Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-30
THE EscAPE oF PosrMAsTER FOWLER.

7 y
account of thc last hours spent the New York Hotel
by Isaac V Fosler" The Leaisr is Owned aud edited
by John Clancy personal and political friend OF the
late postmaster. According to this statement Mr. Fowler
learned Thursday the lOh inst that the Postmaster
General having returned from Florida had dropped on
the trail Of The deficiency, and the next day (Frday
Messrs Buterw Orth and Hall (of the firm OF Campbell
Hall Co.. started for the national capital, their design
being TO solicit time for effort be made by the friends
Oi Mr Fowler to raise the amount due TO the Onlted
| States.
On Friday evening says the writer Nj Fowlers cour-
age have deserted him. and he walked the
until daylight without sleep food On Saturday
ing he down the office and found it in charge Of
the chief clerk Of the auditors department. demand
for payment Of the deficiency having been made. Al.
though failure to meet this demand in itself constituted
crime under the law OF the nted States he TO
have entertained hopes that the efforts of his friends in
| Washington would provo successful, and he quite
cheerful in cOnversng with the friends who called on
him He dined that evening with August Belmont, and
appeared in good spirits although he left early pleading
prior engagement
"In the meantime says the account 'Marshal Isaiah
Rynder called at the New ork Hotel rather early in the
Of the evening aud there quite unreserved in
stating that he had with hin a warrant for Mr. Fowler
arrest. The Marshal remained inside and around the
Hotel but chiefly inside until about - O'clock and il H.
70 be supposed that OF the friends of Mr Fowler,
knowing the Mar7has official intentions must have sta
toned themselves the front door caution Mr..
place If he wished TO avoid arrest.
This stratagem must have been successful for, at
quarter after eleven o'clock that Saturday night, Mr.
Fowler was in his bedroom aui had sent for gentleman
who had been dining that day in the New York Hotel to
whom he lated with great emotion and many tear.
the whole facts Of the clse-annOuncug that his Office
had been taken from under his charge that morning and
that he would be arrested, if alive the Monday
morning bv RyndeI- But DO not intend TO live be
sil pointing TO q small revolver with an ivory handle
which lay upon his dressing table 81 want to write
some farewell notes in the morning; but my nerves are
unsteady and il you and act my amauueusis
you will 10 the last earthly favor that grant
The friend reasoned with Fowler, that the reports
from Washington might be exaggerated, aud eXacted
promise that he would not ure himself least until
the evening of the next day. Finally, at o'clock,
he left him sleeping For the remainder Of the nara
! tive we quote the words Of the writer
Scarcely had they gone VIXEN carriage drove up 10
the door and two true friends Of our late postmaster
Messrs. B. and T., Jumped out They were told by the
clerk that Mr. Fowler not at home but they were
not satisfied and insisted on seeing party Mr. c. re-
siding Ia the New ork Hotel who IS known al all times
10 have shared Mr. FOwlers entire confidence. They
woke up this third party had hurried consultation
With him and then all three went down stairs aud were
about knocking at the door o. Mr. Foaer's bedroom,
when the fear StrDck Of them that he might thuh
they were officers coming him. and thereupln
make way with his life-as he had frequently spoke OF
doing to one of the party.
Acting under this lear Mr C. procured pass key to
Mr. FoTers plrOr opened the door very gentv and the
tenant Of the did not awake I'LL all three OF the
| friends were standing around his bedside The ivory
stock Of pistol protrudng from under hi pillow showed
that they had probably not been too cautious Fowler
| being aroused, terrible scene ensued-the unhappy
gentleman wIithng and grOaung With agony, aud weep
ng and shouting iucohecnt regrets, so that his friends
next began to fear that he would alarm the house-te
nature Of Marshal Rynders' VII having been buzzed
all N
cxaggerations attending such rumors.
"Messrs b. aud I (this Mr. B. does not mean Butter
WORTH had 10 use Ierempiory tone TO quiet Mr. Fowler
Mr. G. being utterly overcome and unable to spegk
They exhibited kilograms from Washington Of still LATER
date than the dispatch received his return to the hotel
that evening by himself; aud these kilograms Of
such nature that they knew Rynders-hOwever well
disposed he might be-&are delay arresting the
named in his warrant if the said should be found in
the hotel after daylight that Sunday morning
"Hurriedly then they packed up few changes of lin
en- coats &c. into yallse Mr. FowlCr meanwhile dress
ing himself and rather beginning to show relief as flight
instead Of death became the prospecf h"to-p him Mr. f.
ono of tue friends had resolve to raise
purse next day which should pace ll tONicr beyond
any reasonable want for couple Of years-the sum as
we have heard being $S00)-wlich has since all but
- 000 been subscribed. On this point howeyer-the
exact amount of the sum-we are not the
other particulars of this narrative
"Al the arrangements being soon ended at Just
minutes past two O'Clock on the morning OF last Sunday
week Isaac v Fowler leaning on the OF his friends
Messrs B. and T. took final leave las resdent of the
New York Hotel, and by eight o'clock on Sunday MORN
ing when Rynders again called, the which he
pied and had so filed with objects of art ard curiosity
were desolate and bare.
Whittier Mr. Fowler was taken in the carriage by Messrs
B. and T. it would not be in good taste 10 state. He
was, however well taken Of and suffered but little
restraint-hs luxuriant black wiiskers having been
shaved off Sunday morning, and pair of gold spec
taces completely altering his appearance whenever placed
ia any situation where those not in his immediate conf
dence could see him The necessity Of disguise must it.
self have proved to man of his personal pride terri
ble--almost compensating, punishment. But that is all
over now and we believe he is safe of the country