The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-20
TYPICAL SONS OF :. /.
Fl THE WILD WEST
Points In the Careers Of Two PICTURESQUE
Colorado Ex.Senat0rs.
ELECTED BY AID OF his OWN VOTE
How Thomas W. Bowen Reached the
United States Senate Chamber.
Another AnecdOte Which Explains
Why He Abandoned the Judiciary.
Eugene Fields Story.
From the Chicago Times-Herald.

Thomas NJ. Bowen enjoys the unique
distinction of being the only man ever
elected to the United States senate by
his own vote. Bowen was a member
of the legislature charged with elect
ing successor to Nathaniel P. Hill.
The real candidates were Nathaniel p.
Hill, Governor Frederick w. Pitkin and
George NJ. Chilcott, the latter then
serving, by appointment, a portion of
the unexpired term Of Henry NJ. Teller,
resigned. Bowen's candidacy was not
considered seriously at first. the others
feeling that Tom had "chipped into the
game" as he would into jackpot he
couldn't open-just for the percentage.
Tabor had struck the Little Pittsours
mine, which burdened him with mil
lions. and the Matchless mine, of VIII ch
he was then sole owner. was brir girg
him in pin money" at the rate Of 81 900
a day. At the time Of the senatorial
election referred to Tabor was per-
forming the arduous duties of leuten-
ant governor. Those who imagine Il at
the duties of lieutenant governor are
not arduOus have never seen Tabor
and biood-sucker in the state had fast
ened themselves to the Tabor ambition,
and "the old mans candidacy COM
plicated the senatorial situation.
Bowen played the part of Hes q jolly
good fellow" getting votes purely as
compliment until on the ninety-sec-
Ond ballot he received one majority,
and that one vote was cast by Thomas
NJ. Bowen himself.
The legislature had yet to choose q
senator to fill the thirty days .unex-
pired term of Senator Teller. It was
great chance for the political high
waymen to square accounts with the
Leadville bonanza king. and H. A. w.
Tabor was made the victim Of the great
honor.
OFF THE BENCH.
Bowen was a product of Arkansas =
carpet -baggism. BY mixing law and
poli:lcs In the proper proportions ne
secured judgeship on the district
bench shortly after removing to Col
orado. He figured conspicuOusly in
the war between the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad and the Denver
and Rio Grande for possession of the
Grand Canon of the Arkansas. Bowen's
decisions We're all in favor OF Colo
radios baby road" and he issued in
functions that would have prevented
the earth from revolving on its axis
were it subject to legal restraint. Many
have supposed that Bowen resigned his
judgeship ON account Of entanglements
In this litigation, but there Is another
story to show that he may have left
the bench for an entirely different rea-
son.
Bowen presided at murder trial in
Fairplay, Park county, wherein public
sentiment figured as largely as the
facts. The people were willing that
the defendant should have fair and
ttnl t..in I., re It
provided that at the end of the trial
he should be properly and legally
hanged. Something In Bowen's iDstruc-
tions to the jury prevented q verdict
of murder in the first degree. That
night the Fairplay people took the de-
fendant out Of. the county jail and
hanged him to an upright In the court
house yard. They selected a piece Of
the rope, made It into a moose and
placed 1t on the desk Of the judge. The
following morning Bowen passed
through the courthouse yard, ga1ed at
the swaying body of the late prisoner
at the bar, took his seat on the bench,
glanced furtively at the moose on his
desk, heard minor motion in q civil
suit and adjourned court. A half-hour
later he was speeding across the un-
dulating surface of the South Park be-
the nearest railway station. He re-
| signed from the bench before the next
term Of court In Park county.
STORIES ABOUT BOWEN.
In 1886 the Colorado state Republican
convention was held in big rink on
Sixteenth street in Denver. During the
proceedings 1t was discovered that the
building was afire and an alarm was
| sent In. Two newspapermen were
rushing w Sixteenth street when they
encountered General Sam Browne. an
old JacksOnian Democrat with all the
characteristics, even to an inordinate
appetite for tobacco.
Where away, boys?" called the gen.
| eral.
ITO the fire."
TITS no use to waste your time and
breath going up there; the fires out
just a little blaze; didn't amount to
| anything"
What was the cause of it, general?"
inquired one of the reporters.