Multnomah County OR Archives Obituaries.....Wilson, Helen February 3, 1893
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Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com August 31, 2007, 7:00 am

Oregonian Feburary 12,1893
A Double Crime
Miss helen Wilson's Death
Arrst of Charles A.Bowker,Who is Charged With Being responsible For Her Sad 
Enbding
on Wednesday,the 3d inst., Miss hlen Wilson, aged 17 years,died at the hpme of 
her parents in East Burnside street,and on the follwoing day she was buiried. 
The funeral was largely attended by sorrowing firends,none of whom imagined 
that here deth was brought on by a foul crime. Subsequent developments have 
shown that she was a victim of  man's duplicity and treachery.
Several months ago Helne' parnets took into the house as a roomer Cahrles 
A.Bowker, a young man 27 years of age,who was a fireman in the employ of the 
Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Bowker brought excellent recommendations 
testifying that he had been at one time  a Baptist minister,occupying the 
pulpits at Stayton,Dallas,Silverton, and several other Oregon towns. Helen 
being an exceptiona;y pretty girl,vivascious and entertaing,soon attracted 
Bowker's attention and an attachment on thier part, that was not pleasant to 
the parents,was noticeable. The mother spoke to her daughter regarding the 
matter,and it being apparent that she was infatuated with Bowker,he was 
dismissed from the house,But they continued to meet and the reult was Helen's 
downfall.
About the middle of January she left home,but where she went remains a 
mystery.Some days afterward she was taken to her sisters house,on East Clay 
street. She was suffering terribly,and a note from Dr.Dubois explained that 
she had been suddenly taken ill,and was sent there in preference of a 
hospital.The girl continued to grow worse until February 3, when she died. A 
criminal operation performed upon her caused her death. She confessed this and 
told a sicekning story implicating Bowker.
Officers Al Thomas and Deputy Sheriff Wood were informed ofthe matter and set 
to work on the case. They ascertained that Miss Wilson.the day before being 
taken into her sisters house had, through Bowker, enlisted the servies of 
Mrs.Dr. Van,who has an office at 229 1'2 First Street.That lady found the girl 
suffering inense pain and called upon Dr.Dubois for asssitance. The officers 
also gained information confirming the girls deathbed story  that Bowker had 
followed up his first criome with onemore terrible. The best medical skill 
could noy stay the worj of the butcher and MIss Wilson,after several days 
suffering,died.
Bowker,after his victims death,left town,but the officers kept inofrmd of his 
whereabouts. Wednesday he was arrested at Roseburg by Constable Thomas and 
brought back to this city, where he was lodged in the county jail. The matter 
was kept quiet for the reason that it was beleived that others were 
implicated.But yesterday the officers became satisfied that Bowker did the 
work single handed,and a complaint was made against him in Nustice Woods 
court,charging him withmanslughter.
Bowker is a maried man, and has five children. His family is living in the 
East,but he has a divorce suit now pending in this city.

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