Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
Thomas ]. Powers Found Dead in
Philadelphia Outskirts.
BE WAS STATE BANK COMMISSIONER
Prominent Figure in Both Loca
and National Politics.
H A D FIN E WAR RECORD

PHILADELPHIA. August 3o-Thomas J.
Powers. commissioner of banking for
Pennsylvania, was killed by falling from a
train in the outskirts of this city last night.
His badly mangled body was found under
the Pennsylvania railroad bridge spanning
the Delaware river at the northern end of
this city this morning by three men gun
ming in the marshes. Mr.. Powers had been
spending the summer at Atlantic City with
his family, and it is presumed that he fell
from the train from that resort which
reaches this city via the bridge route at
1890 pm. Mr.. Powers home was in
Frankford, Philadelphia suburb, which
is the first station this side of the Della
ware river. He probably left his seat in
the car while the train was crossing the
bridge, as to be in readiness to leave the
train when 1t reached Frankford, which is
only short distance beyond the Philadel-
phia terminus of the structure.
Man of Heroic Build.
Mr.. Powers was a man of heroic build.
measuring considerably over six feet in
height and weighing about 215 pounds. His
friends express the theory that he had
gone to the platform to escape the heat in
the car and was jolted off while the train
was on a curve.
D.
1S45, and came to this country when five
years old. He entered the Union army in
1861, when scarcely sixteen years old, and
participated in many important battles OF
the civil war.
He had been prominent in republican ma
tional and state politics for the last twenty
five years. and filled various offices under
the state and national government during
that time. Mr.. Powers was a conspicuous
figure at republican national conventions
and was one of the 306 delegates who held
out for third term for President Grant.
One of his sons, Lieutenant Thomas j.
Powers, jr., is in the regular army at Ma
nia-
When examination was made of Col.
Powers body and clothing 1t was learned
that two rings, set with a diamond and
ruby, he had worn when last seen alive,
were missing, and a number of railroad
passes which he was known to carry could
not be found. Only $S were found in his
pockets, and, as Col. Powers usually had q
strongly suspected that the body was rob-
bed.
Regret at Harrisburg.
HARRISBURG, Pa, August 3O-The
death of Thomas ]. Powers was a great
shock to his official associates here. He
was appointed banking commissioner by
Governor Stone on March 1. 1899 and was
very popular with the Office holders on
Capitol HILL He was apparently in good
health when he was last here, a week ago
today. ..-z..,.-.-- .....--
Captain John W. Morrison, deputy bank
ing commissioner, will have charge of the
affairs of the department until Colonel
Powers successor Is appointed.
Governor Stone is travelling through the
far west with party of friends and Will
not make the appointment until after his
return. on September s. The office of bank
ing commissioner Is one of the most respUn-
sible positions under the state government
Nhnf Off nj oil hos ornn xrfcfn
all the state banks, trust companies and
building and loan associations. The depart
ment win be closed out of respect to the
memory of the dead commissioner until
after the funeral.