The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-01-01
GIVES POLICE DEMONSTRATION
Offers to Swallow His Whole Equip
ment in Order to Secure His Liberty
and Is Taken at His Word-Gets Out
of Town With Blessing of the Chief.

Lawrence Bowden of LaSalle, ILL.,, is
a member of the theatrical profession
and as such he is regarded as com
plete success. His special line of work
is sword swallowing and it served him
well on Sunday morning when his abili-
ty to swallow swords won for him his
liberty from the city lookup.
BoWden, well dressed and seemingly
man of education and refinement,
dropped into Kenosha late Saturday
evening and few hours later one of
the police officers found him in down
town saloon making propositions to eat
up pretty nearly everything in a me-
talic line that could be found about the
place. Of course he thought that the
display Of such gastronomic abilities
should be worth at least passing the hat
about among the men in the saloon and
it was just about this time that the
police officer came in. He knew that
there was an ordinance which prevent
ed free shows being given without Ii
cense and he decided that the only
thing to do would be to pick up Bowden
and take him to jail. Bowden had
money in his clothes and when he reach
ed the lookup demonstrated with the
officer, declaring that the swallowing Of
sword was not crime in any other
state in the union. He declared in
words profoundly deep that the officer
was interfering with right granted
to him under the constitution and that
to the best of his knowledge and belief
he had right to eat as many swords
and bayonets as he saw fit. However,
Bowden was little tired and he finally
decided that he would rest for the night
and he was soon sleeping soundly in the
lookup bunk.
Chief O'Hare reached the Office early
Sunday morning and when he found
Bowden booked for sword swallow
ing he took look at the statute.
8 Bring him up here, the chief shout
ed to Desk Sergeant Zievers, and in
less time that it took to tell it the
trembling sword swallower was facing
third degree examination. tFWell,
get busy and let's see you swallow
some swords the chief yelled at him
and without sign of hesitation Bow
den gulped down an old fashioned
broad sword and followed it with an
army bayonet. The police were mysti-
EoJ he boJ
only begun He continued to crowd
away in his esophagus any number Of
things metallic and finally he made the
proposition to the chief that he would
swallow eight swords at once if his
liberty was guaranteed to him. "Get
right to swallowing, was the only re-
ply of the chief and Bowden picked up
eight swords-count 'enl--and laying
them blade for blade he put them away
somewhere in his gullet. II guess
there is no doubt but that you are
real sword swallower,' declared the
chief and he got up and gave Bowden
the hearty hand clasp of brother and
sent him on his way rejoicing.
Bowden is declared to be the head
man of his profession and he has ex-
hibited in nearly all of the larger
theatres of the country. He was a lit
tie out of luck when he struck Kenosha
and his lack of luck and his plentitude
of some other things was the cause of
his landing in jail and being forced to
go to the limit Of his professional
ability in order to get properly on his
pins again.