The strange story of the life of crime of Benton S. Bowman is told here through stories from area newspapers.
Benton Seal Bowman, born in May 1849, was from a prominent family of Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. His early crimes up through his eventual confession to counterfeiting silver coins in 1904, his jailing, and what happened afterward present an interesting tale. While Benton was serving time for the counterfeiting offense, his wife was arrested and convicted of adultery with a “colored man.”
In 1918, Benton S. Bowman died from blood poisoning caused by a splinter in one of his hands.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 21 November 1877:
Court Proceedings
Tuesday Afternoon’s Session – The Grand Jury returned the following true bills…. Joseph Steele – larceny; Joseph Steele and Benton S. Bowman – larceny; Joseph Steele – larceny; Joseph Steele and Minerva Steele – larceny….
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 23 November 1877
Court Proceedings
Thursday Afternoon’s Session – The grand jury returned the following true bills….
Benton S. Bowman – larceny, etc….
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From the Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, 8 February 1878:
BONDS RECOVERED
William Barkenbine has recovered his bonds stolen from under his stove December 23. The value of bonds, money and silverware taken was $2,200. Benton S. Bowman of Millersburg, who is in Sunbury jail for robbing Wiest & Company’s store at Hickory Corners, gave the first information of where the bonds were- in possession of William VanDyke of Nothumberland. Two men named Brown and Reiley had been arrested at Danville for robbing a store at Sunbury. Brown was convicted and in jail, and Reiley was sent to the Danville Asylum as a lunatic. Just below Danville these parties had lost clothing and also a spoon with Barkenbine’s name on. The gave a clue to the robbers. A Sunbury man named Cassett was put in jail with Brown on the pretense of having stolen. He and Brown got intimate and mutually told each other what they had done. Some of the bonds were found under a rafter of the North Branch Bridge and other bonds were found under a rafter in William VanDyke’s house at Northumberland. As to Reiley’s lunacy, Brown said it was all a sham; yet he managed to deceive the court.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 9 February 1878:
Constable Culp, of Sunbury, was in town Wednesday, having in his possession a sworn statement made by Benton S. Bowman, now in Sunbury Prison, concerning the thefts recently committed in this community in which he was connected, implicating a party of colleagues who are still going at large.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 22 March 1878
A Dauphin Countian Sentenced
Benton S. Bowman, of Millersburg, this county, was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment in the Eastern Penitentiary, by Judge Rockafeller, of Sunbury. He was convicted for larceny at the January term of court, on oath of E. Weist & Company, in the robbery of whose store he participated in December. Peter Maguire, convicted of the same offense, the party who broke jail a few weeks ago, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.
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From the Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, 22 March 1878:
Benton S. Bowman, who helped rob Wiest’s store and afterwards when in jail at Sunbury, gave information that led to the recovery of Berkenbine’s stolen bonds at Northumberland, was sentenced to the penitentiary last week for 3 years and 6 months. Peter McGuire who made the remarkable escape from Sunbury jail two weeks ago and afterwards recaptured, was sentenced to the penitentiary, for four years, and two years additional for breaking out of jail. Peter got his name into the papers by going through a six inch opening, but it was dear fame he made for himself.
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From the Perry County Democrat, 27 March 1878:
BENTON S. BOWMAN, of Millersburg, descendant of a highly respectable family of the upper end of the county, and who has committed quite a number of lawless acts within the past few years, was recently sentenced by Judge Rockafellow, at Sunbury, to three years and six months for larceny. Bowman, it will be remembered, was tried at the January term of court of Northumberland County, for the robbing of the store of Messrs. E. Wiest & Company, at Hickory Corners, about three miles east of Georgetown, and a short distance from Uniontown, this county.
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From the Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, 12 April 1878:
Benton S. Bowman, who was tried at Sunbury and convicted of burglary, has made a long confession of all his doings. Among his fellow thieves were John Ferren, Dan Foy, Joe Smith, Jim Wenrich, Joe Steel, John Brown alias Charlie Mille, Gus Housickle, Christ Spade, William Thompson, William Courtney, Jake Estweiler, Leander Kirkland, David Shoop, Kirt Sproul, Peter McGuire, &c. Brown stole a skiff once at Selinsgrove and lifted a lot of nets and also stole something to eat out of a house on the river bank here. Their operations were confined to Dauphin, Perry and Northumberland counties, and principally along the river.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 3 August 1892:
ALDERMAN WALTER IS BUSY
He is Engaged in Settling the Numerous Cases On Hand
The office of Alderman Walter, on Spruce Street, is kept well filled these days with persons who want the law to adjust matters. Jacob VanMeter, a boarding house keeper at 41 Chestnut Street, had Benton S. Bowman arrested on a charge of felonious entry and robbery. He was committed to jail in default of $800 bail for court….
