Moments in the Life of Robert E. Arnow
On June 18, 1921, Alachua County Deputy Sheriff Robert E. Arnow was fatally shot in Micanopy, Florida, while attempting to arrest Jim B. Bowyer for carrying a concealed weapon. Bowyer, who had previously worked for Arnow, opened fire when approached, striking the deputy four times. Despite a widespread manhunt, Bowyer evaded capture until later that year in Georgia. He was extradited, tried, and convicted of first-degree murder in a one-day trial held in Gainesville. Bowyer was executed by hanging on February 24, 1922. The case drew public attention for its swift legal proceedings and the circumstances surrounding the crime and execution.