Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-22
THE SHOTGUN CODE
1t Decides the Case of ST.
Louis Lawyer.
FRANK ]. BOWMAN SHOT TO Death.

He Visits AN Old Partners Bouss to Levy
an His Property and the Coroner Car
ries His Corpse Awsy-A Cold FLOODED
Murder Over Series of Lawsuits-
some Fscts from the Record OF the
Dead Man-Hi. Marital and Other ''Ec-
centricities."
ST. LOUIS, Oct 22-Frank ]. Bowman,
the wel-kuown lawyer, who has figured in
80 many matrimonial troubles here and in
Chicago, was shot and instantly killed by
B NJ. Chambers yesterday afternoon, at
Ferguson, Mo, eighteen miles west OF this
city The killing grew out of trouble be-
tween the parties over the old Times news.
paper. Chambers was a large stockholder
and principal owner OF the paper up to the
Z me OF its demisa Bowman was also fiuan.
cially interested In t. He bought, among
other things the Associated Press franchise
of the paper, and has been in litigation
over the matter with Chambers ever since.
Yesterday afternoon Bowman, accompanied
by Deputy Shell III Garrett, OF St Louis
county, called ut Mr. Chambers' home in
rguson for the purpose OF levying an t
tachment on Chambers' life interest in his
wifes estate, or whatever property he might
ba able to find.
The Fatal Meeting.
Chambers met Bowman and Garrett at the
gate Bowman saii
Il have come n levy on your property
AN right" responded Mr. Chambers, and
he entered the house.
Deputy Sheriff Garrett thought Chambers
had gone TO get some papers He was mis-
taken, for In n few minutes Chambers stepped
aV.fa H.. "A n
shot gun in has bands
Garrett. you get out OF this place and get
out quick be said Garrett walked away
Now, Bowman, I'll give you three min
utes TO get out Of these grounds" continued
Chambers
Bowman did not move, and in an instant
Chambers raised bis gun and pourel the load
into Bnwman's heart Cham ers then cooliy
walked into his house 10 await arrest, while
Bowmau's body lay in pool OF blood in the
yard, nobody venturing TO touch it until tbs
coroner arrived. A large crowd imm stately
surrounded tho place, but there was no
demonstration.
sketch Of Bowmsn'- Career.
Bowman practcsd law here for many
years and about three years ago removed To
New York Previous to his departure be
figured in n couple OF scandals He sued his
her suit on a cross bill, paying her large
sum OF money Then it was given out that
he had married a woman in tbs east As soon
this became known a Chicago woman who
claimed n common law marriage with Bow
man, sued him for divorce in Chicago The
| Chicago courts decided the woman was his
wife and gave her this divorce. This left
Bowman badly mixed up matrimonially.
Brave, but Un.cruputoux
Frank j. Bowman was remarkable in
ma ways He was brave, INSCRIPTIONS,
aggressive, with a nervous temperament
which nothing could discourage or sublue.
His methods were In violent opposition 10
the legal code OF ethics AMI once he was lis
barred, but afterward rsinstated. HIS first
great success was the Missouri Pacific lien
case against the county. This Csc was
railroad claim of s7OO, 900, and had been
fought and abandoned by the sblost la wyers
in the west After they had given it up Bow
man took it on a contingent fee of 10 per
| cent. of all revenues be could col
lect He kept hammeriug away until
he collected the whole 500, 900, and retained
$40 900 As bis fee He was a man full OF re-
sources and expedients, and cared not how
an object was attained so that he succeeded
He was dead shot, and challenged every
man who opposed him with any personal
bitterness. Among bis first challenges was
one to Speaker Boone, of the Missouri legis-
lature, but Mr. Boone did not come 10 time
Bowman challenged Stilson Hutchins, but
mutual friends stopped the blood letting
! Five yrais ago he challenged Congressman
John NJ. Glover, hut again some one ar
range matters, and there was no duel
Chambers was president OF the Butchers
and Drovers' bank OF this city, which failed
a dozen years ago, and afterward bought
out the old Times staying with the paper
TIL il failed