New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-02
Ve1lder Hunted
For Drug Sale
To Sara Cowen
Police Seek Source of Sup
ply of Narcotic Causing
Wonan's Death as Basis
of Criminal Prosecution
Victim Tried to Reform
Friends Tell of Struggle to
Break Habit After She
issipated S2,5OO.OOO


Wealthy and influential relatives of
Sara Campbell Cowen, former Mary
land society belle and daughter of the
late John K. Cowen, president of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad COMPANY.
CLAIMED her body at the morgue yes
terday. 1t will be placed in the family
vault in Baltimore
MISS Cowen was found dead of
heroin poisoning in a suite in the Ho-
tel Maryland, 104 West Fortieth Street.
early Sunday morning, under circum-
stances which have caused the Police
homicide Bureau to conduct an inves-
'lgation 1t developed that she had
spent a fortune of $2,500,oOO in ten
years. All indications are that she
oled OF an overdose of drug of which
she mad been an intermittent habitual
user and Chief Medical Examiner Ben
AMIN Schwartz so decided The police.
however, are anxious to learn who
supplied her with this drug, and if
they obtain this information thew will
make it the basis for an arrest and
prosecution
Body Is Identified
The Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad
mas taken official notice of the case
ana mas sent representative to see
what aid the road can extend.
D. l.. Woods, representing the family
of Miss Cowen, called at the moreue
late yesterday and identified the bodv
tie said he was her nephew, and
claimed the body as her nearest rela-
tive in New York City. Mr.. Woods
said that the family was aware of Miss
Governs plight and had done every
thing possible for her. He SAID her
struggle against drug addiction had
been heroic, and that she had received
all che assistance possible
The Bertillon records of the Police
Department here show MISS Cowen
registered as an addict first in 1918.
when she was arrested for POSSESSING
cocaine. In Special Sessions Court
under the name of Sarah Campbell. she
was parol!ed in care of a physician
atter beng finger printed. She did
not again appear on the police records
until January %, 1919, when her real
name privately was registered. She
was voluntarily committed then to the
Welfare Hospital on Blackwoll's Island,
where she took treatment. This treat
ment was so successful that with the
help OF q physician she obtained work
and lived usefully for several months.
NO charge except addiction ever rested
against her.
The wife of the physician who be-
came interested in Miss Cowen OBJ
tanned her first employment, not be-
cause she needed money. but because
she needed something to occupv her
mind. This position was as office girl
With DR.. Z. w. Walton, of Galen Hall,
Brooklyn.
"She must have tried very hard to
overcome the drug habit" said DR..
Walton. "She entered my employ in
November, 1919, and remained until
the following March. I never knew
she used drugs. Only once was any
lhlng wrong. L returned one morning
ana found the office and safe I'M
locked.
Place Obtained in Hospital
she was fascinating young wom-
an with much charm. / succeeded in
getting her the position in Post-G Grad
uate Hospital as a student nurse, as
believed there was no future for
her in my employ. She had been
educated in private schools, spoke
French fiuently in her soft Southern
voice, and played and sang beauti-
fully"
During Miss Governs social promi-
hence two mems names were associated
with hers. One was Charles Monson
]r., capitalists son, who became her
husband and from whom she became
divorced in Seattle, and the other was
Robert Menges- Corwin- Hill Tearle, who
was member of party with which
MISS Cowen travelled abroad.
Professor Charles E. Gaines, of St.
Lawrence University, whose wife is in
sore grief over the fate of her niece,
late yesterday Joined in the family ar
engagements for the funeral. With his
friend, Nelson L. Robinson, of Brook
Ign, an attorney with Offices at Sc Wall
Street, he communicated with the med
ical examiner and other authorities and
asked that the body be given the best
of care and that no expense be spared
Final Chapters of Life
Police interest in the case yesterday
conferred in an investigation of the
former society bellies adventures dur
ing the last days of her life, when she
was known to have been seen around
New York under the influence of drugs
and in the company of one man and
two women.
A man, who the police say is a
chauffeur, is charged by the police to
have registered with her at the Mary
land Hotel last Thursday under the
name IS. Cowan and wife" He was
in the same two room and bath suite
occupied by Miss Cowen shortly be-
fore she was found dead, police say,
and gave the first alarm. Yesterday
he reported to the District Attorneys
office. He was told the District Attor-
ney's Office had not yet taken mp the
case as it was in the hands OF The
police.