The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-16
HUNTED DOWN THE MOLLY MAGUIRES.
Franklin 3. cowen Ends His Life
With Pistol Bullet.
of a Vast Business Re-
sponslbIe for His Death.
He Made Himself Famous During
the Molly Meguires' Reign.

Gowen, who committed suicide in his room
at Wormley's, by shooting himself through
the right side of his head early this morning
is believed by his friends here to have been
temporarily insane. for they can assign no
other cause for his act. he never drank, ex-
cept little champagne at dinner, and this
week he drank nothing. His practice as
counsel Of oil and coal men, complainants
before the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion against the railways, had grown to
such proportions that he was seriously over
worked. He recognized this fact. and spoke
of it to his friends. But he looked so well
and strong that they did not realize his con-
dition. 1t was his mind which was suffering
under the strain and not his body. The fact
that he took his cases very seri ously, and
was nervOusly anxious about them, increased
the wear and tear upon his brain. AT last 1t
gave way under worry and work, and he
killed himself. He was last seen at lunch
George Rice of Marietta, o., whose cases
against the southeastern railroads. upon
complaints of unjust Determinations in oil
rates Gowen came here on Monday last to
conduct. AS usual. Gowen stopped at Worm
isg 1avns r9Sm NO q %nca Is on the
Thursday he was busy all day before the In
ter-State Commerce Commission. Yesterday
apparently, he spent at the hotel. If he
went out after luncheon, he was not OBJ
served. Not having seen him since that
time, Mr.. Wormley at O'Clock, thinking he
must be Ill, sent to his room. Repeated
knockings brought no respones. The bell
boy came back and told Mr.. Wormley that
the door was locked and that he could not
make Mr. Gowen hear. Wormley went him
self to the room, climbed upon a chair, and,
inc nuo the. frau ~ (nWQnta hndxr
lying on the floor. He sent for policeman,
then, who promptly appeared and broke in
to the room.
In his official report. Policeman Cross says:
About o'clock P. m, was sent for to
at Wormley's. / went to room No. :, occu-
pied by Franklin b. G0wen of Philadelphia,
Pa. and found the door locked on the inside.
Ou opening the door. found Mr Gowen ly-
ing on the floor dead, with a bullet hole IN
the right side OF his head. Gowen was ly-
ing on his back, with his head under light
table, which 1t had struck as he fell. knock
ing it down and breaking the argand burner
The body was cold, but the brains were still
oozing out of the bullet hole. just behind the
right ear" Mr.. Gowen's watch, money and
papers were found all right.
Franklin b. GOwen was born at Mt. Airy
on February 9. 1886. He received his early
education in Mt. Airy. He was hardly old
enough to travel alone when he was sent to
q 81
land, where he received the foundations of
splendid education, and he finished his
school days at the well-known Moravian in
stituti0n at LitiZ, Lancaster county.
Before he became of age he commenced to
earn mis- own living as clerk in Bumgard-
ner's store at Lancaster. Subsequently, and
when scarcely 81 years of age, he had charge
of furnace at Shamokin, Penn, which he
left in 1857 TO engage in the coal mining busi-
ness in Mt Laffor, Schuylkill county.
II cxxr,f 10 fhr.a nnasff fhaf
acquainted himself with the vast resources
of the anthracite coal field, and his first
ideas of the great mineral wealth Of Schuyl
kill county and its relations to the Reading
Railroad Company were gathered while
a. G0wen to earn livelihood. The firm
failed in business, and Mr.. Gowen assumed
a load of indebtedness and obligation which
he honestly discharged later in life to the
very cent.
Mr.. Gowen entered as student in Potts
vile law office and applied himself to the
study of tine law. On May 81, 1860, the
name of Franklin B. Gowen was registered
as member of the Schuykill county bar,
been elected district attorney, served two
years and resigned. the latter act being ne
cessitated by the accumulation of a great
practice. But Mr.. Gowen never practised
for fees alone; no more did he accept the
presidency of the Philadelphia & Reading
Railroad Company for the sake Of the salary
A man who paid other peoples debts as he
did when he assumed the Indebtedness Of
Turner & Gowen, one who entered a fight
for what he believed was right at gr eat per-
sOnal cost during the reign of terror In the
coal region, could hardly be accused of work.
ing solely for money.
1t was in the trial conviction of the mem
bers of the Molly Mcguire gang that Mr..
Gowen first came prominently before the
country. The Molly Maguires had for 20
years violated the laws in the mining region.
laws that their crimes against per
son and property were left to go
punished until band Of determined men, Of
whom Mr.. Gowen was a leader, resolved to
bring them to justice. 1t was a work not
unattended with personal danger, but it was
successfully carried out and Convictions Sc
cured. Mr.. Gowen appeared as counsel In
the trial, and his brilliant efforts won him
deserved commentator.