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 1 June 1893:
Benton S. Bowman, of this city, has pretty well recovered from a prolonged and serious illness.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 18 November 1893:
FORTUNE SMILED ON HIM
A Man Does Begging and Finds Himself Heir to Property Worth $800
Benton S. Bowman, living at No. 624 Cumberland Street, has been in destitute circumstances for some time. He says on Saturday he went out to beg some milk for his baby, when he met his two brothers. He learned from them that on account of the death of his father, which had occurred a few days before, property which had formerly belonged to his mother would be sold at once. The property in question is the Washington Hotel in Millersburg. It was sold to Cornelius Fralick for $3,500, and Bowman got $800 of the proceeds. He has ordered a stock of hardware and notions and will open a store next to his home. He says that he formerly sold goods for a wholesale house and was comfortably off, but he met with reverses, took sick and finally became very poor.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 11 April 1895:
Benton S. Bowman, a Millersburg boy, is engaged in business in Gastoria, Gaston County, North Carolina.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 20 February 1904:
MADE AND SPENT SPURIOUS COIN
Alleged Counterfeiters Arrested but Moulds and Coin Not Found
THE PLANT WAS ON MEADOW LANE
Man Who Moulded the Money Says Hotel Keeper Wilson Passed It
Detectives John Morgan and “Jack” Welsh yesterday afternoon rounded up an important case for the United States Government authorities when they arrested Benton S. Bowman, who resided at 243 Meadow Lane, on a charge of counterfeiting, and David Wilson, proprietor of the hotel corner of Third and Mulberry Streets, for possessing spurious coin. No money was found on Bowman, nor have the detectives been able to discover any moulds. Their only hope in convicting Bowman and Wilson is on a confession made by Bowman that he made the coin.
Deputy United States Marshalls Lapp and Laurish, who assisted in the arrests yesterday, will have some additional testimony. They have been the most active in this case, work on which began several months ago after a representative of the Telegraph had given the Government authorities a counterfeit half dollar which he received at a hotel in Steelton.
United States Detective Walsh, of Scranton, came here and after several days work found that bad money was being made in this vicinity and learned that the money came from this city. He was obliged to leave to look after another important matter and placed the case in the hands of the Police Department.
Detectives Morgan and Welsh did some clever work, but it is said, were handicapped because of the fact that a local officer who was informed of the case, is alleged to have tipped off a friend, who, in turn, sent word to Bowman and Wilson. The moulds and coin were all destroyed and since then counterfeit coins have been scarce. It was subsequently learned that new moulds were being made and business was to be resumed, but if they are in existence they cannot be found. The money made was a good imitation and could only be detected by close examination.
Bowman was employed in the Philadelphia and Reading yards. He is a moulder by trade and at various times made silver articles out of old silverware which he gave to his friends, and to Wilson. According to Bowman Wilson suggested that he would be able to make good money and agreed to take as much as he would make at one-third the value.
The coin was in dollars, half-dollars and quarters and it is said Bowman also visited hotels and barrooms, where large crowds congregated and managed to get rid of much of the had money in this way.
The clue that led to Bowman’s capture was through the passing of several bad coins on Grocer C. T. Mackenson, Race and Paxton Streets.
Bowman and Wilson were taken before United States Commissioner Wolfe and each were held in the sum of $1,000 bail or a further hearing. Bowman was unable to give bail and went to jail.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 22 Feb 1904:
Benton S. Bowman, arrested for counterfeiting, will be given a hearing before United States Commissioner Wolfe. David Wilson alleged to have circulated the bad coin will appear before the Commissioner on Wednesday. United States Detective Walsh was here yesterday and obtained another confession from Bowman. Several more specimens of the spurious coin were obtained on Saturday.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 24 February 1904
WILSON CASE POSTPONED
Until Arrival Here of U.S. Detective Walsh, of Scranton
The hearing of the case of David A. Wilson charged with being an accomplice of Benton S. Bowman, who was held for the United States District Court on a charge of counterfeiting silver dollars which was to have taken place before United States Commissioner Leroy J. Wolfe, this afternoon, has been postponed until United States Detective Walsh, of Scranton, can be present.
Wilson claims that in negotiating with Bowman for the purchase of the counterfeiting money he was acting under instructions from Detective Walsh, who was here investigation the Bowman counterfeiting game. Bowman being known as a clever man at the game, the Detective arranged with Wilson to draw Bowman into a trap so that he could be caught in the act of disposing of the counterfeit money. Wilson claims that the plan adopted by Detective Walsh was known by local detective, who, he claims, will testify in his behalf to that effect.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 2 March 1904:
BOWMAN CONFESSES
Admits in U.S. District Court That He Counterfeited Money
Benton S. Bowman confessed to having made counterfeit silver dollars, halves, quarters and nickels at the trial in the United States District Court at Scranton yesterday afternoon. The government was represented by United States District Attorney Samuel J. M. McCarrell. Among witnesses were Deputy United States Marshals Lapp and Laurish, Detectives John P. Morgan and John Welsh and Patrolman Gosney , of this city.
