The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-19
Contractor P. McGOwan'S.
Body Found in River.
He eAlwaySCarriedL LargeSumS
of Money With Him.
Had Been In the Water But Three
or Four Hours When Found.

The body of Peter McGowan, a we'll
known contractor, was found floating in
the river by Charles Slade at O'Clock
this morning. Slade, who is a brick
handler, lives at IL Williams street, and
was on his way over Point street bridge,
when he saw the body of a man floating
in the water. With others he got into
boat and towed the body to the Steam
Mill slip at the foot of Ship street, from
Which place it was taken TO the morgue.
There the body was identified as that of
Peter McGowan, who lived at 81 Gallup
street, and has an Office In the Mechan-
les Exchange on Custom House street.
Mr.. Caly, the secretary of the exchange,
with other members, say Mr.. MCGOWAN
was in the exchange yesterday noon. and
Medical Examiner Palmer says the body
was not in the water more than three or
four hours.
There are some indications that he was
murdered.
1t is we'll know fact that Mr.. Nc
Gowan was in the habit CT carrying large
sums OF money with him at all times and
in his clothing was found $3.50. Mem
bers of the Exchange are OF the opinion
that he had much larger sum than this.
Mr.. McGowan had been drinking yes,
terday but when seen by bis associates at
the Exchange he was not intoxicated and
it is presumed he fell in with a gang of
rufiins, late at night, and that they
pushed him into the water. There are
several scars about his head and face. he
leaves wife and three children.
Charles Slade was seen by representa-
tive of the NEWS this forenoon and he
tells this story; 81 was on my way to the
schooner Gen. Torbert which is lying at
Manchester & Hudson dock on west side
of the river, and as got on Point street
bridge saw something black, which l.
thought was bag containing kittens.
floating in the water. For the moment l
did not pay much attention to 1t. A
walked along, however, / kept my eye
on the bag and concluded that was mis-
taken about it. started back to the east
end of the bridge, and l met Thomas
Sullivan, another brick handler, and wa
got into row boat and found that the
black object was a mans coat. This
took hold OF, and upon lifting it out OF
the water, saw the face Of q man. We
put rope around his body and towed
him to Manchester & Hudson's wharf,
where it remained until $3.50 o'clock,
when Medical Examiner Palmer ordered
1t taken to the steam mill step, and from
there to the morgue."
Among Mr.. McGowan's effects was q
silver watch, the hands being at 11:51,
indicating that that was about the time,
he fell into the water.
There were severa. reports current THU
morning, one to the effect that when the
body was .ornG 1t wss encaEed in gu
ano sack. Another was that ropes were
found about the arms, legs and tccy, brs
sladu and Sullivan say there Is 20 truth
In these stories. Medicrl Examiner
Palmer says McGcwan must aave seen
dead or nearly so when he went into the
water, for had he been alive no weuld
not have fioated so soon.
The sac affair is surrounded In somei
thing OF a mystery and the police are
making an effort to learn with whom AIc-
Gowan spent last evening.