Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-24
sMnASnxD IN MYSTERY.
Mayer Dswnan's Assassination
EFor DOWN AT HIS OWN DooR-THE VICTIM
ONCE PRIVATE SECRETARY TO SENATOR BEN.
suN, AND SECOND IN ONE OF HIS buEIs.

\ Tom, AND SECOND IN ONE OF HIS DUEIs.
A telegram from ST. Louis says that the efforts
20 clear up the mystery surrounding the assss-
sinasion OF former Mayor John B. Bowman I'm
iEs8t st. Louis last Friday night have only
9erved to deepen IL. The man had many bitter
henemies, but none OF them had the nerve to
ronmit such q crime. He was assassinated at
his own gate, shot from behind, and the deed
was evidently deliberately planned and exc.
rcuted, bot Who was the planner and assassin is
"a mystery. One theory is that the crime grew
out of the winstaniy will case. The late Mayor
Winstaniy was n wealthy man, and an ardent
Z supporter Of bowman. When making his will
he consulted with Bowman in regard To the dis
the latter Influenced him 70 ignore some of the
heirs. One Of these, Hick Wyatt, said in a
saloon, in the presence OF witnesses that il John
Il. Bowman bad cut him ont OF Winstanly's
VIII be would not live sixty days after the fact
had been found out. The prevailing opinion is
st Louis bu, that he was hired ire ses ~ ra
who bad been well paid to remove Bowman.
There IS theory, also, that Bowman met his
enemies Of his in the safe burglary transaction
at the city hall some time ago, and there are a
hundred other theories.
AT THE INQUEST,
witnesses testified to hearing the shot fired and
finding the body. An important piece of testi-
'mony was that Of Mrs. VIM. Harper, wholives
near the Howe institute, a short distance from
the Bowman residence. She said that about
hfteen minutes after the shooting, while she
was sitting mp stairs in her front room, she saw
three men pass by the house. They were con-
verzing about the murder, and while they did
not mention any names. their conversation was
such as to lead her to believe that they were the
parties who committed the crime. She got a
good look At them, and gave a good description
OF them There is thought To be little doubt
that they are the men who committed the
murder.
This witness WIS followed by n man about
whose evidence considerable mystery was
thrown. He proved TO be private detective,
who had found the pistol with which the crime
was committed. He found IL I'm a field which
the assassin had cross to avoid the public
road. 1t is bulldog, OF calibre corresponding
to the bullet that caused death.
The reward Of $1,000 offered by the family of
Bowman for the apprehension of his murderer
was swollen by the contribution of the city,
state and county until the amount promised
the discoverer has grown to So, 600. The body
Of the ex-mayor was lying in state in the parlor
of his late residence sunday and was viewed by
thousands. The eldest daughter of the dead
man arrived from Chicago and when the body
was shown TO her she swoOned.
CURIOUS CAREER.
A st. Louis dispatch says: John r. Bowman
was q native of Baden. He became involved ill
q revolution and He'd the country. He came to
America in 1855. making his way direct TO Mis-
.souri, and becoming soon after his arrival prl-
waite secretary to Senator Thomas III. Benton.
He accompanied Mr.. Benton on his tour through
this state, and acted as his second in one ot his
dueiS. lie was appointed postmaster mt Knob
noster. Mo-, and held the Office for two years.
His name originally Bauman, but being
spelled Bowman in his commission as post
master, he adopted the change. In 1858 he
settled in east 81. Louis, and at once came to
the 'front.' In 1850 the city was chartered. Po-
hticai contests in those days meant physical
struggles, and hloOdshed was the frequent re-
suit of the meeting OF factions on the street and
in the municipal halls. The city WAS divided
into the Bowman party and the opposition
party, who were called WiederiteS. from The
name OF the candidate of the faction. When
the city was organized under the general
Laws of the state in 1857 Mr.. Bowman WAS
elected mayor The opposition claimed that
government The Bowman faction had all the
municipal buildings, except the police head
quarters, and in an attempt 10 storm il two of
the Bowman deputy marshais We're killed.
Frequent fights occurred in the council cham
Der, and Mayor Bowman made many bitter
enemies as We'll rs many warm friends. All
those interested in the contest went armed
terprises inaugurated in East st. Louis. He
was Instrumental in having the National Stock
ards located there. He was the chief mover
in the construction Of the gas works, the street
railway and in bringing railroads to the
place. He made the first map of the town, and
was attorney tor the Virgins Ferry company
under the presidency of the late Senator Lewis
was attorney for the -. Louis Bridge com pany
At one time. and at his death was attorney for
the Nati0ual Stock Yards. the Vandala Rail-
way company, Western Union Telegraph COM
pany. and the East st. Louis and Carondeiet
Railway company. He built st. Patrick's
ST Henry's German Catholic church. and was
generous in bis contributions to charitable pur-
poses Mr.. bowman, while he had many bitter
enemies, had as many warm friends.