Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-16
The Assassin.
HOW GUITEAU LOOKS AND ACTs-TAKING HIS
EASE IN HIS GILL


EASE IN HIS CELL.
A gentleman who has seen Guiteau in his cell
says there is nothing to distinguish him from
other prisoners. except the presence of the
guards. One of the jail guards sits near the
cell. and soldier is stationed near by where he
can observe the window of Guteaus cell so as
to prevent any communication with the prisoner
from the outside. or any attempt on the part of
the prisoner to escape that way. The exact loca-
tion of the cell is still kept secret 10y the Jail
officers. Ii seems to be we'll understood however
that the prisoner is kept i'm the south wing as
the north wing is reserved for petty criminals
serving out Jail sentences. The appearance of
the cell is not at all inviting. The prisoner il
is stated. spends most of his time reading. lying
at full length on the cot. which is the only piece
OF furniture in the narrow apartment He seems
to love to take his ease, and has his cot so
placed that the light from the mar
row window falls over his shoulder
on the book which he may be reading. He shows
no particular nicely about his dress. lying around
in his stocking feet and shirt sleeves without a
collar. His garments are not very neat i'm ap-
pearance. He looks as though Jail life agreed
with him. and his physical condition seems to be
improving. The wild. half-crazy look which was
noticed when he was arrested seems to have
left him. He talks very composedly and
has nothing of the braggadOcio criminal about
him. OF all the prisoners i'm the Jail he is one of
the last who would be picked out an assassin.
While he has an ''uncanny" look, there is moth
Capt. Howgate Under Arrest.
AN ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT OF OVER $4,000
OF SIGNAL. SERVICE FUNDS.
telegram from Detroit. Mich. last evening,
says: Capt Henry w. Howgate well-known as
a resident of Washington. and an eX-officer of
the Signal Service department. and who has
recently gained wide notoriety by his connection
with a Treasury girl scandal in Washington,
was arrested at Mount Clemens. Mich. a sum-
mer resort near that city, to-day. on warrant
charging him with eEnhezzement from the gov
| eminent to the amount of more than $4,000
| while he was disbursing officer i'm the Signal
Service department. 1t is charged that during
1879 Capt. Howgate filled out vouchers pur-
| porting TO be for tele@raphing bills, but which
| were fraudulent. several times; once to
the amount of $1,000 and at other
| times for S11 800. for $1,000. one for Sl2 100
altogether. $40. 500. Special Agent A. b. New
comb who has been working up the case. says
| it is probable many similar amounts will be
discovered. as the investigation covers only
short time. and there is yet much ground to go
over. Wien interviewed on the subject to-day
the captain appeared to take his arrest cooly
and said he could easily explain matters when
the time came He was arraigned before
United States Commissioner Graves and waived
examination and left for Washington tonight
His wife is with him. He has been at Mount
Clemens under treatment for sciatica AT the
time of his arrest he was i'm very precarious
condition. He is a Michigan man, having at
one time been postmaster at Rome, Mich,
CAPT. HOwGATE's RESIGNATION.
Capt. Howgate was relieved from duty and. it
Is stated. allowed to resign about year ago
After the death Of Gen. Myer he announced him.
self candidate for the Office of chief signal
officer. 1t was during the time following Gen.
Myers death, and before the appointment of his
successor, Gen. Hazen. Capt. HOwgate was first
vxrifh ;,,
charges Were made in newspapers. and were
said by Capt HOwgate's friends at the
time to have been instigated by par
ties who opposed his elevation in Office
IN order to defeat his aspirations. Shortly af-
tacitly confirmed by Capt. Howgates resigna-
ton ''by request" Capt. Howgate had charge
OF the funds of the signal corps for several years.
being general disbursng and purchasing officer.
1t is alleged that he
MIsAPPRoPRIATED FUNDS
ana charged the amounts upon the books i'm
various ways so as to elude detection. After
his resignation. it was stated, that an item was
found where several thousands of dollars were
charged as having been paid for special tele-
grams. Gen. Drum. then acting as chief signal
officer, demanded that the special kilograms
should be produced as vouchers, but they could
not be produced. The matter is now in the
hands Oh the Secretary Of War. Captain How
gates accounts have been thoroughly investi-
gated. and 1T is stated considerable plain EVIL
dence has been collected showing that for sew
eral years the late disbursing officer has been
engaged in systematically swindling the govern |
ment- At the Department of Justice to-day /
nothing could be learned beyond q verinca-
ton of the announcement Of Captain How
gates arrest. The arrest was made, 1t |
was stated, at the instance OF Gen. Ha-
zen At the signal Office there was also strong
dissemination to speak about the matter. Capt.
Howgate is well known In Washington. He has
been president Of the Columbia Boat Club since
its Organization. His Polar expedition enter
pfises are still fresh in the public mind He re-
sided with his wife and daughter on 18th street.
near the Boundary. He was generally reputed
to be wealthy, and had considerable money IN
vested In real estate.