Death of Ada Bowles
February 03, 1899
Clinton Public
A False Charge Circulated.
Clinton Merchants Rest Under
No Charge of Even Suspicion.
THE PUBLIC refrained from referring to the cause of the death of the late Miss Ada BOWLES, thinking its contemporaries would pursue the same considerate course, and action would be taken to bring the guilty parties to justice. This policy has not been pursued, and unjust imputations are being circulated, tending to cast suspicion upon innocent parties. A Springfield paper says:
“According to the story told by Miss Bowles before her death came, after leading a life of purity for nearly 30 years, she confided in a man who led her to dishonor and death. To hide her shame, she left her home in Clinton and went to Chicago. After remaining in that city several weeks, the young woman came to Springfield about three weeks ago and went to St. John’s hospital. Her funds were limited, and she found she would be unable to remain in that institution until her child was born, so she looked for lodging elsewhere. Mrs. Pletz lives across the street from the hospital, and it was there she found the refuge she sought.
“A week ago the child was born; a bright baby boy. But the wasted strength of the suffering mother was insufficient to withstand the shock, and it was soon evident that her only relief lay in death. A minister was sent for, and to him the woman imparted her story. In the meantime her parents had been notified and the sorrowing mother hastened to the side of her suffering daughter. As the days passed, the remaining strength of the sufferer ebbed gradually away, and the other members of her family, her father and little sister, were summoned. Monday night the patient grew rapidly worse and early in the night the tortured spirit left the tired body.
“Before she died, Miss Bowles confided to her grief-stricken parents the name of the man who accomplished her ruin. The name she gave was that of a prominent citizen of Clinton, who is married and is a legitimate father. A police magistrate was called to the house and the girl’s deposition attested to, so it is likely proceedings will be instituted against the man. Mr. Bowles is a veteran of the civil war, and he is determined that his daughter’s seducer shall be brought to justice.”
In commenting on the case, the Kenney Herald says:
“For the past few days the sad affair has been the principal topic of conversation here, many believing a certain wealthy bachelor here the guilty person, just because he used to keep company with the young lady. Her dying statement certainly is sufficient proof that the Kenney man is being wrongly accused. Never convict a person until it is clearly proven that the guilty one is being convicted.”
This guilty suspicion resting upon the merchants of Clinton having children is an outrage, and THE PUBLIC intends that the suspicion should be placed where it belongs. A reporter of THE PUBLIC called on Mr. and Mrs. Bowles, and from them learned the facts. Miss Bowles made a dying statement, and in it accused no Clinton merchant of the charges stated. She said before Dr. Bocock, Mrs. Susan Crosby, Rev. Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Amelia Pletz, and her mother, in the home of Mrs. Pletz, a Christian lady, that she was given wine by a Kenney man, and her ruin accomplished. Mrs. Bowles said that “no home is broken but ours,” and these newspaper articles are casting suspicion upon innocent parties. Clinton business men have never been charged or suspicioned by the family as guilty of the charge. Miss Bowles’ statement is all that has been given out, and where the newspapers got their information is not known by the family.
THE PUBLIC stated before that Miss Bowles was beyond suspicion, her life of nearly 30 years belying any slander that might have been attached to her name before this occurrence, and to associate others in the crime is not only adding insult to her already over-burdened family, but directing suspicion upon honorable gentlemen of Clinton.