El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-19
WILLIAM {, M'GOWN ENDS OWN LIFE;
DIES SIX HOURS AFTER FIRING SHOT
No Reason Known Why the
Prominent Lawyer and
Legislator Should Seek
Death.

William c. McGown. aged 42 years,
nromipent Ell Paso attorney, ended his
life Tuesday night at GAS o'clock, in his
home at 1925 La Luz street, when he
placed a SO caliber revolver to his head
and fired a bullet into his brain. The
ball entered Just behind the right ear.
He died at Hotel Dieu, where he was
taken. at 1885 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing. suffering much during the inter
vening hours.
The attorney and his wife had been
sitting on the screened sleeping porch
in the rear of their residence when Mr..
McGown arose and walked into the
dining room, where he fired the shot
which destroyed his life. His wife was
about to follow him into the room and
had reached the door when the shot was
fired.
Following the SHOOTING. T. A. Falvey,
district attorney Joe Nealon, mayor G..
Z. Kelly, VIII II. Burgess and judge J..
R. Harper rushed to the scene in an
automobile. They assisted in transport
ing the wounded attorney to Hotel DieU,
where he was placed on the operating
table. In spite of the wound, Mr.. Nc
Gown lived several hours.
No reason is assigned for Mr. Nc
Gowns act. Several persons who saw
him Tuesday stated that he seemed to
be in excellent spirits. McGown was
around the court house Tuesday attend
! ing to some legal business. and his APP
pearance gave no hint of the impending
| tragedy. He left for his home about
o'clock. and shortly after arriving there
shot himself.
Was a Member of Legislature.
At the time of his death he was a
| representative in the Texas legislature.
having been elected to that office in
| 1908. Ever since coming to FL PasO,
! % or % years ago. from Austin, Tex,
Mr.. McGOwn has been prominently iden-
, titled with public life. In 1894 he was
elected district attorney and held that
office for two terms. He was county
attorney under county judge J. R. Har-
/ per. He was member of the local bar
! association At one time he was in part
nership with P. r. Price. the present
candidate for county attorney on the
ring ticket. This partnership was dis
solved when Mr.. McGown was elected
to the legislature. Mr.. McGown was a
classmate of W. H. Burgess at the uni
| versity of Texas.
About is years ago Mr.. McGown was
married to Miss Effie Williams, at that
; time teacher in FL Paso. Several years
/! ago a divorce was granted and Mrs. Nc
Gown IS at present living in Los Angeles
with her parents.
Wife Only One In House.
Two months ago Mr.. McGown was
married TO Miss Bessie Cleveland, of
Fulton, No. They had lived together
in their present home only a short while
Mrs. McGown was the only one in the
house at the time her husband shot him
self.
Floyd McIown, a leading attorney of
San Antonio, Tex. and the only surviving
brother. was Immediately notified. and is
expected to arrive in Fl Paso this even
ing or Thursday morning. In addition
to his brother and wife, Mr.. McGown
Is survived by a mother, who resides in
San Antonio.
Mrs. McGOwn has a brother who is
doctor and who lives in Hot Springs
Ark.
Coming to his office Tuesday morning
Mr.. McGOwn was on the same car as
Herald mana Government Hill car
and seemed IN excellent spirits. He stood
on the rear platform of the car and
smoked a cigaret and discussed the Won
derful growth of the northeastern part
of the city, making comments on the
great difference in the section now lover
which the car was passingl and when
he first came here, and it was Gov
cred with brush. He had a small basket
with him, which was sitting on a rear
seat. and he removed it and suggested
that The Herald man sit down, declaring
that he preferred to stand.
When judge Leigh Clark boarded the
same car on the Boulevard, Mr.. McGOwn
was banAring him about entering poll
tics; the man who that night was to
end his own life. appeared in very
happy mood at that time. Mr.. McGOwn
had been suffering from neuralgia of
late. and last week the day following
the heavy rain, when he happened also
! to come to the city on the same car with
| a Herald man. Mr.. McGown had a badly
! swollen left jaw and complained that it
| had rained on him on the sleeping porch
the night before and that his "old neu-
! ralgia is bothering a0ain'