St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-15
oUAKERs ARE SHOCKED.
Governs Suicide Causes a Sensas
ton in Philadelphia.

7.sFeayrzAnEnF9lIX, Dec. 14.s-The news
of franklin 3. towers death In n ash
ington caused great sensation here.
Within a quarter Of an hour
from the time. that the dispatch
announcing the suicide OF MIR. Gowenz
reached the city a throng of friends.
rushed to the law offices of Francis /.
Gowen. in the Forrest building. OH
Fourth street. Francis |. Gowen is a
nephew Of The .ex-railread president.
He was dazed, and could scarcely re.
cover from the shock for q few mins
utes. He paced the floor neTyously, but
could not furnish an ineligible ex-
planation of the reported suicide.
My Uncle, he said. went 10 Washington
last Tuesday TO make an argument before
theinterstate commerce commission IN the
suit Of George Rice, OF Marietta Ohio.
against the Louisville 6 Nashville railroad
aud the Standard Oil company and
other deferdants. can foIEl no idea Of
whatnaosVe actuated him TO take his life II
the fepertbe true, I have teiegraphed 20
Wormley's hotel WheTe my uncle has been
In the habit OF, stepping for years, asking Yof
a confirmation, and also requesting that the
body shall not be taken to the morgue.
Later Mr.. GoWen received reply to
his telegram to Wormley's hotel con-
firming the death of his uncle, and he
left for the national capital at O'Clock
this afternoon for the purpose of bring
ing the body TO Philadelphia. Mr..
Gowen'S family consists of MS
wife and daughter, who live at the
handsome suburban residence at
Mount Airy. Financial difficulties are
not suggested as an incentive for the
dtsi. Mr.. GeTen has been estimated
as worth between $500, GOO and $500.000.
The announcement that he had COM
da hc 81
prise in financial circles. When the
confirmatory dispatches began TO
arrive Mr.. Gowen'5 friends shook
their heads sadly. Mr.. Gowen was we'll
known Oh Third street, on account OF
his former position at the head of the
Reading railroad. .and the universal COM
ment of financial people was. well. he
was the last man [ thought would COM
NIT suicide" Surprise was manifested
in the fact of Mr.. GoWen having q
revolver in his possession. lie was al.
ways opposed 20 CARRYING firearms, and
during the ''Moliie MaguiIe' prosecu-
tions at Pottsvilie, ne refused 10 carry
pistol for his own protection.
Il never had anything to startle me So in
my life before" said President Daniel B.
Cummius, of the Girard National bank and
probably one of the most intimate friends
that Mr.. GoWen had, when appTtsed OF the
Oeatu OF tDS -0lS6itibIaSOSu litNISE. ne
called here to see me several days ago,
and left Immediately afterwards foP
Washington. No one will ever convince me
that Mr. Gowen took his own life. He was
of too cheerful q disposition TO do an act
like that. There was certainly nothing
to drive him to self destruction. When say
this know what l am talking about. lie
had an 4 ppoiniment to meet myself and
gentleman from New York here in my office
this afternoon. and fully expected him to
keep the appointments l never knew Mr..
Gowen to carry pistol, or any other deadly
weapon. and you can rest assured that if he
lost his life through pistol shot, the wound
was inflicted by accident and not by design.
Poor Frank"