By Mike Simmons
August 19, 1938, was a hot day in Pensacola. Typical of Pensacola weather, the humidity could be described as suffocating. But Detective Archie Bowman had a job to do, and he set about doing it, just as he had done for the past thirty-seven years.
An investigation that he was engaged in led Archie to the residence at 1005 N. Davis Street, around the corner of the old “H & O” Restaurant, which served as a grocery store and a pool hall at that time.
When Archie knocked on the door, Ben Davis opened it. Archie knew Davis because he had arrested him before for the same thing he was investigating now – selling illegal liquor. As Archie came in, Davis, disgusted, turned and walked away, mumbling something about being tired of the police always looking for liquor. He and Archie walked into the back room. Suddenly Davis fired four shots and ran out the front door with a pistol in his hand. He got into a car, and sped away. Archie lay in the back room with numerous bullet wounds to his chest. He died on the way to the hospital.
Chief Willie O’Connell organized a massive manhunt. Hundreds of officers worked around the clock to locate the killer and take him into custody. Two days after Archie’s funeral, Word was received that Davis was in Uriah, Alabama, 70 miles north of Pensacola. He was arrested, tried and convicted for murder. He was given a life term in prison.
Archie was survived by his wife, Carrie and one daughter, Mrs. J. B. Harris of Molino, Florida.
