New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-17
CRIME IN st. JAMES.

q Han M2aered for ImagiAary Wealth.
On the first of July NJ. T. Bowden, a
school teacher at Anderson plantation.
White Hall, St. James parish, formerly of
| this city, disappeared, and all Efforts to find
traces of him were unavaiing. He had
just obtained leave Of absence to visit his
brother here, who was intending to 90
abroad.
On the thirteenth instant somebody Wis
tied a house or Duthouse on the premises
| where Bowden lived. and was shocked by
| an uncommoply offensive smell. An invee-
| tigatiou wss made and the floor removed.
! On the ground was lot Of corn hueks,
| beneath which it was plain to SEQ that the
earth had recently been dug. Removing a
little of the covering the body Of Bowden
was discovered. Rats had eaten away a
| large portion of the tlehh. A pucketbook
containing about $50 was found near the
| corpse.
All kinds Of coDjectures we're raised as to
how the man had met his death, and the
| most plausible theory is that, he was mur-
~OASA Wy OSiA f1uAOCIk, d 0WcUO, CA
ployed on the plantation. Bowden was a
man fond of jesting and given to amusing
tricks, ono of which was to make q bet and
back bis offer by wagering large Gums Of
money, hundreds and thousands of dollars
To accomplish this he produced advertising
bills which looked like greenbacks, and
spell marks that resemb bled ten dollar gold
pieces. Such persons as were not &C.
guainted With the real facts naturally
supposed that his wealth was almost un-
limited. This was the case with Ahlberg,
who has been in the States but Q short
time. and speaks English poorly. 1t seems
evident that Carl had determined to gain
possession Of what he supposed was good
money.
On tho day that Bowden intended taking
the tram for New Orleans he heard his
scholars in their lessons, as the cars did not
pass until about noon. Soon after he left the
echool roem ne and Carl were seen TO enter
the barn. but no one saw them return. Il
is thought that Carl had laid his plans, and
even gone so far as to dig Q grave fot his
AAUeuNe~ SAotIih' Oy uetuS OOm0 pF0Lcuso
he induced Bowdep to visit the barn and
when thete murdered him. tho weapon be.
ing an iron flsnge, which has since been
found, bloody.
After the awful deed vas accomplished
Carl buried or rather covered the body and
then went into the house, changed his soiled
clothing and broke open Bowdep's trunk,
stealing everything he thought was ~alu-
able. He then left IN time to take the cars
for this city. 90 the second instant be was
at the clearinghouse of Alsace Hoff, near
the French Market, but disappeared, and
all trace Of him was lost. He is twenty
two or twenty-three years old, stout and
large, and speaks English impertectly.
Information was given to our police az
soon as possible after the body was found,
and detectives bave used every effort to
find some trace Of the murderer. but thus
far they have not met with success.
If the nan is not captured it may be
charged TO the mistaken policy of the de-
tectives in keeping the matter a secret from
tho press. Had all the facts been pub
lished as soon rs known it would have been
impossible for the guilty wretch to have
got away.
Governor Kellogg has offered reward of
$1,000 for the apprehension of the murderer.