Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-01
Captain HOwgate's Case.

HAS HE FLED TO PARTS UNKNOWN "A TALK
WITH ONE OF HIS BONDsMEN
The lOng-continued absence of Captain How
gate, who left Ostensibly for New York Just after
being released on $4,000 ball. and the fact
that none of his friends here is known to have
any intelligence Of his whereabo uts. have given
rise to suspicious that he has Jumped his ball.
and flown to parts unknown. A STAR repo rt er
inquired of Mr. McCuiloch, one of Captain How
gates bOndsmen to-day, if he knew where Cap
tain HOwgate was. 81 have not heard from
him and do not know where he isl said Mr. Nc
Culloch. "You may say for me that haven't the
least fear at all. am sure Capt. Howgate will
be here to stand his trial" Mr.. McCuloch said
that he did not know how true the story was
that Capt. HOwgate had a young woman with
him. He did know that when the captain left
the city he went entirely alone. He expressed
much sympathy for the captains family. and in
dicated that that, as much as anything else, had
induced him to 60 on the bond of $4,000. 50 1
did not know then" said Mr.. McCulloch, that
there was 100000 behind it. If Capt. Howgate
is guilty want him punished. He is not the
man to run away. Where could he go, anyway.
in this country to escape detection. A man so
well known as he is, and so easily described. it
would be impossible for him to 90 where he
could not easily be found"
Then, the bondsmen have not yet taken any
steps to have him arrested?"
mo. am satisfied he will be here within a
week. Ii he does not come himself he will be
brought here-not by US, but by the government
have"
Do yGa think the assignment Of his property
81 am no lawyer but think it is. That at
tachment was taken while Capt HOwgate was
in the city. do not think it will hold l think
some OF you newspaper men," said Mr.. McCul-
loch, in closing, sought to say something kind
now and then about Capt. Howgate When a
man is down everybody wants to kick at him.
Six months ago everybody liked to have Capt
Howgate for friend. He was a generous
hearted man. and harmed no one. You ought
to say something kind about him.
Capt h0wgate's counsel express no doubt
out that Captain Howgate will return to the
city In good season for his trial.
AT THE SIGNAL OFFICE
little is said about the case An officer of the
corps lntlmated to STAR reporter that How
regarding the matter. When asked if the rov-
ernment would take steps to rearrest him. the
oflicer said: "The government has nothing to do
with 1t now. 1t has accepted bail, and it is for
the oondsmen to produce him." The aggregate
amount OF Capt. HOwgates ALLEGED ''pickings
SO far as discovered, in searching through the
accounts, is stated to be about 100000. AS
the investigation goes on the amount swells.
Some correspondents have placed it at an
amount a! which nearly equals the en-
gate. 1t is estimated that Captain Howgate
pOcketed about seven OF eight per cent of the
amount that passed through his hands. This
was done, it is alleged, under the cover of
contracts The question has been raised as to
whether Congress will not reduce the appro-
priations for the signal corps, on the ground
that the corps has continued in existence, not
withstanding the drain on the funds made, as it
is charged, by Capt. Howgate. Officers Of the
corps say, however, that they are now suffering
from the effects of Capt. Howgate's system Of
disbursement. In order to have margin to
pocket he bought cheap material. The tele-
graph lines were poorly constructed, and even
the furniture in the offices is poor.