The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-16
Died Yesterday Morning at His Home
I'm New Orleans, Despite All Efforts
to Save the Pugilises Life.
LAvIGNEeHELD FOR MURDER
BUT LATER RELEASED UNDER A
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BOND.
Nine Others Charged with Being Ac-
BaiI-Views of Leading Pugilists.

NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 15.-Pugilist Andy
Bowen is dead from the effects OF blow
on the jaw, administered, last night, by
George I.avigne He died this morning at
7:15 o'clock while Father Delaney was
praying over his inanimate form. He never
regained consciousness from the time the
blow landed on his face. Early this morn
ing he was conveyed from his
dressing room at the Auditorium Club
to his home on Thalis street, near Maga-
zine. The scene at the house this morning
was a most pathetic one DR.. L. ID. Mar
tin was called in at an early hour and did
all that human skill could do TO save the
life that hung in the balance, but to no
avail. The mother of the pugilst, when he
was carried into the house, predicted that
he would never recover, while his young
wife grew hysterical in her agony. They
sat by the side of the unconscious man and
wept and prayed. but it was of no avail.
His eyes had looked on them for the last
time and he never opened his lips.
Between and o'clock this morning,
faithful watchers stood by the dying pugil
lists side, hoping that his eyes would give
some sign of intelligence. Medical science
racked its brain In search, of a remedy
however violent that would quicken the
pulse and set the brain to working. At
o'clock DR.. Finney thought that Bowen
had improved and at that hour he did not
think that the fight would have fatal
termination, and. in reply TO a question
from the office of the chief of police. Dr.
Finney sent certificate saying that Bow
en- was better. 1t was a message OF relief
to Lavgne, Duffy and the seconds, who
had been arrested when Bowen's condition
became alarming. and who were prayer
fully waiting to hear that the unconscious
pugiiist had come back to life
The doctors remained with Bowen to the
end and his wife also stood by his bedside.
Just as the hands of the clock were creep
ing around to 7, Mrs. Bowe leaned over
the bed and said "Oh. Andy, speak to
me-" and her ears were strained to catch
the word. Andy shivered and groaned. his
frame shook and then. without ever having
come back to consciousness after Lavigne
had lsnded the blow the jaw, he
breathed his last. AS soon as Bowen had
died. a handkerchief was tied about his
face, and message was sent I'D the police
station over the nearest telephone nodfy-
ing that office Of the death of the pugilist.
The police station. in turn, quickly sent
word to the coroner. Bowen's body was on
Its back when the reporter saw it this
morning The lips were swollen and there
was a tinge of purple about them, and his
rather large face seemed somewhat larger
than usual. although there was no strong
sign of pain on it. The features were nat
ural. the mouth partly open.
The news of Bowens death was made
known to Lavigne and his party shortly
after it had been communicated by tele-
phone to the central station. Lavigne had
been detained at the station. with his Sec
onds and attendants all night and he had
slept but little. being anxious every moment
to get the news from the bedside of the
wounded puglist. Lavigne was shocked
when he heard the news of Bowens death
and expressed his sympathy for Bowen's
wife. In answer to a question, he said that
ne did not feel that he had been the direct
cause of the death of the pugilist; or, in
other words. that the blow which he had de-
livered on Bowens jaw had been sufficiently
forceful to have carried with it fatal con-
sequences. He said he believed that when
Bowen fell his head had struck the pine
flooring and that the concussion had been
the immediate cause of his death. Lavigne
was not only sorry for the immediate death,
what would become of himself in connec-
ton with the fight and how long it was
likely that he would be kept in prison.
Later in the day lI.avigne and the leading
participants were arraigned on the charge
OF murder and as accessories, their bail
fixed and released. The coroner's jury de-
clared the cause of death to be conclusion
OF the brain, but failed to determine
whether IL was produced by I.ayigne,s blow
or by Bowen's head striking the floor OF
the ring. The legal proceedings In connec-
| ton with the fatal fight have hardly ter
| minated yet. The grand jury 1t is thought
will take the matter up on Monday. The
| States attorney will press to a conclusion
| the suit against the Olympic Club in which
| the legitimacy of these glove contests is
| involved.