Charles BOWLES

March 24, 1884 (age 73)

Yale, Michigan , United States

Bowles entered politics from obscurity and to run for the mayor"s office vacated by Frank Ellsworth Doremus"s resignation in 1925. He was openly supported by the Ku Klux Klan. He ran third in the primary election behind John West. Smith and Joseph A. Martin, eliminating him from the ballot in the general election. Bowles ran unsuccessfully for mayor once more the next year. After his mayoral run, he obtained a position as judge on the recorder"s court. He was re-elected to his judgeship, but resigned to make one more run at the mayor"s office in 1929. Bowles had campaigned as an anti-crime reformer, but when he fired Police Commissioner Harold Emmons after the latter had ordered a series of raids, he was accused of "tolerating lawlessness" and a recall election was instituted barely six months after he had entered office. Multiple people campaigned for Bowles"s recall, including radio commentator Jerry Buckley. The recall was successful, but on the morning after, Buckley was shot in a hotel lobby. Although evidence later surfaced indicating the murder had more to do with underworld blackmail than politics, the murder of Buckley cast suspicion on Bowles. Bowles ran in the mayoral election a month later, but lost to Frank Murphy. Later in his career he unsuccessfully ran for both the Michigan State House and United States. House, as well as Detroit mayor. Charles Bowles died on July 30, 1957, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

Charles E. BOWLES

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lawyer politician

Background

BOWLES, Charles was born on March 24, 1884 in Yale, Michigan, United States. Son of Alfred E. and Mary (Lutz) Bowles.

Education

He graduated from Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University) in 1904, received a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1908, and was admitted to the bar in 1909.

Career

Bowles entered politics from obscurity and to run for the mayor"s office vacated by Frank Ellsworth Doremus"s resignation in 1925. He was openly supported by the Ku Klux Klan. He ran third in the primary election behind John West. Smith and Joseph A. Martin, eliminating him from the ballot in the general election.

Bowles ran unsuccessfully for mayor once more the next year.

After his mayoral run, he obtained a position as judge on the recorder"s court. He was re-elected to his judgeship, but resigned to make one more run at the mayor"s office in 1929.

Bowles had campaigned as an anti-crime reformer, but when he fired Police Commissioner Harold Emmons after the latter had ordered a series of raids, he was accused of "tolerating lawlessness" and a recall election was instituted barely six months after he had entered office. Multiple people campaigned for Bowles"s recall, including radio commentator Jerry Buckley.

The recall was successful, but on the morning after, Buckley was shot in a hotel lobby.

Although evidence later surfaced indicating the murder had more to do with underworld blackmail than politics, the murder of Buckley cast suspicion on Bowles. Bowles ran in the mayoral election a month later, but lost to Frank Murphy. Later in his career he unsuccessfully ran for both the Michigan State House and United States. House, as well as Detroit mayor.

Charles Bowles died on July 30, 1957, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

Achievements

However, Bowles continued his campaign as a write-in candidate, and nearly won, losing only after 15,000 ballots were disqualified. Bowles defeated John C. Lodge in the primary and John W. Smith in the general election to win office.

Membership

Member: Detroit Lodge of Elks No. 34; Loyal Order of Moose. Masons; Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Eagles; Detroit Board of Commerce. Clubs: Detroit Republican, Lake Shore Country.

Connections

Spouse Ruth Davis, June 1, 1915, Detroit, Michigan.

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Charles E. BOWLES

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