The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-23
Staying of Former Topekan Is
Battling to Police.
Authorities Vainly Seek Tan
gible Evidence Against Man.
STORIES NOT ALIKE.
Wife of Murdered Photographer
Believes in Friend.
Maintains His Explanation Has
Been Satisfactory.

Los angeles, CAL, Jan. Z3.-Baf-
hing the wits of the most astute the
Long Beach tragedy-the shooting of
John Bowers, formerly of Topeka, last
tuesday morning by Richard Ward, a
young English trader has continued
to grip the attention and interest of
the police and the residents of the
beach town. Almost every police Of
hcer in the department there has a
different version of the mystery, and
only few have accepted all the state
ments made by Ward concerning the
fatal shooting.
Ward. now in the county jail charg-
ed with manSlaughter, contends the
shooting was Intentional, but asserts
that he mistook Bowers for q burglar.
He admits, however. that Bowers APP
parently was jealous of him. Mrs.
Bowers has taken the position that
Ward is being unjustly detained and
that his explanation is satisfactory to
her.
Thomas Bowers, retired contractor
OF Topeka, Kan, a brother of the VIC
tim. says he believes the shooting was
not justified. Acting upon that belief
and is now assisting the Long Beach
police in their effort to unearth every
fact concerning the tragedy.
Refuses Immediate Hearing.
When Ward appeared before Justice
Underwood to answer to a charge of
manSIaughter, the prisoners attorneys
insisted an immediate hearing be held
but the district attorneys representa-
tfves asked a postponement be made
until January 80. The justice placed
Wards bond at $1,500. and he, being
unable to furnish that amount, was
taken back to the county Jail.
Chief of Police Meyer stated last
night that the most important evil
dence against Ward had been furnish
ed by Japanese named Asai who had
been employed by Bowers.
Asai declared that the tragedy had
not surprised him. and that he had ex-
pected trouble for some time.
Monday, Asai stated, he came to Los
Angeles with Bowers and that the
photographer had ordered him to
Santa Paula. Bowers at that time stat
ed to Asai that he expected to be away
from home for several days.
Hat on Porch Was Jap's.
The japanese said that the hat found
near the south porch after the shoot
ing was his. and that it had been in
his trunk when he left with Bowers.
Almost the entire suspicion against
Ward has been built upon the fact that
the shooting occurred in bright moon
light, and police officers, who visited
the home on Ocean avenue shortly af-
ter the affair, say thatfin the light they
could easily recognize their friends.
Ward claims Bowers was masked at the
opinion of the police that Bowers wore
a muff1er and that it covered only a
| small part of his face.
| In one of her statements to the po-
i'lice, Mrs. Bowers has said she did not
| hear the shot, and in the other that she
| was awakened by shot. In both ac-
| counts she said that Ward told her that
| he had killed her husband, and that she
| Immediately asked him why: and that
| Ward replied that he thought Bowers
/ was burglar.
| In giving thought to the version OF
/ the tragedy as advanced by Ward, the
/ police are inclined to believe that the
! shooting did not occur on the south
porch, as claimed by the Englishman
! Ward says that he heard a man walk
by the house on the west side, heard
| him enter the gate. and walk up the
| steps. Then. as Ward claimed yester-
/ day. he unlocked the inner sitting room
/ door, looked through the screen door
| which opened outward, saw a shadowy
/ form; and that then he unattached the
! screen door. inquired who the person
was and, upon not receiving an answer
/ opened the door and fired.
| Chief Says Actions Unnatural.
/ Chief of Police Meyer says that in his
experience an ordinary man, ldboring
/ under the BELIEF that he was confronted
| by a burglar, would not open Screer
/ door when he could shoot through the
screen. The fear that he would be sho1
/ would ordinarily keep a man from ex-
posing himself.
i Additional mystery was lent the case
| by the discovery of the hat Bowers
i wore when he told his wife. Monday
/ that he planned to go to Oceanside fol
/ three days. One hat, alleged to have
/ been worn by Bowers at the time o
i the shooting, was found few feet soutf
/ of the south porch. Mrs. Bowers told
Deputy District Attorney Blair that sh,
kicked it from the veranda. The ha
| which Bowers wore away, however, wal
found in a hedge at the rear of TIL
house. This hat found on the porcl
had been taken from Asais trunk in tn
4 photograph room near the house.
Lack of stains in any quantity upol
the front porch has given the police ad
4 ditional suspicion that the shooting dit
not occur exactly as related by Ward
Only one mark was found on tn
DOrPh -