St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-15
BLEW OUT HIS BRAINS
Franklin B. GoWen, Ex-Presi-
dent Of the Reading Rail-
road Commits Suicide.
Found Weltering in His Flood
in a Washington
Hotel.
Worth Half a Million and a
Shrewd and Courageous
Lawyer.
It Was He Who Exterminated
The Notorious "Mollie
Maguires."

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-Franklin b.
Gowen, prominent lawyer of Phila-
delphia, and formerly president of the
Philadelphia IL Reading Railroad com-
pany, was found dead in his room at
WOrmley's hotel this afternoon with
bullet wound in his head and pistol
by his side. He had undoubtedly COM
mitted suicide. MIR. Gowen came toWash-
ingtOn on Monday last to conduct the
George Rice oil cases against South
western railroads before the interstate
commission, and on Tuesday. Wednes-
day and Thursday appeared as MIR.
Rice's attorney in those cases. Mr..
Gowen had not been noticed abont the
hotel since yesterday afternoon, when
he retired to his room. This morn
ing the maid discovered that his
door was locked, and later in
the day after making several unsuccess-
full attempts to get in his room, but
finding the door still locked. reported
the fact to the Office about l o'clock.
The clerk then procured stepladder,
and, looking over the transOm. saw Mr.
GOwen lying on the floor, with the
pistol by his side. When the door was
WAS FOUND TO BE DEAD.
1t is thought thab-l1e committed sui
eide early this morning. The police au-
thOrities being notified Immediately,
took charge Of the remains. which were
removed to the mOEgue, and notified the
friends and relatives of MIR. G0wen in
Philadelphia of his death. Mr.. Gowen
was born in Philadelphia, and was in
the fifty-fourth year of his age. When
about twenty-five years of age he entered
the business OF mining coal, which,
however, he soon abandoned, and be-
gan the study of law. He was ad-
mtted to the bar in 1860, and in 1862
was elected district attorney for Schuyl-
Kill county. He. was afterwards re-
tanned as counsel for the Philadelphia e
trusts. In 1859 he was chosen pres
iaent, of thata company and filed the
Office until 1881, when, on account of OPP
position to his plans for the relief of
The financesUf the ROAD, he failed of a
reelection. He was again chosen
to the Office of president in 1882. In
1872. Mr.. GOwen was elected
member of the constitutional con-
yention of Pennsylvania, and in this
body ranked as one of It's ablest men,
bers. Mr.. Gowen conceived and estab-
lished the Philadelphia Coal and Iron
company. He also conceived and put
in operation the movement against the
famous organization known as the
''Mollie Maguires," which had
PRODUCED A REIGN OF TERROR
in the coal region extending over
period of twenty years. In the trials
which followed this movement Mr..
GOwen was one of the counsel for the
commonwealth. The friends of Mr..
Gowen were indignant tonight at the
heartless andirregular manner in which
his remains were gotten out of
the hotel, which they say was not
becoming treatment of man of his
high character. 1t appears that as soon
as the landlord discovered the body he
summoned policeman. A man of
slight build was helped through the
opening for the transom. which had
been removed, and he turned the key,
which was on the inside, and unlocked
the door, admitting the people in
the corridor. Without awaiting the ac-
lily removed to the mOrgue, at the New
Jersey avenue station. AS soon as the
news reached the friends of the de-
ceased, Representatives Maish and
Reilly of Pennsylvania, hurried off to
the police station and protested earn
estly against this action. They COM
munieated with Coroner Patterson, who
responded promptly, and after viewing
the body, decided, as is customary in
cases where suicide is evident, that
q AN INQUEST WAS UNNECESSARY.
He also authorized the removal of the
body, which was accordingly turned
over to the friends of the deceased.
Undertaken Speare was summoned, and
soon removed the remains to his estab-
lishment, where they were de-
Gently arranged, while packing box
was made ready. Soon after 8
O'Clock Franklin [. Gowen. the nephew
and business partner of the deceased.
arrived at Washington from Philadel- |
phia. and proceeded Immediately to the |
undertaker's shop. He was accompa- |
med by j. E. Hood and Capt. LindOn.
BY his direction the pody was placed in |
the plain oak box winch had been |
made ready for it, the cover was |
screwed down, and it was taken |
to the Baltimore g. Ohio |
railroad station, where it was placed |
aboard the 1880 train and carried to |
Philadelphia. No doubt is felt by Mr.. |
Governs friends here that he committed !
suicide, but everybody is at a loss for
anything like plausible explanation of |
the
MOTIVE FOR THE ACT.
His health appeared to be excellent, |
and friend who had been with him |
Thursday remarked upon his good |
spirits and physical condition. His do |
mestic relations were beyond question.
Since Monday, when he arrived in |
Washington, MI. Gowen devoted HIM
self to the business which had brought
him here, and he had busted himself In
taking depositioBs required to complete
his ease. The body was found lying
on the floor with the head under the Ia
bic. The dead man had evidently stood
up before the mirror and fired the fatal
shot, for his blood had splashed upon the
foot of the bureau. The weapon
was a 3S-caliber Smith & Wes-
son pistol, brand new, and from
the nature of the wound it must have
been pressed closely against the suicides
right temple. for the burnt powder had
been dri, en- into the head of the unfort-
unate man. The pistol itself lay on the
hearth several feet from the body, and
its ivory handle was
CRIMSONED WITH BLOOD,
which had also soaked through his coat
and underwear. Through the wound
in the head the brains were OOZing. The
body was cold, which at first led to the
belief that death had occurred yester-
day. but later developments have
that belief. A gentleman
who occupied the room adjoining
that where the suicide WIS
committed is habitually in his room, eX
cept between the hours Of and 10
c,claol- OF Iotrht and ha ie confident |