Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-30
DIR. OWENS DEATH.
observation-disclosures In Drink Cause OF
the Veterans sudden Demise.

Over. Indulgence In Drink Cause of
the Veterans Sudden Demise.
The Des Moines News of Saturday
says of the death OF DR.. J.. w. Owen,
who was a member OF the Soldiers
Home but was on furlough at Des
Moines
DIR. j. w. Owen, once prominent
physician of Dies Moines, was found
dead on the floor OF lodging house at
21S West Third street this morning
about $3.50 o'clock. The lodging house is
kept by Mrs. Whalen. Owen was last
seen alive last night at IL O'clock. At
that time friend helped him TO his
room, he having been drinking heavily.
John Campbell occupied the same room
with him. He was in an intoxicated
condition and did not notice when Owen
came into the room. When he awoke
this morning his attention was attract
ed by a form lying on the floor. He rec
ognized the body of his friend and made
a hasty examination. The lifeless man
was warm at this time and could not
have been dead long. Campbell sum-
moned the police and officer Gibson
went Immediately to the scene. Coroner
Ankeny was notified, but owing to plain
| indications of over supply of alcohol it
| was not deemed necessary to summon
a jury. The body was removed to the
morgue and will be prepared for burial,
| the Grand Army men, of which order he
was member, taking charge of the re-
| mains
1 "Owen was at one time one If the
! foremost physicians in the city. He has
| resided here off and on for the past
/ twenty years and is we'll known. For a
4 number of years he has been drinking
i heavily, his dissipation having been
caused, it is said, by trouble of a do
/ nestle character His wife left him
and rumor has it that she went in the
company of another man. Be the facts
what they may. it is known that since
that time the doctor has been drinking
heavily until the sad end came this
morning. He has daughter, Maude
/ teaching in the Kindergarten depart
j ment of the West Des Moines schools
Whatever may be true of the father
Maude is a girl whose character is
4 above reproach. She has been engaged
in school work in this city for som,
time and has gained the respect and ad
miration of her pupils and fellow
teachers. She was almost prostratet
this morning when the notice of he
fathers death reached her.
.Kinsman post will have charge o
the body and conduct the funeral. Over
was private in Company X, First Mis-
sissippi, and was two years in the serv
ice. He received an honorable dis
charge and afterward became promi
nent member of different G.. A. r. posts
Since he plunged into the life of dissi
. patton he has been leading he becam
an inmate of the Soldiers Home il
Marshalltown."
Veteran Owen was born in Ezingtor
l Ill.,, fifty-six years ago and enlisted il
-,lthe service of his country on Aug. Il
1862, at Pella, joining Company {
t Thirty third Iowa Infantry. He wa
t honorably discharged on Feb 2, 1863. a
!. Benton Barracks. Mo, and re-enliste
$ on Feb. II, 1868, in the Mississippi Ma
r rine Brigade. in which he served unit
! Jan. 81. 1865, or until practically til
t close of the war. when he was dis
. Icharged at Nicksburg, Miss. When h
$ came to the Home, on Aug. A. 1898, froi
: Des Moines. his record showed hi
single and his nearest relatis
y Maude owen.