Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-22
DID ASYLUM DOCTOR
STRANGLE INMATE?
DIR. z. C. McKowen Held for Muir
der of Z. K. Judson, Whose
Body Was Found Near Railroad
Tracks.

ct FPANCISVILLE. La. Oct. %
While perhaps the most mysterious, ana
An Some respects the most sensational.
murder ever committed in this part OF
louisiana continued to prove the prin-
cfpaI theme OF discussion among residents
of ST. Francisville today. the man about
whom the talk centered and who is the
most vitality concerned. occupies his pris-
on cell here apparently undisturbed
Charged with the murder Of e X Jud-
son. inmate OF the jackson Insane Asy-
Iuu. whose Oead body was found sew
eral miles north Of this place Monday
DR.. E C. McKowen. again declined to-
dav 10 make any statement except
through his attorney. Neither will the
latter discuss the charges against Nc
Kowen.- except to say that he believes
implicitly I'm his innocence. An early pre-
liufnary hearing will be asked for
Asserting that he had not yet worked
on the case, District Attorney Golson
said today:
1T seems. however. on its face. that
the crime is that OF an Insane person
whoever committed il"
District Judge woOdside has interested
himself in the case because OF family re-
lationship with DIT. McKOwen.
The body Of Judson. accompanied by
his sister. was taken to New Orleans to-
VICTIM STRANGLED2
The jury found that the body of Judson
had been placed by the side Of the fazoc
and Mississippi Valley railroad tracks
near Wakefield by DR.. McKOwen. who
was arrested at his home in Jackson late
yesterday. All the evidence indicated tha'
Judson had been killed. apparently by
strangulation. some distance from where
the body was found. It is considered prob
able that an effort TO burn the body TO
conceal Identification was interrupted by
the fear OF the slayer that some one was
approaching
Or. NcKowerr,s arrest before the YER
dict Of coroner's jury was reached follow
ed the discovery near where Judson's body
was found. OF peculiar tracks. made
by a two-wheeled vehicle. and the order
OF the coroner TO the authorities to follow
up the tracks and arrest the man who ha6
last driven the team The horse and cart
were found at blacksmith shop in Jack
son. and the proprietor identified the
property as that OF DR.. McKowen.
Judson never showed violent symptoms
of insanity until his commitment 10 the
asylum. four years ago. and was often
allowed to leave the institution under the
direction OF a guard. On one OF these
occasions. some time ago, Judson is said
10 have first met DR.. McKowen- DR.. Nc
Kowen was not one OF the asylum physi-
clans
WAS MILD PATIENT.
Judson called on DR.. McKOwen a num-
Der OF times afterwards. it is declared.
and the physician always gave him
cordial reception
II was testified that Judson was last seen
late Sunday in company with DR.. Nc
Kowen. to visit whom he had been given
permission by the superintendent Of the
asylum
Judson's entrance into the asylum fol-
d lowed his writing letters to a number OF
prominent residents OF New Orleans warn
ing them that their lives were gravely
threatened. II was not long after he went
70 the asylum that residents Of Jackson
began to receive threatening and objec-
fionabIe letters For many months the
Jackson postofice was flooded with these
ANONYMOUS communications.
The elimination Of this mystery letter
writing came last year with the indict-
ment OF Dr. McKowen by the federal
grand jury at Baton Rouge. II was charg-
ed that he had written or caused to be
written and deposited in the postoffice the
letters In question
II was charged that the animus Of the
ofrense charged against DIR. McKowen
was opposition Of certain citizens in bust
ness and pOliieal matters. His trial on
this charge Is set for hearing in November
Of this year.