Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-23

bearer. and at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon,
the 2lst, he and his wife and child left on
the Old Dominion steamer for New YORK.
They returned Friday, reaching here
shortly after O'Clock. They dro'e
to their home, on Park avenue, and he
Welded to the persuasion of his wife
and did not como down 10 his Office before
dinner. His father came home to dinner
and did not return TO the store in the after
noon Witness started 10 his Office soon
after dinner and his father then told him
that there was a good deal of talk about
forged check which he (wltness) had depo-
sited in the City Bank. Witness here re-
lated in detail the conversation with his Ia
ther, which has no material bearing on the
case. He remarked TO his father that he
would go down to the bank TO see about
the check. His father then told him
that Major Poe had the check and he
remarked: well will go right to see
him." Witness boarded an electric ear
and went directly TO Major Poe's office be
fore going TO his own, and asked what
about the forged check. The Chief replied
that a check deposited by witness had
been pronounced a forgery by Mr.. Hunter;
whose name was signed to It. They had
n brief conversation, and Major Poe sug-
ccsted that they go TO the bank. witness
Signiied his willingness TO go to the bank'
hut asked 10 be allowed first to go TO his
I "A.
He went to his Office. which is very near
that Of the Chief, and spoke to Mr.. Morrison.
and then went TO Mr. Hunters Office 10 see
him about the matter, but found the door
closed. He then returned 10 the Chleis
office. but found Major Poe out. The Ma
Tor arrived IN FIVE or SIX minutes and told
Mr.. Bowie NE would have 20 perform the
very disagaeeable duty of placing him IN
der arrest.
he WAS AMAZED.
Witness said he at first thought Major
Poe was testing, and when he realized the
Chief was i'm earnest he was so amazed.
dumbfounded. and Inundated that he did
not know what 10 DO. He was indeed
shocked. Major Poe very kindly offered
t. send for any relatives or friends, but ne
did not wish any Of them to know that so
grave charge had been made against hn.
Hc felt sure that he could give bail without
any difficulty and that within few
minutes he could clear the matter up.
The fact was he was so taken by surprise
he hardly realized what he was doing. He
was taken to the statiOn-hOuse 10y Mr.. wal
lace Washington, Major Pcc's clerk, and
sent for Justice Crutchhcld, who balled
him out. He expected to see MAJOR Zoe
again mt the station-hOuse, but instead OF
his going there the Major sent the warrant
by a policeman Witness was detained AT
He then went TO Manchester to see Mr..
Rovall and found that gentleman in his
dining-room talking to Mr.. II. s. owen.
The latter soon excused himself, and wit
ness asked Mr. Royal where he got that
check of Hunters Royal replied that he
knew nothing about any check OF Mr..
Hunters. had heard nothing of any nor
had he seen any. Witness then told
Mr.. Rovall about the check and
written no such note and had no
knowledge Of it, MIR. Bowie said he OF
course believed what Mr.. Royall said, as he
knew him to be an honorable and reliable
man. but ny to that time he had not the
slightest doubt that Royal left the note
and check.
Mr.. Meredith asked witness as to his
financial condition, and he replied that he
had some little money of his own and had
always been able TO get a living. His father
owed him some II 800 or $4,000, and be
could have gotten money either from him
or from friends mad he needed It.
Mr.. Walter Bowie, father of the accused,
was next placed on the stand to show that
he had money belonging TO MS son.
and that his son could have gotten money
anv time he needed il, and that there was
no need for him 20 resort to any criminal
method to get funds.
Nh Bowie said when the firm Of Antrim
& Bowie WAS dissolved about three years
ago he owed his son $500, which he paid
along as fast a. he collected it. The son
always told him he did not need it, but wit
ness being then out of business had no use
for the money and did not care to
Toe paving interest on II. When
witness recngaged IN business he stlll
owed his son $1,000. Since last fall he and
his son had been living together sharing
equally in the nome expenses, and on tins
account his son was his debtor about $500,
leaving a clear balance Of : 800 Of his
sons money in his hands. He had tre-
ouentlv let his son have money when he
wanted il and he could have gotten one or
five hundred dollars from him any time he
desired il.
DID NOT WRITE IT.
Mr.. Augustine Royal was the last wit
ness examined. He confirmed what the
prisoner had said about the dissolution Of
their partnership. Neither Of them knew
exactly how matters stood. On the 9Th Of
Nav, Bowie came 20 his Office for settle
ment. but he was not prepared Tor 1t, not
having had the time TO spare from his
present business TO write up the old con
Germs books. Bowie then said he needed
some money. aud witness after looking at
his handbook u see if he had that much
wrote a check for 500, with which Mr..
Bowie was satisfied.
Witness had then employed an expert to
write up his partnership accounts, and on
the nth of May he was furnished with
clear balance-sheet, which showed bal
ance OF several hundred dollars to Mr.
Bowie's credit. lie went 10 Mr.. Bowle's
Office few days after this and was
informed that Mr.. Bowie had gone
to New York that day. Thinking
hc would return in few days
witness wrote to him that he had his
accounts all straight. and was ready Tor "a
settlement. lie heard nothing from Nlr.
Bowie until the latter was ushered into his
diniug-room about o'clock Friday night.
Mr.. owen, who was there at the time, soon
left and Mr. Bowie. who witness was sur
prise1 to see AT that hour of the night, asked
him about this forged check. Tie then re-
peated their conversation about the cheek,
which agreed III the main with Mr.. Bowlc's
version. About the only difference was
that Bowie SAID NE told Royal what was
the purpOrt of the note, while the latter
said the former SAID nothing about the
contents of the note.
Mr.. Royall aid there was no special ac-
count between them. In May, 1887, he
saw an opportunity To lend man a
small sum of money for two years at
3 per cent in addition 20 fees for preparing
the deeds. g.. The principal was 10 be
returned 20 Bowie and the prOhts divided.
ARGUED AND DECIDED.
This closed the testimony and brief
argument followed. in which Colonel
Spotswood asked that the prisoner be sent
/ on and Mr.. Meredith asked that he be
discharged He held that there was 10 mo-
tive for the commitment OF the crime and
/ that the mere possession Of the forged check
was not sufficient cause to send the prison.
or ON 10 the grand jury, and thus put a
stain on his name.
Justice Crutchfeld: Ny duty is simple
and the law is plain. / send him on to the
grand jury as think 1t case that jury
should pass upon. .
Bail was allowed in the sum Of 81 600 for
2 Mr.. Bowies appearance before the tlust-
ings Court on the lst day OF July ana
/ Nessrs. William s. Gum. Joseph b. Davis,
/ james Il. Branch, and John Hunter, Jr.,
/ became his suretcs.