Bowmans to offer 'Afternoon of Murder' at Troup library

Bob Bowman of Lufkin, who with his wife Doris have been called "the murder historians" of East Texas, will present an "Afternoon of Murders" at the Troup Library on Saturday, Aug. 11. The meeting begins at 2 p.m.

The Bowmans recently completed their third murders volume, "Historic Murders of East Texas, Book 3." and are working on a fourth volume.

The Bowmans' books cover the origins and outcomes of nearly 60 murders occurring between 1687 and 1941 in more than two-dozen East Texas counties, including Smith, Cherokee and Rusk counties. A Smith County story tells the story of Tom Tate's 1912 rampage in the Kidd community near Tyler and his escape from a Fort Worth jail. He was never seen again in Texas.

Another chapter also deals with the murder of Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blount in 1939 and the song, "Pistol Packing Mama," which originated from his wife's appointment as her husband's successor. A Rusk County murder deals with the1860 fire that destroyed Henderson, resulting in a lynching of a tavern owner.

Another story recounts the life of Pete Loggins, an accused murderer, lawyer, forger, bigamist and physician in East Texas and city editor of the Little Rock Democrat an assumed name. He was killed by a lawman at Willis on April's Fool Day in 1905. With 35 books to their credit, Bob and Doris Bowman are among the leading authorities on East Texas history and folklore.

The Bowmans began researching historic murders in 2002 after they completed The Mystery of Lady Bountiful, a history of thrice-accused murderess and timber baroness Lillian Knox of Hemphill. The book was honored by the East Texas Historical Association as its best book of 2002.

Mr. Bowman also writes a history newspaper column for about 70 East Texas newspapers, distributed by the East Texas Historical Association, and serves on the Texas Historical Commission.