Wednesday, 7th May 1913 Bowen Given Liberty, Makes Full Statement

Atlanta Journal

Wednesday, May 7th, 1913

P. P. Bowen, who was arrested here yesterday on suspicion in connection with an Atlanta case and who was released last night, made this statement today:

"My father is S. C. Bowen. He lives at Newnan, Georgia I told the detectives that they had made a mistake at the time they arrested me, and knew that they would soon find this to be so, if they investigated my references and letters. Of course, I was scared when they entered my room. I did meet them at the door with an open knife, and before I knew who they were I did say that if I had a gun they would not have come into my room. I meant it, too."

Bowen gives his record since 1908 as follows:

"Left home in 1908 to work for a transfer and storage company in Atlanta; in 1910 worked for the Southern railroad; in 1912 went to the Rock Island railroad at Eldorado, Ark., as a master car builder's clerk; in 1913 went to Tyler, Tex., as  private stenographer to H. D. Earl, division superintendent of the Cotton Belt railroad. Left the employ of Mr. Earl April 28, last, and came to Houston Sunday night.

"I obtained a position with the Southern Pacific railroad as a master car builder's clerk soon after I arrived in Houston and was to have started to work Tuesday morning. I guess that job is a chance gone by now."

The statement of Bowen was substantiated by the chief of police, and Bowen's final words as he left the police station were:

"I wish that you would print my statement. I am not a scoundrel; I really have been done an injustice by this thing. I don't blame the men so much—that is their business to arrest suspects—but I don't think they have treated me exactly right."

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