George F. McGowan |
| Posted 2018-04-30 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Weekly Arizona Journal Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory Wednesday, November 23, 1904, page 4, column 1 Death Caused From Morphine Could Not Sleep and Probably Took An Overdose of the Poison Accidently George F. McGowan ended up a protracted spree on Friday afternoon by taking an overdose of morphine. Whether it was taken with suicidal intent or whether by accident will never be known, although the circumstances point to the latter. The coroner's jury was summoned by Acting Coroner, Charles H. McLane, Justice Talbot being absent, found that the deadly stuff had been self administered but did not undertake what the intent was. McGowan was a miner and had lived in this country for three or four years, with the exception of brief periods of absence, one of them being about a year ago when he went to Tonopah and Goldfields. That he contemplated a visit to Canada which he never took was evidenced by the fact that letters of introduction were found on him from parties in Goldfield addressed to parties in Canada. The letters were dated in December 1903. McGowan had been working at Jerome coming from there only a few days ago and taking a room in the Scopel house in which his dead body was found this afternoon. When found the door was locked and the key was inside and entrance was effected through a window. The discovery was made by Arthur Gladden who seems to have been on somewhat intimate terms with the deceased, both being of convivial habits. Gladdes said that McGowan complained of being nervous and unable to sleep and went and purchased a bottle of morphine. Gladdes took this away from him, and shortly afterwards an interruption to their close associaionship as Gladdes fell into the clutches of the law and spent a few days in the city bastile. During this period of his duress McGowan seems to have purchased another bottle of morphine and took good care that Gladdes did not see it until after he was through with it. When Gladdes found his partner's dead body this bottle out a quarter full of the deadly narcotic was found on the bed on which the body was lying and it appeared among the exhibits at the inquest. Another article included in the exhibit was a pair of heavy iron knuckles. A purse containing a nickel was also found in his pocket. Among a lot of papers found in his pockets was a withdrawal card from Granite Mountain Miners union. It was dated 1898 and shortly after that McGowan appeared at Jerome. He was known to some of the city officials for several years. He was about 53 years of age. |
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