The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-24
Another "COmplete Letter
Writer'' Caught.
4 Long Career Of Criminal Correspondence
Suddenly Stopped by tho Detectives.
Protecting the Herald's Announce
ment Columns.
ARREST OF ALEXANDER J. HOWELL

thousand times more dangerous 10 the morality and
security OF the public than the commonest thief
who prowls along the highway watching for his
prey. Like the robber, this moral leper hides in
DARK, MYSTERIOUS CORNERS,
and springs upon his prey from q cover when
least suspected. A fortnight ago one OF
These scoundrels was arrested by Detectives dunno
and Farley, who had carried on a systematic cor
TcspOndence OF most insulting character with
ladies advertising In The HERALD for positions and
yesterday these detectives caught another or The
same class OF deiinquents. When the matter was
irst complained OF by the HERALD to Captain Irving
he detailed these two detectives 10 work up the
case, and they discovered at the outset that there
were two men who were using the advertisement
columns OF the paper for
GROSS AND vILLANOus PURPOSES.
After digent search and watch one OF these men
was trapped and brought TO justice, but the other
remained at large. About the time Of the first
arrest the one now In prison seemed for the moment
20 have given up the business and Detective Dunno
was under the impression that he had become
frightened and had given up the vile practices but
lew days ago he returned to The business, ana the
detective was AZ once at his heels From tho NUMBER
Of letters returned 10 the HERALD by ladies who had
advertised and the indignation OF number OF gen.
uemen whose wives had been insulted by this ruff
nan from under mask, 1t was evident that he mad
again resumed the old business Detective Dunno
waited Tor HIM In the Office OF the HERALD, and 1t
was not long before lie found out the man. He
advertisement sheet which was put there for the
use OF the public, and pick from It the announce.
men,s he wished 10 answer. On Tuesday Mr.. Dunno
followed him from the HERALD ONCE to three Of the
oepots at which
HE USED TO RECEIVE
communications. Then he watched MIN to the Post
once, where he was told by one OF the clerks that
the man used 10 get letters under two Names until
they refused 10 allow him TO do so any more From
the Post Office he went TO the caisson OF the new
bridge. where he remained Two hours. From this
wasting OF time In such frivolous manner the de.
tectlve became convinced The man was engaged In
2 worse business than was at first supposed, ana
First National Bank, and from there to washington
Market, where he INDUCED IN coffee and
Ss1s he sS s ae town. sa hour Go
ang At some w0rkmen engaged on new building
was going along this thoroaghfare he stopped a
little girl who was coming from school and con-
a1nued 10 talk TO and delan her
AGAINST HER WILL
Ar. Dunno says he had great deal OF difnculty In
restraining himself from arresting the. fellow
but that 1t would have completely spoiled the
Sase From rom Montgomery street Mr. Dunno
West Nlneleenth street, and then left hlm alone
mp 10 that Tune Mr.. Dunno did not know the right
seitisements as ~. Alexander "Alexander' and
"A. Q. Stewart" TO md out what the real name
They called at the houses on both sides Of the s3e
and asked after a number OF gentlemen and In:
ths they could not ind out, as the family living In
!he house had only been there afew weeks. Yester-
shadow Of the man. DETECTIVE Dunne called at Inc
house, and, representing himself as
collecting taxes he asked the servant who opened
Ss rs sn m: v: 'i ss
detective went directly TO the HERALD
S uos ea T u Ss Sss se Sending sns
An answer TO an advertisement. MI Donne
S 10 sure e nv ana to
6owclls shoulder pretending 10 take pen from IN
q SI SS ne have sSoS ~
business down town and started home, with tue de-
sectIye behind him. When he got TO Elahtn avenue
ks was UNDER arrest Howell became indignant AMI.
mp Q respectable man, but Mr.. dunno soon quieted
his fears upon that subject and took him down 70
headquarters where he had The indignant Howell
comfortably housed in
Upon searching the prisoner q large number OF
papers was found upon him. They were most ad-
dresses OF LADIES', and many OF them had remarks
porter OF Inc HERALD visited Howell in his cell last
night and the following conversation took place.
You are Mr.. Howell. understand"
Yes. SIR that IS my name"
''YOu have only been brought In, I believer"
fes, sr and \ little expected ever to have been
.1t is pretty bad business this letter writing"
Yes STR. ] am sorry 10 say that it Is, and Wish
"Do you acknowledge the AFFAIR, thenw
wen yes. sir; there Is not much use In deny
what DO these long lists Of ladies' names and
actresses mean that are among the papers taken
They are lot of names out out OF Q Boston
ha s!pi, about two years ago.
Eyes; bel.cve dia.n
YOU VINO Ss sss are not Tue
ma. Kind In my life iiie 70" never old anything OF
You are aware, suppose. that good deal OF |
that sort OF thing is done ~
well, suppose So"
,,n here are people here in the city who make
70 into these dens OF viceu
was with anything a al sssune
"pid you ever meet any OF these ladies TO whom
"weii. yes. sir; have met few OF ,nem.p
"Here In the city,
''Yes, mere IN New York;
81 see by the addresses on these lists Won have
Deen 10 correspondence with young ladies In Vii
..Ihcsc are the addresses that copied from that
Boston paper two years ago"
AND you nave kept them all that time ~
81 nave, and don't know why.n
"You did not know the man who was arrcated
fortnight! ago FOR this same onencef'i
rested for 1t. don't often read the poners way te
You feel pretty bad about his-aimost as bad "a n
pan and some other prominent men 10 Won think
can ge Set ,D Without S getting into the papers or
~ am afraid, Mr.. Howell that oauno, be douer
TIE following are samples OF the epistes INDUCED
10 81 Mr. howeu In answer 10 ADVERTISERS
y s's !. 20 r max.
.i provide FOR AZ YOUR wants and Il must be nnaeps,ao
Cha. no "a JAMES g. "a sLE.zspER New York
TO ADvHRTIsEH:-
reply .s.s ~ hay: sOYss. best
Enih ayenues House escoed also with velvet carpeis
We are four In family no boarders and only such AZ
could talk and ourselves whom our home
comforts will be devided permanent parry only wanted
Never had Roarder 10 my family but COW we have loo
Ioch room We have the usual daily devoous ] want 20
sSs.sns sTswAE care ~ so ss So you Address
Ibe was usually the catch letter, and Mr.. Howell |
ees sent " 10 great many transporting victims
Inc detectives have done n good work IN bringing
nose miscreents TO justice, and many family viii |
eel grateful TO them for II. The following up and
,opture OF these TWO men has been clevery done
md rejects the highest credit On Detectives Dnnne
md Farley N"'A'
GAS EXPLOSION IN INDIANA.