The hearing of David A. Wilson, charged with being an accomplice of Bowman, will be had before Commissioner Leroy J. Wolfe Friday afternoon at 4 o’clock.
Bowman’s sentence will be withheld temporarily.
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From the Lykens Standard, 4 March 1904:
Bent Bowman In the Tolls Again.
Benton S. Bowman, of Harrisburg, formerly of Millersburg, and David S. Wilson, proprietor of the hotel corner Third and Mulberry Streets, Harrisburg, were arrested Friday, February 26th, by Detectives Morgan and Welsh on the charge of counterfeiting and passing spurious coin. They were taken before the United States Commissioner Wolfe and each held in the sum of $1,000 bail for a further hearing. Bowman was unable to give bail and went to jail. It is reported that Bowman conducted a “fence” at Millersburg for years and has been convicted of several robberies. He also served two terms for counterfeiting. His wife and child make no secret of the fact that he made counterfeit money and it is believed that she was the one who wrote to the police department when the first intimation of the counterfeiting was made known.
Bowman had a hearing before the U.S. District Court at Scranton on Tuesday and pleaded guilty. Sentence was suspended and Bowman was ordered to be returned to Dauphin County jail to be held until the trial of David Wilson at the next term of court at Harrisburg, in which case Bowman will be an important witness. Wilson is charged with aiding in circulating bad coil made by Bowman in this city.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 7 March 1904:
Held for Further Hearing
David Wilson, alleged to have been implicated with Benton S. Bowman, the counterfeiter, was before United States Commissioner Wolfe on Saturday and renewed his bail for a further hearing Saturday afternoon.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 9 March 1904:
When Benton S. Bowman was called before the United States Court at Scranton, on Tuesday, for trial, he confessed to the charge of making counterfeit coins. He has not yet been sentenced.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 14 March 1904:
WILSON DISCHARGED
Claimed He Was Playing Part of U.S. Detective’s “Stool-Pigeon” Is Counterfeit Case
At the hearing before United States Commissioner Leroy J. Wolfe, late Saturday afternoon. David A. Wilson, the South Third Street saloon keeper, charged with complicity with Benton S. Bowman in passing counterfeit silver coins, was discharged on account of a lack of evidence to hold him for trial at the United States District Court.
Bowman was convicted two weeks ago at the session of the United States District Court of Scranton. He implicated Wilson as having bargained with him to make the counterfeit money. Detectives Morgan and Welsh had a number of witnesses at the hearing who claimed that Wilson attempted to pass counterfeit money on them. Wilson claimed that he was acting under instructions from United States Detective Walsh, of Scranton, in his negotiations with Bowman to aid the authorities in prosecuting him.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 24 March 1904:
Benton S. Bowman, the Harrisburg counterfeiter convicted in the United States District Court at Scranton, will be sentenced in the May term of the United States Court, which will be held here.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 25 March 1904:
Benton S. Bowman the convicted Harrisburg counterfeiter will be sentenced in the May term of the United States Court. Bowman was transferred from Scranton to the Dauphin County jail at the time of the David A. Wilson hearing. The time spent in jail will be deducted from the time of his sentence.
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From the Reading Times, 5 May 1904:
Benton S. Bowman, Harrisburg, who pleaded guilty to making and passing counterfeit silver money, was sentenced by Judge Archbald to one year in the penitentiary. “I am sorry I did it,” said Bowman, as he walked away.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 5 May 1904:
Took Counterfeiter to Pen
Fred C. Leonard, United States Marshal, accompanied by his chief office deputy, H. S. Laurish, took Benton S. Bowman, convicted of counterfeiting, to Pittsburgh today to serve his sentence of one year in the Western Penitentiary.
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From the Lykens Standard, 13 May 1904:
Benton S. Bowman of Harrisburg, who some time ago was arrested on the charge of making counterfeit money, pleaded guilty before Judge Archbald, in the United States District Court at Harrisburg last week and was sentenced to one year in the Western Penitentiary.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 16 July 1904:
BOY CARRIES BIBLE TO MOTHER IN JAIL
Counterfeiter’s Child Appeals to Stay by His Mother’s Side in Prison.
FATHER IS IN PENITENTIARY.
Eight-Year-Old Paul Bowman, Sad and Homeless, Comes From Penbrook to Visit His Parent.
The temper of human justice weakens before scenes such as were enacted in the office of the county prison this morning when 8-year-old Paul Bowman, son of Counterfeiter Benton S. Bowman, serving a term of one year in the Eastern Penitentiary, and Agnes Bowman, his wife, held in jail on a charge of criminal relations with a negro, homeless, pleaded to be allowed to remain by his mother’s side.
