River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-12-19
KILLED HIMSELF.

franklin Ii. Gowen, Ex-President of the
philadelphia & Reading Railway Com
pany, Commits Suicide at a Hotel In
Washington--An Unbalanced Mind Prob
ably the Cause-sketeh of His Life.
WASHINGTON, Dec 16.-Franklin Ii.
Sowen, prominent Philadelphia law
yer and formerly president Of the Phila-
ielphia & Reading Railroad Company,
was found dead in his room at Worm
ley's Hotel Saturday afternoon with
bullet-hole in his head and pistol by
his side. He had undoubtedly commit
Ted suicide.
Mr.. Gowen came to Washington Mon
iay last to conduct the George Rice oil
oases against Southwestern railroads
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, and Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday appeared as Mr.. Rice's attOr-
ney in these cases. Mr.. Gowen had
not been noticed about the hotel
since Friday afternoon, when he
retired to his room. Saturday morning
the maid discovered that his door was
locked, and later in the day, after max
ing several unsuccessful attempts to
get in his room, but finding the door
still locked, reported the fact to the
office about / o'clock. The clerk
then procured step-ladder and, look
ing over the transom, found Mr.. Gowan
lying on nthe floor with the pistol
by his side. 1t is thought that he com.
mitted suicide early in the morning.
The police authorities took charge of
the remains and notified the friends
and relatives of Mr.. Gowen in Philadel-
phia of his death. The body was en-
balmed and taken to Philadelphia for
burial. No cause is known for his
suicide.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.-The remains
or Franklin Il. Gowen reached this city
Sunday morning and were at once con-
veyed to his late residence at Mount
Airy, near Germantown. 1t is the de-
sire of the family that the funeral,
which is to take place Tuesday morn
ing, shall be private. All inquiry has
thus far failed to reveal any cause for
the rash act. 1t is said that Mrs.
Gowen told a close friend of the
family that for ten days previous to her
husbands last visit to Washington she
had noticed something strange in his
COuuuCL IL Is JnOuBHb ny many ueTe
that the great lawyers mind became un-
balanced through too persistent applica-
ton TO business, and that the suicide
was due to this cause.
lMr. Gowen born in Philadelphia and
was in the saith year Of his age. When about %
years OF age he entered the business OF mining
COAL which, however, he soon abandoned and
began the study Of law. He was admitted
10 the bar in 1880 and in 1869 was
elected District Attorney OF Schuylkill
County. He was afterwards retained as
counsel for the Philadelphia s. Reading
and the Girard Coal Trust. In 1883 he was
chosen president of that company and
filled the office until 1881, when, on &C
count OF opposition to his plans for
the relief OF the finances OF the road he
failed OF reelection. He was again chosen
To the ONCE OF president in 1882. In 1872 Mr..
Gowen was elected a member OF the
Constitutional convention Of Pennsylvania
and in that body ranked as one of the
ablest members. Mr.. Gowen conceived
and established the Philadelphia Coal s
Iron Company. He also conceived and
put into operation the movement against the
famous organization known as the 'Mollie Ma
guires," which had produced reign of terror
in the coal region extending over a period OF
twenty years In the trial which followed this
movement Mr.. Gowen was one of the counse
for the commonwealth