The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-06
AT WARD.
Mrs. Bowers Testifies as to How
Husband Was Shot.
Says, eve Did Not Know the
Identity Of PrOwler.''
ANNOYED BY WOMEN.
Witness Gives Testimony at a
Preliminary Hearing.
Fact Is Brought Out That She
Knew BritOn for Years.
ANNOYED BY WOMEN.


Los Angeles, Feb. 6.-Mrs. Ellen
Rose Bowers. the widow of the Long
Beach photographer, formerly of To-
peka, who on January II was shot and
killed on the front porch of his home
by George Richard Ward, whose de-
Tense is that he thought Bowers was
a burglar, took the witness stand in
the preliminary hearing, wherein
Ward is charged with murder.
Mrs. Bowers appearance as q wit
ness for the state came as a dramatic
surprise to the officers of the district
attorneys office who had made flu
tile search for her during the last
week
1t was only after Deputy District
Attorney Veitch had made several de-
mands upon the defendants attorneys
that Mrs. Bowers was brought to the
court room. In her entire examina-
ton she was deliberate and positive in
her answers. It was her positiveness
as to what transpired after her hus-
bands death-her detailed description
as to what she did and what Ward did
witness. In the time that Mrs. Bow
ers was testifying her apparent atti-
tude toward Ward was friendly.
Annoyed by Women.
Mrs Bowers was perceptibly an
noyed by the gaze of a number of
women who had gathered on the out
side of the court room. and, when
called to the stand, asked the court
officers to pull down the window
shade. She then slipped from a glass
of water and turned, facing Mr..
Veitch. She held her gloved hand
over her mouth in the time that she
was being questioned, and only when
she seemed annoyed at the interroga-
ton did she reveal her entire facial
features.
In few preliminary questions Mr..
Veitch developed the fact that Mrs.
Bowers has known Ward since he was
five years old, having met him in Eng
land long before her marriage to
Bowers.
Invited by Husband.
Her marriage to the photographer
was fourteen years ago Soon after
their wedding Mrs. Bowers stated that
she and her husband went to South
Africa. After tracing their movements
in various eastern cities, Veitch led the
witness up to the arrival of her family
in Long Beach two years ago.
He then learned from Mrs. Bowers
that Ward had been invited to their
home by her husband, and that Ward
remained there for about two months.
In that time the trader was a guest at
pay for his board or lodging. After
telling of her husband leaving his
home Monday, January 6, Mrs. Ward
said that upon that evening she was
the pianist at her lodge initiation ser
vices.
She corroborated the statements
made by the prisoner that she tele-
phoned to characterization the en-
tertainment was over, and that they
walked down the strand together.
reaching home about IL o'clock. She
said:
when we reached the top steps of
the walk leading up from the strand
we saw a man come out of our front
yard and start to walk toward Ocean
avenue.
Chased Mysterious Intruder.
Mr. Ward said, 'Ho, Toni think
ing that the man was Tom Bowers,
and when no response was given I
asked Mr.. Ward to follow the man.
He chased him and l went into the
house at once.
Ward returned a little later and I
was still nervous. I asked him to go
out and look under the bushes again,
and he did so. I felt uneasy, and told
my husbands brother that I had bet
ter have Mr.. Ward sleep in the house.
1t was some time later-I had been
asleep for some time-that I was
awakened by a shot I jumped out
of bed, ran into the front room, and
Mr.. Ward was just turning on the
light. He said, I've shot a man.
Then we rushed out on the porch,
and on the porch was my husbands
body. At that time we did not imagine
that the dead man was Mr.. Bowers,
but when we looked at the face Mr..
Ward said, Tt is Jack"
In using that expression Mrs. Bow
ers smiled, and Veitch noted the state
ment as to the position of her hus-
bands body. It had previously been
testified to that the body was on the
porch step, and according to Mrs.
Bowers the body was entirely on the
floor of the porch. The witness chung
to her original statement, and then
said:
when I realized that it was my
husband, 7 said to Ward, Go tell Tom,
quick and he rushed into his bedroom
and 1 remained in the front room.
They came out again soon and we car
ried the body into the front room.'
At this period in the examination
Mr.. Veitch asked: you did not go in
to Tom Bowers room?''
mo, did not. I went in earlier in
the evening, but not at the time of the
shooting or after the shooting
It had been previously stated by
Tom Bowers that both Mrs. Bowers
and Ward aroused him, and Veitch
again questioned her concerning her
visit. She chung to her original testi-
mony.
No Such Luck.-Wilson-Do you keep a
second girl? BilSon-NO; we can't keen