Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-19

WI Where the F!atcl Was IfOughI.
II WAsurSdroH, Dsc. 14-2 30 D. m.-Ffank-
lin Il. Guwen, tho we'll known RAILROAD
A offaor aLl lawyer Of Pennsylvania, shot
himte!f a few moments ago In his room at
WOrpley's Hotel and died almost instantly.
PHILADELPHIA, Dac. 16.-The remains
OF F.Gnkliu b. Gow6n, who committed
snicids in Washington, reached this city
yesterday morning and were taken to his
late residence ut Mount Airy, near Ger
Manto IN.
Ali inquiry has thus FAR failed to reveal
any cE,,Ae for the rash act. The Nom
hers Of the family positively refuse to be
iDtervieWed and the closest PERSONAL and
husinegs friends of mir Gowen are unable
e. assign any reason why he should wish
co end his life. IL is related that fort
night age, when be desired TO leave this
city for his suburban home, Mr.. GoWen
boarded tne wrong rain, thing he was
never known to do before, and was car
Yied some little distance out of his way.
Il IL said that Mira. Gowen told cicse
friend of the family that for 10 days
previous to her husbands last visit to
Washington she had noticed something
strange in his conduct. IL is thought by
raany here that the great lawyers mind
became un5aianned through too persistent
application TO business, and that the sui
eide was dino TO this cause.
WAsHISaToN Dec. Interstate COM
Ineroe Commissioner Morrison has known
Ia Mr.. Gowen for two or three yeers. hr.
Z dowen has appeared frequently before
4 the commission, and alwRy 8 Rs the attor-
ney Of individuals and against the corpo
ra,ious. In this way no haa had some
In fry m ~ has haap
sary for him to got his facts from his
enemies, the railroads, either from their
hooks Or employees. At times MT. Gowen,
a whom hard pushed in the struggle in
q court. has been u little testy, somewhat
" inclined to imperiORtness, but during
the beeFiug last week, in which he was
& ooniending single handed aaainst half q
Y dem lawyers, representing as many
\ railroads, he YVES more amiable than
uEuHl.
6 have never seen Er. Gowen appear
brighter or more cheerful" said Colonel
Morrison on Saturday. "He was in the
heat of spirlta all the week, ard il was
tbs sutj9Gt Of remark that, though he
had q difficult case TO manage, with a
number Of iswyers against him, and with
many o5AtacleB III the way Of getting at
tas eviGence which his client desired to
bling cut, he was hearty, even tempered
ard self possessed. His eyes were bright,
his clean skayen faca had the color OF
health in it. His voice was olear sud
manly. GA Wednesday the commission
adjourned the hearing Scr Two hours, as
soma of the members desired to so to the
capitol 20 hear the Grafton OF Chief Justice
Fuller. GA my return to the court room
found MIR. GoGen sitting at the long
table heRide Mr. Heyter of Nashville.
l,ptA we're writing. As stopped 10 tails
10 theia Mr. GoWon politely rose and
stood beside me, seemingly the same
courteous, kindly we'll balanced, self
possessed gentleman that have always
found hif1. lie talked and laughed witt
NC lightly, and appeared fos all the
NoEld like man who WAS enjoying life
who ate we'll and elept well nlghts Or
3'hursdav he left us. On Friday he was
dend. What occurred 10 those few hours
what shadow came across bis pathway,
carnot conceive. 1t is an inc x plicabie al
il is heartrending to me-"
Though Mr.. Gowen did not show it II
hia manner, it is known that he W
2tightiully disappointed at the obyiou
failure OF his case, the now celebrated
case OF George Rice against the railroads
and Standard Oil Company. Mr.. Cover
fcund it impossible to prove the claim
made by his client. While there was
moral certainty OF the facts, they ooult
not 90 established. Tire evidence, heinl
almost entirely under the control Of tn
railroads, was not easily reached. Mr.
Cowen felt that he had a good case,
case worthy his talents and energies, ou
be could not develop it. This was Fro
vOl;iag, humiliatiug. theory hel
among the lawyers who have been befor
the Interstate Commission during til
week 10 that the disappointment attend
ing his failure to make out his cas-
cGosed temporary insanity, that resuite
in suicide.
Y COMMISSIONER COOLEY SHOCKED.
The suicide of Gowen SO shocked IL
Sefstate Commerce Commissioner Cooley
WHO was also staying at W0rmley's, tina
his health has been very seriously e
fteteh. Cooley cGmo bRck week bef0i
last comparatively wsli, but his system
not strong enough now TO stand gres
shock. Go@sn was his pargOnai f.ieng
a.1 they chgtted together on Fridn
morning, and aRain At luncheon on Fr
day afternoon. No one would then hei
4 dreamed teat Cooley would outli'
GoWen.
~ HE SOLD GoWEN THE PISTOL.
Late last evening the superintendent
W police was notified by b, Smoot, clerk
the sporting goudS shop of d. n. Wa
ford, no. 477 Eennsy ivAaia avenue, ne,
tho National Hotel, milo from Worn
M ley'R, that on Friday he Sold u pistol Ill
M that desorihed as having been found vii
G Governs body 10 au elderly gentlems
,$ answering to tee puhliqlod deRcriptif
& ct Gnwen The po!ic5 think this VI
M the pistol GoWen used.
N Snoot, the young man who SOLD Cow
the pistol and cartridges with which
killed himself, says bs paid no especi
y attention TO mis- customer Of TO his pu
F chase. 1t was & common occurrence, AZ
III he would never have given il secc,
Nv thought if no lad nc. rgGd in the papa
Ebout Gowen using the game sort OF
W piatol to kill himself Then IL occarr
VII to him that it might he the very pistol
had sold, and he notified tho pciloaGhn
WA the occurrence. He identities the PITT
'l# in their possession, brought ffcn Cows
room by Policeman Cfo9a, az the one
sold on Friday TO the elderly gontlem
i# answering tho description Of Cove
IVY ;5moot'A statement is important not on
IS establishing the fact. that GoEen co
M mitted snicide beyond pesaavanture b
Nh az fixing the time OF the suicide 81 eai
VA yesterday morning, and not late on Y
day afternoon, Tor Sn9ot states thGt I
Y9 Transaction which he describes took 2!p
Ell between aud o'clock on Friday evt
M ang.
M AS the gas was not lighted and tho h