St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-22
NOT EULLET-PROOF.
Frank Bowman, the Notorious
st. Louis Lawyer, Killed
at Ferguson, 10.
His Slayer, B. NJ. Chambers.
Formerly a Partner in
the st. Louis Times.
A New York State Girl
Smothered and Thrown
Into a Pool.
The Jury in the Cronin Case
Is Not Yet Com
pleted.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Oct. 21.-FTank ].
Bowman. the well-khown lawyer. who
figured in so many matrimonial troubles
here and in Chicago, was shot and in
stantly killed by b. NJ. Chambers. this
afternoon, at Ferguson. Mo. The kill
ing grew out of the trouble between the
parties over the old Times newspaper.
Chambers was large stockhuder and
principal owner of the paper up TO the
time of its demise. Bowman was also
financially interested in it. He bought.
among other things, the Associated
Press franchise of the paper, and has
been in litigation with Chambers ever
! since. This afternoon. Bowman, ac-
c0mpanied by Deputy Sheriff Garrett,
! of St. Louis county, called at Mr.
Chambers home in Ferguson, Mo-.
about eighteen miles west of
St. Louis. His purpose was
to levy an attachment on Chambers life
interest in his wife's estate, or whatever
property he might be able to find.
Chan bers met Bowman and Garrett at
the gate. Bowman SAID: Il have come
TO levy on your property"
"All right, responded Mr.. Chambers.
and he entered the house. Deputy
Sheriff Garrett afterwards explained
that he thought Mr.. Chambers had gone
to get some papers. He was mistaken,
] for in a few minutes Chambers stepped
out into ward with dOuble-aaTreled
shotgun IN his hands. Garrett. you
get out of this place and get out quick"
he said. Garrett walked away. Now.
RnuvngD III UIVp Vnn three minUT4S 10
get out of these grounds, continued
Mr.. Chambers. Bowman did not move,
and in an instant Chambers raised his
gun and poured the load
INTO BOWMAN's HEART.
The men were close together and the
full load took effect in the chest. Bow
man fell dead. Chambers c0Olly walked
| into the house. and. at + 80 D. IN. he was
still awaiting arrest. while BOWman's s
body lay in a pool of blood in the yard,
I nobody ventuTing to touch il. as the
coroner had not yet arrived. 4 large
crowd surrounded the place, but there
was no demonstration. Bowman was
one of the best known men in st. Louis,
although his reputation was somewhat
unSavory. He practiced law here for
many years and about three years ago
remove d to New York. Previous to his
departure he figured in a couple of
scandals. lie sued his wife for divorce
ana afterwards compromised her suit on
a cross bill. paying her large sum of
money. Shortly afJerWaTd 1t was given
out that he had married woman IN the
East. As soon as this became known, a
Chicago woman, vino claimed a common
law marriage with Bowman. sued him
for divorce in Chicago. He fought the
case hard, but the Chicago courts de-
cided the woman was his wife and gave
| her the divorce. This left Bowman
badly mixed up matrlmOnlaIly. Bow
man was at one time prominent at the
/ local bar, but was diSbarred for QueS-
! tiOnable practices. B. NJ. Chambers
was at one time prominent st. LOuISan.
| He was president of the Butchers and
DrOYprsi bank. which failed a dozen
| years since. After this he bought out
! the old Times. succeeding StilSOn
| HutchinS. He stayed with the paper
until il failed. Bowman came here
| fTUm the East few days since to attend
tOtLe Chambers and other legal matters.
CHAMBl rs Is COOL.
When Sheriff Dausenhach arrived at
| Chambers house he found the SLAYER Of
( Frank j. Bowman ready to accompany
him and offering no resistance. Cham
! bers was taken TO Clayton and lodged
/ in Jail. lie refused to talk. The body
| of Bowman was also taken to Clayton,
where the cOrOner'S inquest will be
/ held tomorrow, Bowman was shot in
| the head and through the heart.
! The causes which led 10 the tragedy
are not fully known, but it Is believed
| that the Times trouble over some
/ $4,000 in notes held by Bowman.
| against Chambers, was the cause. Mrs.
! Mary Y. Bowman, divorced wife of the
| victim of tO-day's tragedy. and Miss
| Florence Bowman. the dead mans )
! daughter, were seen at HOte Beers to-
! night. Both were deeply affected, and
! the daughter said her father should
| have a decent burial 1T was ter
rible for him to die that
/ way" said Miss Bowman. Il wish
! be had repented before he died"
! A reporter saw Judge Laughlin and
| asked him if he could tell the ciTcum.
| stances which led to the killing. Il
| can simply tel you the story uf the
| case" said the judge. ''When StilsOn
| Hutcbins was with the Times, there
| was bitter controversy over the owner
| ship of that paper. Subsequently the
| Times after going through several
! hands fell into those of b. II. Cham
bers. Just previous to that, Chambers
! had been president OF the Butchers and
| DrOvers' bank. which had failed, and
| in which failure Chambers had lost all
his money, though
HIS WIFE WAS RICH.
| GWhen Chambers obtained control of
! the Times he issued notes for $4,000 or
| $4,000. which were secured by mort
| gage on the paper. Some of these notes
were personal notes of Chambers. and
Bowman purchased them, and when
| they were defaulted Bowman started
! suit and fOreclOSed. At the sale the
| paper brought about $4,000 less than
| the mortgage. This difference has
! never been paid. but has remained
| against Chambers ever since, but he
| being inSOlvent. it could not be collect
| ed. About four years ago Mrs. Chamb-
| ers died and left a peculiar will. In this
| will she left Chambers an annuity of
! $4,000 or $4,000 year. 1t had always
| been considered that this annuity was
| not liable to attachment for Chambers
debts. but one creditor having tested
the matter, the supreme court
decided last spring that it was
| subject to attachment. 1t was on
! the strength Of this decision
that Bowman obtained the execution
that he was attempting to nave satisfied
when he was killed. Bowman was not
a rich man. but quite the contrary. The
mining scheme is still in litigation, the
/ LOur lake scheme has not produced
much. if any, money, and the big fee
he got from the city has long since been
/ spent. Bowman was very liberal man.
and he paid $4,000 of his big fee for
legal assistance. As lawyer, Bowman
! was full OF W0nuerful resources and