The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-01
Wife Of One Of the Principals Spoiled
the Affair. E
DOCTORS IN A FIGHTING MOOD
Drs. E. z. Bower and ]. ]. Sullivan
Disagreed..Thc Former Is Accused
Of ii Having Later ssMade Faces'' at
DIR. Sullivan and a Challenge Was
Issued..The North End Section
Iligly Elated Over the Affair.


been fought at sunrise yesterday morn
ing, but DR.. Bowers wife got wind of
the affair and threatened to make 1t so
lively for all concerned that the thing
didn't come off.
a disagreement between the two ply
sicians at a confinement case last Fri
day was the elimination of what had
been bad blood" between them for
some time. An unknown friend OF DIR.
Sullivan's and who gave the name OF
''Reddington" called twice on DIR. Bow
er at the latter's house Tuesday even
ing and arranged for the meeting after
DR.. Bower had signed a paper binding
himself not to resort to the law II he
received a challenge.
A peculiar feature Of the case is that
Drs. Sullivan, Bessey, McLain. Daw-
son, Wehlau, j. jenkins and w. jenkins
are reported to have met In the BrlstOl
House Tuesday evening where they
were engaged in discussing something
mysterious until after midnight. Drs.
Lackey, Bentley, Donne and Srrett had
been invited to attend, but We're not
present. 1t was while this meeting was
in progress that "Reddington" made his
two visits to Dr. Bower, the first to re-
ceive assurance that DR.. Bower would
not resort to the law in case a challenge
was issued by DR.. Sullivan. the second
to arrange for duel site and choice OF
weapons.
PREFERRED SMITH & WEsSON.
DR.. Bower stipulated that Smith &
Wesson revolvers of 3S-calibre should
be used. The Eureka base ball park,
near the High Works at $50 O'clock
yesterday morning was agreed upon as
the place and time. According to DR..
Bowers statement. Mrs. Bower over
heard the conversation that took place
with "Reddington" on his second visit.
She left the house, notified the police,
divulged the affair to u number or her
husbands friends and finally clinched
her efforts by having II policeman posted
outside the house to prevent her hus-
bands leaving 1t and threatened to
cause the arrest of everybody concern
ed If the duel wasn't declared off.
DIR. Sullivan told q Tribune reporter
last night that he was at the appointed
place of meeting at the appointed time.
He would not admit that he knew any
thing about the challenge. He accused
DR.. Bower of having repeatedly insult
ed him by word of mouth and making
faces at him. He averred that DR..
Bower had even placed his thumb
alongside his nose and wriggled his
fingers at him.
a Tribune reporter called upon DIR.
Bower at his office and asked for a
concise statement of the affair from
his point of view. The doctor said:
DIR. BOWERS STATEMENT.
"This Is no new trouble. have been
hectored and sorely injured by my
brother physicians for q long time and
it Is plainly evident to me that some of
them are jealous of my success and are
endeavoring to drive me from town.
Some time ago | became slightly impli-
Gated in what bore the aspect of a duel
and ] am led to believe it was con-
cocted scheme in which DIR. J. ]. Sulli-
van was a prominent figure. AS time
passed on the trouble in no way abated
and DR.. Sullivan took advantage of
every occasion possible to snub me in
most ungentlemanly manner.
Friday morning while | was out of
my office on professional business a call
was left requesting my presence at 1917
Nay Aug avenue. | went to the house
and found Mrs. McCloskey about to
give birth to a child. ! prescribed Sc
dative mixture and told the family /
would call again that evening at 9
o'clock unless they notified me l was
not needed. While on my way to the
house that evening l met DR.. Sullivan
and he asked me to assist him deliver
the woman. I went to the room and
| found that Mrs. McCloskey was just
coming from the influence of an anaes-
| thetic which he had administered. The
family seemed to be very much excited
and openly told DR.. Sullivan his SER
vices We're no longer required. He then
started to abuse the family and again
asked me to assist him and under the
circumstances / refused.
DIR. BESSEY ARRIVED.
"As I was about toleave the house DR..
| Bessey arrived. That same evening
| Sullivan and Bessey We're passing my
office and seeing me standing in the
| door the former took occasion to again
abuse me and even went so far as to
shake his fist in front of my face and
make remarks. I followed him into
Henwoods drug store and once more
| he took occasion to make insulting re-
| marks, and at last told him there was
not q sDeck of manhood In him. He
asked me to repeat 1t and l told him 1t
| was not necessary. He then said, i
| will put you on an equal footing by
| sending you a challenge
"Thursday night man giving his
name as Reddington, and wearing
| smoked glasses came to my office and
| handed me type written document,
| which read as near as can remember
as follows:
Tuesday. Sept %. 1896.
7. E. H. Bower, do hereby swear as q
| citizen and physician; that II chailenge
either accept or at least not make the law
| my defense.
81 signed the challenge and Mr.. Red
dington left. Later that night after had
| retired Mr.. Reddington again came to
the office. got up and invited him In
and he said. Sullivan will meet you
| tomorrow morning at $50 O'Clock at the
| Eureka base ball park. High works.
What weapons do you wish to use?"
, I replied: I'll be there. Thirty-eight
calibre, Smith & Wesson revolvers.'
MRS. BOWER HEARD.
"AIv wife heard the conversation and
became greatly excited. She also got
an officer to guard the entrance of our
house and declared she would swear
out warrants for our arrests. l told
| her about signing the above mentioned
challenge, agreeing that ! would take
no legal action in the matter, and to
settle the affair and not break the con-
tract ! consented to remain at home
Meanwhile it is the opinion of the
North End that the matter has not
ended. That there will be duel is not
likely, but n physical encounter is be-
lieved to be among the possibilities.
New Millinery and Fancy Goods Store.
The Misses DOlph and Benjamin will
open new millinery and fancy goods
store on Friday and Saturday, Oct. End
and Sd at 1927 Capouse avenue, and
cordially invite the ladies of Green
| Ridge and vicinity to inspect their
In. I..fxr aAf LN.1Anah Ila