The San Francisco call., 1907-06-17
Conplainants Allege That
Inventor Duped Them
Out of Money
PRISONER RETICENT
Refuses to Discuss Case and
at First Denies His
Identity

Junlus Powell Bowden, the
original Teddy Bear" man and
scion of an honored Detroit fam
ily, languishes in the city prison
with charges of embezzlement
and obtaining money under false
pretenses marked against him on
the prison register. Bowden is
accused of having swindled two
men Of his home town out of
$3.50. He was arrested by De-
tectives Bunner and Matheson as he
was strolling along Fillmore street,
near Page, yesterday afternoon.
Bowden. who is said to be the in
ventor OF the Teddy bear" is be-
lieved TO have accumulated consider
able wealth from the novelty. He was
known as a high liver in the east and
always mingled with the smart set.
Since hts arrival in this city Bowden
has attracted q great deal of attention
in Van Ness avenue and other thor
oughrares where he was wont to prom
enade. During HIS short stay here he
has gained his way into the good
graees of persons prominent in the
financial and social world
Some weeks ago the police of Detroit
notified the local oficials that Bowdeu
was headed this way and requested
that sharp watch be kept for him Il
was not until yesterday that he was
sighted.
According to the information re-
ceived from Detroit. Bowden is charged
with having embezzied $1,000 from Ed
ward E. Rouech last April The latter
AYERS that Bowden interested him in a
scheme TO supply the country with
Teddy bears and that he advanced
$1,000 TO help finance the scheme He
further alleges that Bowden failed to
make any returns for the money.
The other Detroit man with a griev-
ance against the Teddy bear creator is
Homer ]. johnson. According to John
sons story. Bowden tried a new scheme
on him and induced him to invest s1.25o
IN the Pemberthy injection company, a
concern which johnson alleges was
without financial backing.
According 70 Johnson he was hon
ored with the high sounding title of
vice president and secretary OF the new
company IN return for his money. He
says that the company went to the wall
few days after he assumed his duties
and with its collapse Bowden disap-
peared.
When Bowden was tapped lightly on
the shoulder yesterday by the detec-
tives and told to accompany them to
the police station he at once assumed
a naughty air and insisted that the
officers had made a mistake. But, see
ing that they were persistent and de-
rnanded the pleasure OF his company,
Bowden consented to make the trip
down town. and on his way to the city
prison admitted his identity.
But further than this Bowden would
not proceed Smilingly he announced
that he had nothing to say until after
he had consulted his lawyers. He was
cool and collected and did not appear
in the least disturbed when the jail
door changed behind him.
Bowden is about 80 years old, hand
some, well bred and wears clothes that
would attract attention on any boule-
ward He refuses to say how long he
has been IN this city.
Bowden has the distinction of being
the man who started the Teddy bear
craze some time ago. He is believed
to have accumulated q vast amount OF
money by his novel creation, and is
said to have spent it as freely as he
made It According to the police, Bow
den is well known IN all the larger
cities throughout the east and middle
west
Bowden is connected with a wealthy
and prominent family of Detroit, and
rumor has it that he was once a very
uopular social favorite there