The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-26
THE GzIIOvs IN TEXAS.
A Man who had Confessed Protesting his Eus
nocence on the Fatal Trap.

GONZALES May 17.-Bowen slept two
hours Just before day. He was suffering from
nervous pros'ratlon. He expressed his desire
IN have his name indicated. He says he Is to
be hanged for John W. Hardin. and that tho
witnesses sworo his life away; that he saved
Haldemnn's life three or four times that day
from Hardin. and that he was the friend OF
The Rev. Mr.. Scale. his ecclesiastical adviser.
does not regard Bowcns spiritual condition as
at all satisfactory. He has made no profession
Of religion to speak OF. He admits Christ is
able to save all mon. particularly those who for
give thcir enemies. but he tBowcnl cannot for
life away. AT about 10 o'clock Col Parker
served written notice on sheriff Bass. citing
Paschni's Digest demanding that the hanging
take place in the cell by cutting n trap door
through the floor. but the Sheriff probably did
not consider this q proper time i2r making
changes in the architecture OF the building. ana
declined to grant the demand. ,
Before leaving the prisoner your correspond.
Of letter he had written to his wife Mrs, Mary
Bowen. at whiting. Ala. IN when ne useu most
affectonate language. but protests MS lnn 20
cence. and tells her to bring up their boy 10 %
GoNzALEs JAIL YARD, May 17.-Tho crowd
gathered about the. jail Is estimated at 4 i5QO.
Tho inside Of the jail yard was guarded by
Twelve men under the command OF Capt Lee
prostratcd that he could hardly sit up to DO
dressed few minutes before he was led out
them 10 understand he WIS TO DO hanged Dy tne
mob.
The rope was threc-quartcrs OF an inch, and
arranged to give seven feet fall Bowen was as
sisted in dressing by sullivan. himself con-
' At ~ &c o'cocE Sheriff Bass tho Rev. Mr.. Scale
and deputy taking places on the scaiod, some
delay was caused by the clergyman accidentally
placing his hand on the trigger, nearly precipi-
atng the sheriff through tn trap. which fell
Brown Bowen appeared at 2.3i o'clock. The
Rev MIR. Scale read the dying statement OF
Bowen. who stood on the trap II reiterated his
I'm Ia la
n %i the n culprit assisting After tic moose
had been adjusted Bowen called for John
liHldeman to come W to ne sraliqid: hnl no
to the friendly relations between the murdered
man and himself The answers did not suit.
und he showed great frmnrss and bitterness.
The cap was placed on his head, and he re-
quested time for few more words about his
Wife and then he admonishcd all about bnd
company. After repeating these words several
times he asked ParsOn Scale To pray. The can
was taken of, and Parson Scale mounted tho
scaffold and prayed in most impressive man.
ner. During the PRAYER bowen did not ION,
but looked over the crowd with stern, fixed
gaze, as though searching for somebody.
| Prayer was ended at ASA. The prisoners voice
| was firm. directing the knot to be placed under
| his ear. The trap was sprung Mt 2;55 Bowen
| fell perfectly straight, and was motionlcss tOf
one minute; then there were conVulsive move
ments Of the legs and arms, CONCLUSIVE muscu.
| lar twtchings Of the limbs. HIS pulse. sun
| beating. after hanging four minutes ceased to-
| tally. At seven minutes and n half Judge De
Witt took charge of the remains. 900
nes Ei Store i" ON Den Is. 1874 He was shot
| while drunk and asleep under till by Brown
| Bowen, who confessed 1t to Billings next Gay
| There were half dozen carousng NJ the store.
| and all drunk, Bowen also confessed to one
Clemens that he was rescued from Gonzalez
| Jail by Wcs Hardin and his crowd after he fed
| three men. He WIS arrested Sept. |, 1871, cN-
traditcd. tried. and convicted in October OF The
same year HHldeman was murdered because
| Hardin and Bowen suspected him OF informing
the police OF their rascality.