Capt. Dave Bowen, who took morphine last week, died at 5:30 o’clock Thursday evening, same day. The doctors and friends exhausted every effort to save his life, but failed, the deadly drug having secured too firm a hold before it was discovered he had taken it, and would not yield to antidotes. Capt. Bowen left notes fully explaining his determination of self-destruction and asking his friends to forgive him for what he was about to do. The funeral took place the next day and he was buried at Salem beside his wife. Capt. Bowen was a native of Mississippi, but came to Atoka soon after the town was laid off. He engaged first in the mercantile business, but secured the position of depot agent and retired from business. He held the office of magistrate as long as Atoka was an incorporated town and was postmaster for a number of years. He also held an important official position in the Masonic lodge at Munford and the K. of P. and K. of H. at Atoka, and had a great many strong friends in the community. He was a Confederate soldier and was an active participant in many of the hard fought battles around Richmond and was in line when Gen. Lee surrendered. The circumstances all point to a deliberate and premeditated purpose to end life. Still it will be difficult for his friends to ever believe that it was the same act of the man they respected and esteemed. Capt. Bowen leaves three children, two sons and a daughter, made orphans by his death. (The Covington Leader, May 31, 1895)