Jesse M. Bowell

Bowell owned a boat, named the Athletic. He later sold her for $4,500 to W. H. Moore in August 1881. Shortly after selling the Athletic, Bowell began building a steamship, named J. M. Bowell, in Brownsville. In 1882, the steamship made her first trip. Two years later, the boat was capsized by a storm on July 24, 1884, near Coal Center; one passenger drowned out of thirty total.

At the time of Bowell's death, he lived in Belle Vernon, and previously served as a member of its council and school board. Two years later in 1886, Bowell ran again for the General Assembly, (Contemporary news articles state that Bowell opted to run for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1886.) Articles written after Bowell's lifetime state that he ran for re-nomination to the House. In January 1887, Bowell purchased the brewery of Boyd and Maxwell, located in Allenport. Bowell became eminent commander of Brownsville Commandery No. 7 in 1888. After the altercation, Abrams boarded his steamer and traveled to Brownsville, where he was caught and taken to a jail in Uniontown awaiting trial. Bowell died two days later at his home in Belle Vernon on October 31 at 3:15 a.m., never once regaining his consciousness. Bowell's funeral was held on November 3 in Brownsville, and his remains were transferred to Millsboro, where they were interred.

Accounts of the stories were varied. Abrams claimed self-defense; according to Abrams, he had walked past Bowell in Belle Vernon after the two had not spoken for over a year. Abrams attempted to ignore Bowell, however Bowell—reportedly under the influence—began cursing and abusing Abrams. As Abrams continued to ignore him, Bowell attempted to punch Abrams. In response, Abrams, feeling that he was physically inferior compared to Bowell, hurled a boulder at Bowell. Abrams attempted to help him up after throwing it, but by then, Bowell had been knocked unconscious. Two eyewitnesses of the event further corroborated Abrams's statements. According to a separate account, Abrams threw the boulder while Bowell was turned back, falling face-first on the gloor. Abrams then turned Bowell over and concluded that he was dead, leaving him. Nearly a month after the incident, Abrams was released on a $1,000 bail.