As usually is the case, Paul Bowman is a manly little fellow, but when he stepped into the office of Col. Joseph B. Hutchison at the police department this morning with a little bundle containing his clothes done up in a shawl strap to ask permission to see his mother in jail he fought hard to keep the tears from staining his clean face, but in a paroxysm of grief covered his face with his little hands and cried as if his heart were breaking.
Several weeks ago when the mother was led off to jail pending trial at court the little fellow stood by the police dock rail and was the last to leave her. A man standing by the prisoner’s dock with sympathy for the lad asked to care for the boy until the mother was released. He accompanied the man to his home in Penbrook, where he remained until this morning, when longing to see his mother again he came to this city and sought Colonel Hutchinson. He was taken to the jail and when his mother was brought into the office he embraced her and wet her face with his tears. He was dressed neatly in a little sit of blue with a clean shirt and collar and his shoes were shined and his stockings neatly tucked under his short trousers. In the pocket of his little blouse he carried a gilt edged Bible with his name written on the title page.
The heart of the hardest criminal would soften under the strain of the scene and Mrs. Bowman struggled to disguise her feelings. The boy had the little Bible in his hand between his knees and as he was crying it would have fallen to the floor had not Colonel Hutchison reached for it.
“I want to stay with you here,” said the boy through his tears as he held fast to his mother’s hand. “Can’t you leave him here with me?” asked the mother, but Colonel Hutchison told her it would be impossible. About this time the colonel was very busy looking over the pages of the little book and in reply to another appeal from the mother to allow the boy to remain with her he said:
“’The way of the transgressor is hard,’ is written in this little book,” and then turning to the boy said:
“Come on, Paul, we will go out and see if we can’t find you a good place to stay until your mother gets out.”
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 29 July 1904:Mrs. Benton S. Bowman is in the county prison pending trial at the next term of court on a serious charge. Last week a very pathetic scene occurred when her little son, who had been cared for by kind friends in Penbrook since her incarceration, appeared at the prison, begging the authorities to keep company with his mother in jail. The little fellow, who is but eight years of age, was taken in charge by Chief of Police Hutchinson and provided with a home. The father is serving a year’s sentence in the Western Penitentiary for counterfeiting.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 28 September 1904:
Daniel Fleming, colored, and Agnes Bowman, a white woman, pleaded guilty to adultery, and were sentenced to the county jail for seven months.
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From the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 19 January 1906:
PENNSYLVANIA INVENTORS
Patents were granted this week to the following Pennsylvanians….
Benton S. Bowman, Millersburg, safety brake for elevators….
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 31 April 1912:
Woodworker Has Many Designs
Special to The Telegraph
Millersburg, Pennsylvania, July 31 [1912] – Benton S. Bowman, the hermit of Wiconisco Terrace, has proved himself to be one of the most skilled woodworkers in the county. He has on display at his home many hundreds of pieces of his handiwork which would be hard to describe. Among the number are picture cases made out of a whole piece of wood of unique design, and many other kind of ornamental articles, all carved with handsome bouquets of flowers as a crown. The work is not glued or nailed together, but carved neatly out of the solid wood. He has also a large number of trick specimens of his own design, among which is a table drawer which can be pulled out from other of the four sides of the table. This drawer can be placed in a large table and makes it very handy to open from all sides. Mr. Bowman has them on display for his friends at his home every evening.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 12 February 1918
Splinter Causes Death of Benton S. Bowman
Millersburg, Pennsylvania, February 12 [1918] – Benton S. Bowman died at the home of his son, George Bowman, in west Union Street, on Saturday after a week’s illness from blood poisoning, the result of a splinter in one of his hands. He was in his sixty-ninth year. The funeral was this afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Musselman, of the Lutheran Church, officiating.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 14 February 1918
Wills Probated….
The following wills were probated to-day and letters of testamentary issued by Register Roy C. Danner…. Benton S. Bowman, Millersburg, letters to George M. Bowman….
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 18 March 1931:
MRS. AGNES BOWMAN
Mrs. Agnes Bowman, 76, died yesterday at the home of Harry Deitz, near Hockerville. She is survived by two sons, Paul Bowman, Harrisburg, and O. G. Bowman, Millersburg. She is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Jeannie Specht, Millersburg; a brother, Robert Kirkland, Sinnnamahoning, and ten grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the home of Paul Bowman, 1906 Lenox Street, at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, with the Rev. Dr. Potteiger, pastor of the Millersburg Evangelical Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, at Millersburg. The body may be viewed at the home of Paul Bowman tomorrow afternoon and evening.
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Newspaper stories from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
Very interesting! Benton S. Bowman’s first wife was Lydia Jane Alleman, the mother of George M. Bowman as well as Norman Bowman, and Pursee Bowman.