Submitted by

Barbara Caddell Fox

Waco Times-Herald
Saturday, June 12, 1926

Loses His Life Saving Child

J. P. Bowers, Living Near Mart, Instantly Killed in Auto Accident

Times-Herald Special.
     Mart, Texas, June 12--Efforts on the part of J. P. (“Pack”) Bowers to save his little nephew from injury and possible death resulted in the instant death of Mr. Bowers near here, just before noon today.  The accident occurred when the back door of the auto in which Mr. Bowers and his nephew, Neil Bowers, were riding, came open.  The child fell out and Mr. Bowers jumped from the car after him.  He fell on his head, breaking his neck.

     A brother of Mr. Bowers, A. N. Bowers, was on the front seat with his other small son, while Mrs. A. N. Bowers, her son, Neil, 5 years old, and J. P. Bowers were on the rear seat.  The accident occurred just about two blocks from the main business street of Mart, as the Bowers were en route to their home, 11 miles southeast of Mart.

     Justice E. S. Gause, who viewed the body, held that there was no occasion for an inquest.

     The child was not badly hurt by the fall, his face and head being slightly cut and bruised.  Mrs. A. N. Bowers, who jumped from the car just before it was stopped, sustained a severe sprain of the left ankle.

     Besides the brother above named, Mr. Bowers is survived by another brother, M. E. Bowers, who lives near Mart, and by four sisters.  He was born in Groesbeck, having lived in the Mart neighborhood for the last 25 years.