The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-08
FROM ACROSS THE BAY.
John s. Bowden Strangles Him.
self i'm Prison Cell.
An Appointment That Creates Talk-An In.
dignant County 0ficial-Reidsn Held
for Murder.

The little episode at Thirteenth and
Franklin streets Sunday evening at $50
o'clock, mentioned in THE CALL the next
morning, had sad ending yesterday morn
ing John S. Bowden. the English barber
who was arrested On Sunday evening at
Thirteenth and Franklin streets on charge
Of assault upon c. Vogler, an Alameda
barber. with deadly weapon and with
carrying q concealed weapon, was found
hanging in his cell at the City Prison with
one end of a blan ket tied around his neck
and the other TO the vendlating bars Of the
top of the cell. Life was extinct when
tue body was found and cut down.
B0wden had sent word over to his latest
employer at 400 Pacific street, San Francisco,
by a messen geT-boy on Wednesday after
noon asking him if he would not assist him
in getting bail. The brief answer returned
was, Il can do nothing for YOU" Bowden
was much depressed when he learned on
Tuesday that Miss Florence Vale, on whose
account he became inSanely Jealous and
drew the knife on Vogler. intended to assist
the latter in prosecuting him. He had some
hope that she would prevail Oh VOgler to
abandon the charge and that she would
think no less of him for getting into prison
on her account. When his employer de-
eilned In any way 10 assist him he seems TO
have decided life no longer worth living.
The blanket was looped through the bars of
the yentilator and tied tightly around the
throat with knot at the side, and he then
sQuatted down, throwing the weight of his
BODY on the neck, and remained In that
position until he was stranged. The top
OF the cell was only few inches above his
head when standing up. The young woman
who was the cause Of Bowden's death said
yesterday she regretted very much the
death OF Bowden, and was considerably
distressed over il, but she said that she had
not kept company with him very much, and
not at all for some months. They were
from the same shire in England-DeVon.
She cried as she was told about the man $
committing suicide. Bowden had told her
about himself, and that be had no relatives
In this country, except that he had been
married at one time and had been divorced
from his wife.
Bowden until eight months or so ago ran
shop at 1923 Market street, San Francisco,
but failed In his business and had since that
time been employed with Rothermund at
402 Pacific street. San Francisco. Rother-
mund says he did not tell him in the note
what be was in prison for, not even sign
ing his name. He did not write a note bac k
to him, but told the boy to tell him he could
not get away from his shop. Bowden having
simply said in the note that he " as In prison
and asked him TO come over and see him.
Rothermund states that the deceased had a
room on Leayenwortb street, between Pa
ciic and Jackson. and had gold and silver
watch and other things there, but he did not
know the number of the house. An inQuest
Will be held at 30 p. NJ to-day When the
cases against Bowden were called In the
Police Court yesterday the death of the
prisoner was announced and Judge Ogden
dismissed them. 1t Is said that VOgler
would not have appeared.
JOE DIEvEs' APPOINTMENT.
The appointment of Joe Dieves by
Sheriff Hussey as deputy has excited a good
deal OF adverse COMMENT The appointment
was made on Wednesday. 1t has been
known that Dieves' place was a notorious
resort for sports OF all kinds. 1t became sc
disorderly some time ego that the propri.
etor could not allow his family to live ia IT,
and they moved into house block OF
more away. 1t Is about mile from Fruit
vale, on the San Leandro road. Not fal
from ii, but on the other side of the road
and nearer Fruitvale. is the notorious White
House. and beyond ii little way il a vile
place called the Geneva.
Myron Whidden, County Auditor. Is con.
templating the bringing of damage suit
Ii is said, against a sensational paper for
publication untruthfully stating that be at
tended dog-fght and cooking main a
Dieves' place on Wednesday night. He
was not at Dieyes' or anywhere near there
and says that he never attended such
brutal exhibitions as deg fights or cock
fights. The county officers mentioned stat
that in passing Dieves' place they did stop
few minutes, but deny that they knew o
any illegal sport until after they ha,
stopped and did not remain to see ii.
THE BOARD OF MISSIONS.
The First PresbyteriaD Church was liter