The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-06

toiH. Win lIc uSSlslhlct Oh OtnerS raised
the body from the water TO the wharf
When turned over face upward. il was
Immediately recognized as that OF William
ID. Rowland. The face was considerably
bloated, and there were rcd and black
streaks upon it, but no signs of injury
The body was dressed in dark overcoat
OF light weight with such other clothing
as Mr. Rowland is said 10 have worn on
Friday, April 23d, when he was last seen
alive. The black derby hat was still on
the head and gloves ON the hands. When
laid ON the wharf the body was covered
with piece of canvas, and Undertaken
Wilson was notified. OF course there was
the usual crowd On hand i'm few.minutes
for the news spread with startling rapid
ity all over the city. Curiosity was tho
reigning sentiment but il was peculiarl.
tempered with respect.
His Suicide Believed In.
From the appearance of the body and
all the circumstances attending Mr.. How
lands disappearance, IL is generally ac-
cepted that the despondent treasurer took
his own life within half an hour after the
time he left his Office with Harry NJ.
Pierce his bookkeeper His last CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Pierce was such that
makes his subsequent course perfectly ex-
plicable under the operations of his mind.
On Friday morning, April 20, Mr.. How.
land had had conference with Otis ".
Pierce of the National Bank of Com
merce, when Mr.. Pierce announced the
decision of the bank TO refuse further
credit to the Howland corporations unless
the books could be opened to expert exam
ination. This conference was held in Q
small room adjacent To Mr.. Howland's
Office in the Masonic building.
Oblivion Lay in the Waters
At its conclusion Mr.. Howland came
out, and went into his own Office where
he sat down at his desk, by window
overlooking the harbor. = His thoughts as
he gazed out over the placid waters must
be left To imagination. Desperation was
within; peace and oblivion TO his troubles
lay beneath the inviting stream.
Harry NJ Pierce sat down by the desk
and commenced to converse with the
distracted treasurer. Dir. Howland's 8 face
at that moment bore unmistakable signs
of the awful struggle going on in his
MIND. Turning from the window he said:
The Games Up.
"well, Harry, the games up. The
hank has refused to let us have any more
money and they want TO put man on
che books to see If I'm "a thief. It's too
much for me and all that's left for me TO
do is to go and hang myself -
MIR. Pierce for tho first time now saw
the desperation on Mr. Howland's face,
and the awful words shocked him.
For Gods sake don'C do that " he
cried, jumping up and grasping Mr.. How
land by the shoulder in his fright.
1T isn't so bad as that, and then both
men broke down with emotion. Presently
Mr. Rowland recovered himself sufficiently
to speak again.
Let's Try TO Forget.
Well Harry +" he said, ''let's take a
walk and try TO forget IL. y
The pair walked Co the corner OF William
and Purchase streets ard there stood talk.
ing for "a few minutes MIR. Rowland was
calmer now, and finally said no would go
down TO the wharf and take SAIL per.
haps it would quiet him. Mr.. Pierce
made him promise to do nothing rash, and
finally Mr.. Rowland said he would be
back in an hour
Then he proceeded straight TO the
wharf. When Mr. Howland reached the
wharf, he talked indifferently with
Thomas Nelson, who was at work on Mr..
Howlaud's : boat for u few minutes, then
no turned away--and then, William ID.
Rowland had disappeared from among
living men.
No Weights on the Body
DIR. Hough examined the body soon after
IL was taken from the water He found
no weights about 1t. 1t had been con-
icCtured by some that the body was
weighted-and from all that appears DIR.
Hougn thought il fair TO assume that Mr..
Howland drowned himself on the same
day no disappeared. His watch was
found to have stopped 40 l414 minutes
past TO- In tho pockets were found
various personal letters and belongings
of tho dead man. In one pocket was
found an important book--a small blank
book containing full alphabetical and
chronological list of notes payable Of tho
corporations, with dates Of maturity and
other information. Mr.. Rowland leaves
"A widow and two young children.
MIR Rowland As treasurer was under
bonds of $50, OO0 In two corporations tho
City Trust Safe Deposit and surety Com
pany Of Philadelphia was surety for $50
900 I'm each of two policies. Both thoso
securities will doubtless be availed of bv
the receivers IL 10 becomes necessary. Ii
is stated that Andrew G.. Pierce, .Ir., will
bc elected treasurer of the Rowland cor
porations when affairs have reached tho
proper stage.
stephen &. Lowe has placed upon the
residence of William ID. Howland, corner
of Grove and Ash streets, mechanics
lien of sli7.20 for plumbing done on tho
promises.