Owens was a solicitor working for Lord Caldlow, who negotiated the buying of Alfred Borden's tricks after he was jailed for Robert Angier's murder.
He visited Borden in prison and arranged to buy his tricks. He also gave him Angier's diary, which Caldlow had gained possession of. Although Borden initially refused, he did give the secrets to the first two acts of every trick. Owens returned to negotiate the sale of the prestiges of the acts, which Borden agreed to in exchange for stopping his daughter being sent to the workhouse.