grave he had prepared, replaced the
pickets without stopping to renal them,
spread some corn shucks over the floor to
prevent discovery, and lett the spot. Hav-
ing completed his bloody work, he next
went to his employers house-where he
boarded and lodged-passed up stairs TO
the room occupied by young Bowden and
himself. and, as it now appears, took off the
bloody shirt in which he committed the
deed; placed it in his own trunk; opened
Bowden's trunk and travelling bag with
the keys he had taken from the murdered
man; took out everything valuable they
contained: crowded them into an oat sack
which he had brought with him; placed the
travelling bag in the trunk to make it
appear that Bowden had taken it to the
city. and locked everything up the same as
ne found it.
He then went up the road to store about
a quarter of mile distant; purchased a half
bottle of whisky; returned to the house;
took the sack Of clothes and went to the
stable, where, with the aid Of one of the
popo1 Caorno nm otropD