The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-28
THE ESCAPE OF POSTMASTER FOWLER.

THE ESCAPE OF POSTMASTER FOWLER.
HOW IT WAS ETFECTED-HIs LAST HOURS AT THE NEW
YORK HoTEL-A TERRIBLE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TO COMMIT sUICDE-A PURSE MADE UP BY HIS
FRIENDS, ETC.
| The New York Leader of Saturday morning,
gives what purports to be account of ''the last
hours spent at the New York Hotel by Isaac
Fowler" The Leader is owned and edited by John
Clancy, personal and political friend of the late
postmaster. According to his statement Mr.. Fowler
learned on Thursday, the 10th instant, that the
Postmaster General, having returned from Florida,
had dropped the trail of the deficiency; and the
next day, Friday, Messrs. Butterworth and Hall,
! (of the firm of Campbell, Hall & Company
started for the national capital their design being
to solicit time for an effort to be made by the
friends of Mr. Fowler to raise the amount due to
the United States. On Friday evening, says the
writer, Mr.. Fowler's courage seems to have de-
serted him, and he walked the streets unit. dav.
light without sleep or food On Saturday morning
he went down to the office and found it in charge
OF the Chief Clerk of the Auditors department,
demand for payment of the deficiency having been
made. Although failure to meet this demand in
itself constituted a crime nndor he Ian OF The
United States, he to have entertained hopes
that the efforts of his friends in Washington would
prove successful and quite cheerful in con-
versng with the friends who called on him. He
dined that evening with August Belmont, and APP
peared to be in good spirits, although he left eary
pleading prior engagement.
'ln the meantime says the account, "Narsha
Isaiah Rvnders called at the New York Hotel rath-
early in the of the evening, and was there
quite unreserved in stating that he had with him
warrant for Mr.. Fowler's arrest. The Marshal re-
manned inside and around the hotel but chiefly in
sid lahn or and FOL o.
that some of the friends of Mr.. Fowler, knowing
the MarshalS officalntentons, must have stationed
themselves at the front door, so as to caution Mr.
Fowler to enter through the side door on Wayerey
Place, if he wished to avoid arrest. This strata
gem must have been successful; for at quarter past
eleven o'clock on Saturday, Mr.. Fowler was in his
bedroom and had sent for gentleman who had
been dining that day in the New York Hotel, TO
whom he stated with great emotion and many tears
the whole facts of the case-announcng that his
office had been taken from under his charge that
morning, and that he would be arrested if alive
on the next Monday morning by Rynders. But
do not intend to live he said, pointing to a small
revolver with an ivory handle which lay upon his
dressing table. Il want to write some farewell
notes in the morning; but my nerves are unsteady,
and il you can come and act my amenuenss YOU
will do the last earthly favor that man can
grant,
The friend reasoned with Fowler, that the re-
ports frop, Washington might be exaggerated, and
exacted promise that he would not mi ure himself
at least until the evening of the next day. Final.
ly, at l o'clock, he left him sleeping. For the re-
mander of the narrative we quote the words Of
the writer:
Scarcely had he gone when carriage drove
up to 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 was not at
home; but they were not satisfied, and insisted on
seeing party (Mr. CO. residing in the New York
Hotel, who is known at all times to have shared
| FOWlpr'S confidence nka
this third party, had hurried consultation with
him; and then all three went down stairs and were
about knocking at the door of Mr.. Fowler's bed
: room, when the fear struck one of them that he
might think they officers coming to arrest
him, and thereupon make way with his life-as he
had frequently spoke of doing to one of the party.
Acting under this fear, Mr.. G. procured pass key
to Mr.. Fowler's paror, opened the door very gent.
", and the tenant of the rooms did not awake until
all three of his friends were standing around his
bedside. The ivory stock Of a pistol protrudng
from under his pillow, showed that they probably
had not been TOO cautious. Fowler being aroused
a terrible scene ensued-the unhappy gentleman
writing and grooming with agony. and weeping
and shouting incOherent regrets, so that his
friends next began to fear that he would alarm
I the house-the nature of Marshal Rynder'>
visit having been buzzed round among all the
guests with the usual swtness and exaggera
: lions attending such rumors. Messrs. b. and
D 7. (this 'Mr. b. does not Butter
WORTH had to use peremptory tone to quiet
Mr.. Fower-Mr. C. being utterly overcome anG
| IN ted tala from
Washinoton of still later date than the desnatct
racaivad on his return IN the bntal that evenip hr
himselE and these telerrams were of sucb nafurs
q that they knew Rynders-boweverw we'll discussed hr
y MIGHT be-dore not DELAY arrestino the man Nance
in his warrant if said man shnnld he found in tbt
! hotel after daylight that SUNDAY mornino Hur
riedlv then they packed IN a few changes of linen
coats, &c, into a vaIlse, Mr.. Fowler meanwhile
D dressing himself and rather beginning to show re
h hec as Ight insteaa OF death became the prospect
peIore MINI Mr' S.-one Oh the ruest irlends ever
an N, 'ep W aSe purse next oay which
Mou.o PIace NiI. fowler beyond any reasonable
"ail 'or coupe o "a Seatsthe sum- as we nave
n nearu, pelhS 9o'U1oI"hIch mas since, all ou
neeL III I oh 'lllS point, however
e IN VI te are not 50 sure ~
vi e ilei pa .lo"l"is vi this mar ati'e' All tht
arrangements oeihg soon enoeu, at just seven MIN
utes past TWO CLOCK a: M; on the morning OF last
sunday week, isaac V. Fowler, leaning on the
arms OF his friends, Messrs. B. and T., took
final leave (as a resident) of the New York HOTEL
5 and by eight o'clock Sunday morning, wher
Rynders again called, the rooms which he occupied
and had so filled with objects Of art and curiosity
were desolate and bare. All the books, pictures
and bronzes were removed; the many presents
made to Mr.. Fowler by female and other friends nc
longer were Uttered round the table in that adm
, red infusion which has often arrested the eve
$ of visitors. Rynders found only naked walls and
ordinary hotel furniture-the clerk announcing to
all uuestioners that mo such gentleman as | V
Fowler boards at this hotel Whittier Mr.. Fowler
was taken in the carriape bv Messrs r and r II