Later in 1912, after Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss took exception to one of Owens's decisions, he had the umpire followed by a private detective and accused him of visiting gambling houses. The league released Owens to satisfy the Pirates owner, and Owens then worked in the International League (the renamed Eastern League) in 1913 before returning to the American Association in 1914–1915. American League president Ban Johnson hired him for the 1916 season, one year after the death of umpire Jack Sheridan. After his minor league experiences, the relatively calm environment cultivated by Johnson was a relief, and Owens only had few notable confrontations before retiring due to illness after 22 seasons umpiring in the AL.