The St. Louis Republic., 1903-02-22
Body of J. NJ. Sovards, Who Mys-
teriously Disappeared, Has
Been Found.
ROBBED OF HIS MONEY.
Assassin Slew Victim in Oakland
Lodging-HOuse, Locked the
Doors and Climbed
From Window.

San Francisco Feb 2l.-The body of J. NJ.
Sowards. the real estate broker and money
lender VINO disappeared myst rous!y. has
been found in an Oakland lodging house.
Sowards's head and face reveal wounds
which make 1t certain that the man was
murdered. The wounds were evidently in
fiicted with some sharp instrument and the
police believe that a l2-inch butcherknife.
which was found behind a dresser in the
room. was used by the perpetrator Of the
crime.
There is no certain cew except for the
coincidence that the former occupants OF
the room. who left the place. were named
Martin. and that in memorandum book,
found in Sowardss pocket, there is an en-
try showing that he had loaned 500 on dia-
monds to one c. f. Martin for four months.
The body was in an advanced state of de-
composition. the murder ev IDENTIFY having
been committed several days ago.
Discovery of the body of the murdered
man was made when W. 1. Leavitt. foreman
of the Adams Manufacturing Company.
went to the house upon the request OF MS
employer. who owns the lodging house. TO
learn if the Martins had left all tbs,r the fIr- Ia
parture. He broke in the door; and on go
ing into the room found the dead body OF
face was covered with quilt. There were
bloodstains on the walls at the head OF the
cot and a washbasin stood near nall niie9
with bloody water. where the murderer had
evidently washed his hands. towel pore
marks of blood. where it is believed the
dead mans assailant had wiped the bloody
knife.
Sowards was known to tave been In me
habit of carrying considerable money with
was invefgled into the room. either by the
people who occupied the room or by some
other Ierson ana there murdered' aiter pe-
ing piled with liquor.
Stewards leaves
When or with whom Sowards entered Me
house is not known; The s. iandady: yysstiaed Mfs;
before the Coroner's jury that they had
never seen Sowa.ds until they viewed the
dead body.
The last seen of the murdered man was
when he left his office. saying at the time
he would be back in twenty minutes. II
has been stated by the murdered mans
family since his disappearance that he drew
considerable sum OF money from the
bank to be used in real estate deal. IL
such is the case the money was taken oy
the murderer.
Nothing of value was found in the pock-
cts. In a memorandum book. however; Is
the entry which may prove a valuable clew
&C. F. Martin. four months. 5000 on dia-
monds at per cent: PAYABLE m1n,n.y' ,a,1 De-
At At the inquest James NJ White a real
estate man. testified that he met Sowards
buy iS " a H'sa small Iii hous. Martin is described
by White as young man. OF medium
height, we'll dressed and apparently man
of education 1t is Whites opinion that
Martin ..looked like a sporting man." White
talked with Martin for few moments and
then made an engagement to meet tne
proepectiye buyer at his (White's) office the
following day. Martin did not keep the en-
gagement. :,
Mrs. Adams testified that the Martins"
man and wife had occupied the rooms In
which Sowards met his death. She said
Mrs Martin came to the house and SAID
she had tust returned from Santa Barbara.
She wished to go into the rooms formerly
occupied by them to look for potted plant