New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-22
KILLED BY HIS OLD ENEMY.
FRANK ]. BOWMAN, A NOTORIOUS ATIoR-
NEY, SHOT NEAR ST. LOUIS.
DIsGIACEFUL CAREER ENDED BY THE VIC
LENCE OF AN EX-PUBMsHER OF
ST. LOUIS PAPER.
lnY rELEoEAPH To THE TWpuEE.1

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBJBUEE1
st. Louis, Oct. 21.-Between . and O'CLOCK
this afternoon Frank j. Bowman. an attorney Oh
National reputation, shot and killed by d. "
Chambers, eX-publisher of 4" The St Louis Lines
The tragedy occurred in the suburb Of Ferguson
about eighteen miles west Of this city, ana mas
caused tremendous sensation. Bowman anu
Chambers have been in litigation for eight years
and during that period Chambers has figured III
two financial sensations. He first became prom
inent as president of the Butchers and DroverS
Bank, which failed disgracefuily ten years ago
Dopositors lost millions, but as Chambcrss WIG
was wealthy they expected to recover. when
Mrs. Chambers died she left "a Will giving her
fortune in trust, Oh the ground that her husband
was not com pctent to care for it, Mr.. Chambers
received an allowance. About this time he De-
came publisher of The St. Louis Times sue
ceedng StiIson Hutchins, and Bowman was MS
/ attorney. " The Times" was bought by Inc he
publican and Bowman and Chambers hgureu In
the litigation growing out of the sale. Judgments
by tie buSbek wero secured against Chambers IN
the bank failure, and Bowman who was with the
opposition, began to press him hard. Last wees
the attorney secured judgment for 5000 against
Chambers in favor Of himself
Bowman took a train for Ferguson this morn
ing, and at Clayton met two deputy shcriits, wh2
accom- panied hdm. Chambers lived on an estate
near Ferguson, and Bowman, with the execution
in his hand, pointed out the property he desiie"
10 have seized. He then walked into the Aousc
and five minutes latef the deputies saw him come
out on the veranda followed by Chambers, who
carried i shotgun. l want you men to leaVe
this ground at oncc7 Chambers said. Bowman
laughed. Then Chambers lcvclied his gun at MN
and fired twice, and the lawyer fell dead. Inc
I,(+f tiyn1
rested Chambers.
Frank j. Bowman was the MacmaNeIn Oh uHc
St. Louis bar lie cared nothing for methods 50
that the desired object was attained "hch
others abandoned cause as hopeless, then IL was
that Bowman would bring all the devious methods
Of lis intellect to bear and secure an ultimate
! triumph over his enemies. He never observed
LEGAL ethics in his fight He was always personal,
always bitter, and his rule was go as you please.
He was a small man, but as brave as hon. lie
would fight in any way. He challenged Stisoh
Hut.hns, formerly Of The st. Louis lime,
but there was no duel. Subsequently he cAal-
lenged Congressman John NJ Glover, but friends
prevented tie duel lie whipped one lawyer III
open court five years ago and chccriuliy PAID
heavy Gnc He continually figured in the divorce
courts. He married an eStImabIc hdy hIteeA
years ago. and she secured divorce Tor bis CON
duct with a woman who IS now claiming COM
non law marriage in the Chicago courts. NhiIc
tnIs woman bcleS ed She was his wife, he married
u brooklyn woman who is now IN New orh
BOWmans first great SUCCESS Was IL the Missouri
Pacific lien case against the County or St. LOUIS.
The railroad companys brightest lawyers had
abandoned the case III disgust, ana asserted thaJ
the company could never collect "a dollar Of the
500, 900 claim. Bowman took the case on
contingent lee of 10 per cent. lie pushed the
case 10 successful issue, and received $4,000
from the railroad company. Bowman loved Husa-
ton. and foE twenty years fguGed successfully Ia
many bitter legal battles.
only few weeks ago he recovered judgment
against W. L. Patrick and the Colonel Sellers
Mining Company for $500, ,00O and the story Of
this case shows that smooth as Bowman was he
once taken H. In 1855 Bowman and two
brothers Of this city, named Patrick purchased
tie " Colonel Sellers NINE lear LeadSlllc. Bow
man put up his snare Of the capital for purchase
hands OF the brothers. FOR d time glowing re-
ports came from the mine. Soon reports Of
bearlSh character followed. The mine failed u
pay dividends and Bowman grew tired. The
Patricks offered TO buy his stock, and after few
months negotiation Bowman sold at n loss. Six
months later lie was startled By the announcement
that rich strike had been made in the Colonel
Sellers mine and that il was paying heavy diyi-
dends. Bowman said nothing out kept up on
awful thinking The mine continued TO paw and
Patrick brothers had a family row. and secrets be-
gnn TO crop out. Bowman gathered up evidence
10 show that the strike had been made in the
mine while he owned an interest, and that the
news had been suppressed and work stopped until
he had disposed OF his share. lie began suit for an
accounting OF profits charging fraud and manpn-
lntlon. he pushed the suit cnergetlcally and
defeated the opposition at every turn. The result
was Judgment In his favor tor $500, 600.
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