Iowa
Old Press
Larchwood Leader
Larchwood, Lyon co. Iowa
March 5, 1903
FRANK BOWEN SHOT
Frank Bowen was instantly killed Friday morning by a shot from a
revolver in the hands of H.E. Stegald, an Illinois Central depot
agent at Benclare.
Friday morning the community was horrified to learn of a dreadful
murder in our neighboring town of Benclare, SD. The news was
brought by D.W. Anglum's son who came for a doctor. Dr. Holtsclaw
immediately got ready and departed for the scene of the murder.
Frank Bowen's young son, aged about 12 years, was also shot in
the left shoulder, and the assistance of a doctor was required.
Dr. Holtsclaw of this place, and Dr. Brown of SIoux Falls probed
for the bullet Friday night but after tracing it for a distance
lost track of it. The boy is not in serious condition.
The testimony of the boy is to the effect that his father had not
been quarreling or that any angry words had passed between the
two persons immediately concerning the time of the shooting. He
states that his father was in the act of signing for an express
package, for which the agent had called him back when he started
to leave, when Stegald pointed his revolver within a few inches
of Bowen's face and shot him, the powder burning his face. It is
further stated that after the shooting him in the forehead he
went around to the waiting room and shot twice more, one of the
bullets striking Bowen and one the son. The second bullet hitting
his victim was not of a serious nature. It is said that the
murder was the result of continued altercation between the two,
Mr. Bowen having the reputation of a hard man to get along with.
Bowen had threatened to kill the agent the night before,
according to the agent's statement, and he was afraid to go up
town after his mail or show himself outside the depot. H. Stegald
is a man of nervous disposition, and the threat worried him, and
he alleges that he was unable to get any sleep that night. He is
man of slight build, and felt unable to cope with Bowen in a
physical contest. He is a Kentuckian and has been station agent
for about five months. It is expected that his defense will be
that he was afraid of Bowen and believed his life to be in
danger. His manner of killing his victim will not be in his favor
in a defense of that kind.
The Sheriff and coroner were summonded from Sioux Falls. The
coroner took charge of the remains, and attetmpted to put the
body on a special car which had been run down from the Falls, but
was prevented by Mrs. Bowen. The body lay in the depot until 3:00
in the afternoon which it was taken into the house. Stegald was
taken to Sioux Falls by the sheriff. He has not made any
authoritative statement as yet.
The coroner's jury summoned by Coroner Hawking of Sioux Falls,
after a thorough investigation found that Bowen came to his death
at the hands of Stegald by a shot fired from a revolver and so
rendered the verdict.
The express book, which Bowen was in the act of signing will be
brought in as evidence. The book shows that Bowen had started to
sign his name and had gotten as far as the 'a' in Frank. when he
was shot. As he fell the pen seemed to drag across the page a
thin and irregular line is easily discernible, and it is evident
the man lost all control of himself immediately after he was
shot. The agent immediately sent a telegram to Cherokee and told
them what he had done. Then he went upstairs and sat with his
wife and two children and waited for the officers. He wrote a
letter but the contents have not been made public. Citizens
surrounded the building to prevent escape of the man, but such a
precaution proved unnecessary in this case. He seemed to have no
desire to escape. The autopsy held in Benclare Saturday morning
revealed the fact that the fatal bullet was in the back of the
head lodged against the back of the skull. After entering the
forehead it took a downward course and then followed the line of
the skull to the left side, across to the right and finally
lodged in the back of the head. The second shot fired was only a
flesh wound in the shoulder and back. Attorney, D.O. Bailey of
the Illinois Central says the road will have nothing to do with
the defense of the man. It is rumored that a damage suit may be
brought by Mrs. Bowen. Several Sioux Falls attorneys have
interviewed Mrs. Bowen, but the result of the conference is
unknown.
(note: Mrs. Bowen did file suit but about one year later the suit
did not come out in her favor.)
[transcribed by D.J., July 2007]
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Little Rock Free Lance
March 25, 1903
Little Rock, Lyon co., Iowa
March of 1903 proved to be a very busy month in Little Rock. A
new bank was organized by G.H. and O. A. Morse. It opened March
18, under the name "Security Savings Bank." It was
located in the Jones building opposite the post office. It had a
burglar and fire-proof safe priced at $1,500.00. The directors of
the new bank were W.T. Jones, Alfred Morton, and H. Nell of
Sibley.
There was a movement started in March for a rural route to be
established from the local post office
A New bell for the German Reformed Church was placed in the
belfry on March 27.
While many good things were happening in this month, the Little
Rock River was on the rampage. The lowlands were flooded, roads
almost impassable and bridges were washed out. Water was running
over the grade west of tosn. This, however, was only a taste of
what was yet to come in this particular year.
[transcribed August, 2003, contributor unknown]