Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-18
MURDER CHARGE BROUGHT
AGAINST JOSEPH BOWMAN
Unknown Man Found Dead in Street
Will, Knife Wound In
Lung.
JOHNSON HELD AS WITNESS
Accused Man Denies Charge-Says
He Was at Home All Afternoon,
and Calmly Goes to Sleep in Police
Station Cell.

4 = s. - /
(, "A murder charge was last night pre-
ferred against \. Joseph Bowman.
si9i-a Beverly street at the Second
Precinct Station by Policemen A. NJ.
Smith. Lciss and Napier, who arrested
the man at his home following the
discovery of an unknown mans dead
body In the street before 6s7 South
First Street yesterday afternoon. c.
y. Johnson was also locked up In the
Second Station by these officers. He
was charged with being vagrant
hut Is really being held as witness
III the case. johnson Is alleged to have
been present at quarrel which Is
said to have taken place between the
dead man and Bowman, and to have
seen the blow struck which is alleged
TO have caused the death
The dead body OF the man was dis
covered lying in the street before the
house at 62T South First Street By Miss
Blanche Butler, according to thr no
lice she Informed Il. c., Butlcr 100
south First street, that u drunken
man had fallen in the street. and
However. upon investigation Butler
found that the man was dead, and
recognized the body as that OF Il man
he had seen short while before at
the foot OF Pine Street. With hin, he
had secn another man, Il description
OF whom he furnished the police when
they arrived. '..
DEATH CAUSED By STAB
THROUGH LEFT BREAST
bicycle Policemen Brennan and l,eiss
were sent To the scene, and made the
report to their station. Coroner TAYLOR
was notified. and after viewing the
body. ordered il turned over to Under
take Hliley. The coroner said death
had been CAUSED by stab through
the left breast. the 'pocket-knife blade
penetrating the lung. NJ Rlilcy.s
undertaking establishment early this
morning IL was learned, that the body
remained unidentified. although n num-
her OF persons had called In an effort
TO determine who the dead man was
l'atrolnnan A. Al smith who was off
dHy, learned Of the killing and imme-
diately went To the scene OF the crime.
Hc succeeded In talking with Butler.
and from him secured a second descrip-
ton OF the man who had been with
the dead man about n half hour before
the body WAS discovered. Smith start
cd out 10 hunt for the person, and In
a few bours had arrested johnson as
suspicious character.
Johnson is said to have admitted
being with the dead man, and to have
informed Smith OF the quarrel between
him and Bowman. He said that the
quarrel and fight took place near the
Chesapeake aud Ohio Railway tracks.
III tne Nlcln1ty OF t>1nG street, and that
Bowman must have stabbed tho man
when lie hit him. According TO the
story which he told the police. the man
staggered away. apparently but slight
Is hurt, Johnson said that he did not
know he had heen cut at that time
DID NOT CONSIDER
MAN SERIOUSLY. HURT
Bowman and he then separated. and
neither, paid any further. attention to
the man whom Johnson said WAS a
stranger. and whom he did not know.
Tho man half ran and half staggered
along the street forzsevcral squares,
persons in tho ncighborliood said and
then fell to the sidewalk. They
though, him drunk. and paid but slight
attention to him until tho arrival of
Butler when Il, was learned that he
was dead. 4ts Fs
From Johnson. Patrolnan smith
learned the name of the: man who lis
alleged to have knitted the dead man.
and at. once proceeded to his hone.
where he Was arrested. He denied
all knowledge of the dead man. re-
fused to talk OF any quarrel, and de-,
clared that he had been at home with
his mother all Of the afternoon. bow
man remained reticent after being
brought TO the station house. lie
showed no nervousness when the
charge of being q suspected murdcror
was entered against Him, .Ipu calmly!
Continued on Second Paye.) ~