Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-06
YOUNG WIDOW AND MARRIED BOARDER HELD
IN JAIL HERE CHARGED WITH THE MURDER
OFW, A. MURRAY, WHO DIED MYSTER|0USLY
Widow Alleged To Have Been Anxious To Get Rid OF Her Hls-
band-CoUpe Had Frequently 0uarreed Over W. A. II.
Bowman, Boarder-Strychnne In Dead Mans Stomach


and her boarder, w. A. T. Bowman,
AGED about so and married, were mr..
rested last evening and committed
to tho local Jail pending prelimtf-
airy hearing on the charge OF mur-
dering the late husband of tho
Young woman. The woman was ap.
pretended by the officers at her
home about $50 O'Clock Tuesday
evening, and. accompanied by her
two year old child. removed to Jail.
Shortly before that her alleged par.
amour Bowman, was arrested whila
at work as a weaver at the Berkeley
Wooden Mills and also taken to JAIL
The woman took her arrest In a
seemingly lightlhearted fashion, but
the man turned pale and manifested
much nervousness.
Last night the couple we're grilled
by Prosecuting Attorney H. Il. Han
mis- and Sheriff William Dean, being
brought down to tho court house,
for that purpose. Both stoutly MAIN
tanned their innocence and with a
few Inconsistencies, which may later
develop into important clues, both.
told an apparently straight story.
perhaps one that had been discussed
and prepared in advance for just
such an eyentuality.
Naturally they denied Illicit rela-
lions and the woman protested her
loyalty to her husband, although
Bowman had admitted that there
had been some friction between the
couple and that tho wife had re-
marked she wished she had never
married Murray. who Is said to have
been a widower with three or four
children when she did marry him.
Eventually the two admitted that
there had been quarrels because OF
the husband overwhelming remarlsS
made by neighbors regarding his
wife's alleged improper relations
with Bowman. When charged with
using strychine, Bowman denied adj
ministorlng such poison to the de-
ceased. acknowledging, however, he
had purchased stryehninc while ut
Sykesyille, Md, but for the purpose
! Of killing rats, and had not brought
any of the poison with him TO this
4 city. Bowman, also stated that he
had bought the house at $40 Sorth
High street with the understanding
that Murray was to pay half of the
purchase price. Cd
The family, accompanied by Bow
man. came TO Martnsburg about two
wecks before the death OF Murray.
It is understood that Bowman In.
duced the former to come here and
work in the Berkeley Wooden Mills,
living in his newly bought house
and permitting him to board with
them Three nights after they ar
rived Murray suddenly was taken Ill
and DR. NJ H. Porterheld, who was
summoned, diagnosed the attack AZ
something like acute indigestion
and administered remedies that nau.
seated the sick man, causing him To
vomit and warding off the SPELL org
in the light of later Developments.
Throwing off the poison. Tho man is
said to have been drinking coffee
when taken i'll and to have at once
sent for the doctor, getting immedi.
ate attention. 1t is said, but not cons
frmed, that Murray then accuged
his wife Of attempting to poison
him. and she is alleged to have hurt
riedly washed out the coffee cup as
soon as it was known the doctor was
on his way.
Scarcely two weeks after this oc.
curence, on the night Of Wednesday,
March 10. between 9 and 10 o'clooks
Murray was again stricken in a sim-
liar fashion and the doctor was
AGAIN summoned. When Dr. Porter
field arrived he round Murray once
more apparently suffering from
acute indigestion and again adminia-
tered the necessary remedies used
in such cases There was nothing
70 arouse his suspicion and he left
the house under the impression that
Murray would recover. However.
early next morning he was startled
10 receive a call from Funeral Direor
for H. VI. Cole relative to the issri-
ance % the required shipping permit
in order to send the body to the
dead mans former home. +
Funeral Director cole. who found
the dead man rigid as would be the
case in the event of strychne Or al
cohol poisoning. discussed the mat
ter with Or. Portcrheld. and after =
while, nothing else arising TO prejn.
dice them to the contrary, the con.
dtions being SO like acute indises.
ton, the shipping permit was issued,
although it should be said that this
did not definitely end the matter
with these gentlemen. who have
since then investigated and cooper.
ated with the authorities in trying
to unrayel the supposed crime.
Mrs Murray and Bowman urged
the shipment of the body to the dead
mans old home near Sykesville,
Md, the afternoon after the death,
and lett with the remains on No. 6.
over the Baltimore and Ohio. arriy.
ius there that evening. where it 10
understood the relatives OF the dead
man were startled by the arrival OF
The body mol having any intimation
OF the death, and no provisions had
been made for funeral service nor
a grave dug.
Theso Maryland relatives are also