1914-03-20d

By 3:30 p.m., on Friday, March 20, 1914, the area in front of the Terminal Hotel on King street east became quickly crowded. Every minute the crowd grew larger as word was spreading like wildfire that something tragic had taken place inside the hotel.

          Deputy Chief Whatley and a squad of police had quickly arrived on scene after a hasty call for them had been received. The hotel’s entrances, front and rear, were closed and guarded by police to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.

          At first, no one in the crowd was absolutely sure what had happened, but it was not long before word started spreading that the incident involved someone associated with the Mackay-Gow case.

Then it was learned exactly who was involved and what had happened.

          Reporters for all three Hamilton newspapers were on scene, learned the basic information regarding the matter, and then each quickly returned to their paper’s office to file hasty reports.

Soon, extras for each paper were run off, and newsboys were spread out across the city, yelling out the headlines.

          The extra edition of the Spectator had one word in bold, large letters which dominated the front page : SUICIDE.

          The lead article began as follows :

          “James N. Gow, prominent business man, who, with A. B. Mackay, was committed for trial yesterday at police court on serious charges preferred by young girls, ended his life at the Terminal hotel this afternoon, shortly after three o’clock. Gow slashed his throat with a razor.”¹

               1 “Suicide : Gow Despondent Slashed His throat : Found Cold in Death In His Room at the Terminal Hotel : Had Carefully Planned His Desparate Act and Used Sharp Knife.”

          Hamilton Spectator.  March 20, 1914

          James Gow’s life had been unravelling for many months, and while the serious charges he was facing in the recent sensation were undoubtedly devastating, he had other pressures which he ultimately found too much to bear.

          James N. Gow was fifty-one years old, and had long been associated with the wholesale grocery firm of McPherson and Glassco. Rumours were circulating that he had either resigned or had been asked to leave his place of employment. Officials with the company refused to say what Gow’s status with them was.

          Gow and his wife had been separated for about a year. A bitterly-contested court case over the amount of alimony Gow would be required to pay for the support of his wife and young daughter had recently been concluded. Gow was facing a court order to start providing funds immediately.

          When James Gow and A. B. Mackay had been served with summonses, Gow was living at 194 Hughson street where the offenses involving young girls under the age of 18 had allegedly taken place.

Gow’s wife, living in Buffalo, New York, on being informed of the serious charges against her estranged husband, quickly returned to Hamilton and arranged with her lawyer to put bailiffs in charge of the Hughson street house. Mrs. Gow had a half interest in the mortgage so she wished to have her financial interests in the house and its contents protected.

          Although the sheriff had stationed a bailiff at the home, Gow continued to live there. One bailiff witnessed Gow’s actions at the house often. Gow was despondent, and kept mumbling, “my little girl, my girl” in reference to his beloved daughter whom he had not to see for some time.

          One of the multiple “extras” published by the Spectator contained the following information, which although accurate generally, would be brought into sharper focus the next day, and even more so at the inquest :

          “Gow, after being released from the cells yesterday afternoon, went to the Terminal hotel and was given room 18 on the second floor.

          “The strain of the police court hearing in the morning seemed to have broken Gow’s nerve and he shook like an aspen leaf after he left the cells yesterday.

          “This morning he was up and around, but seemed very depressed. His despondency became more marked as the day wore on. He had dinner and then went to his room about 2 o’clock. That was the last seen of him alive.

          He had two razors in his room. But neither were used. Gow slashed his throat with a five-inch folding knife, and almost completely severed his jugular vein.

          “A cursory investigation indicated that the suicide was premeditated, as the cover of the bed was carefully folded back under him, with the evident intention of catching the blood. When found he was fully dressed and lying across the bed.”¹

               William Pickard, a bailiff officer, had been assigned to stay at the194 Hughson Street house, to ensure that nothing was removed from the premises before the settlement of the courts on the mortgage and other assets was concluded :

          “(He) answered the ‘phone this afternoon when a Spectator reporter called there.

          “ ‘Mr. Gow is not here, but I expect him any minute,’ he said.

          “ ‘You need not wait for him, he is dead, he ended his life this afternoon,’ he was told.

          “ ‘I expected that,’ he said.

          “ ‘Why?’ asked the reporter.

          “ ‘Because I have been with for the past week almost every night, and he was very despondent,’ was the reply. ‘He called last night and took his clothes away and that was the last I saw of him. I had a ‘phone message from him this morning saying that he would be up shortly.’

          “He left a note with the officer, it is understood, in case he did not return.”¹

               In the chaotic minutes after Gow’s body was discovered, a Spectator was assigned to seek out A. B. Mackay. Mr. Mackay was found at his office in the Clyde block on King street, just blocks west of the Terminal hotel:

          “ ‘Are you aware, Mr. Mackay, that James Gow is dead?’

          “ ‘Is that so, get out !’ he said.

          “Then the reporter explained what had happened, and what the police had done with the body.

          “ He said, ‘Well, that does not surprise me. Jim has had considerable family and financial trouble’ ”¹

               Within a few minutes, reporters from other Hamilton daily newspapers had arrived at Mackay’s office:

          “There were several others in the room, and Mr. Mackay asked them, and the Spectator reporter what they thought it was best for him to do, and whether he should go down and see the remains. He answered his own question by saying, ‘I could never stand and look at the remains.’

          “Mackay appeared to be greatly agitated and doing his best to restrain himself. When the reporter left Mackay, he was still calling his friends, telling them of Gow’s tragic death.”¹