Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-13
BOLD BAD MAN.
Joe Howard, the Notorious Thief, Now In
Custody. a.

Joe Howard, tho Notorious Thief, No" In
CHICAGO, February l2-Joe Howard, the
companion of Eddie Quinn, held in Phila-
delphia to await requisition from the State
Of Michigan to answer the robbery of the
First National Bank at Coldwateg, is one OF
the most remarkable criminals of the pres
ent day. he comes from an eminently re-
spectacle family, all the members Of which
are welltodo and well known citizens of
New York City, he being the black sheep Of
the fock. His history Of crime dates back
quite q number OF years. He was con-
Vieted some fifteen years ago in New
York City for bank robbery at
Waterford, N. Y. he and his associates, in
making their escape, stole valuabls horse
belonging to wealthy man who lived in
the vicinity ofthe bank, and drove it some
twelve or fifteen miles very rapidly, when,
finding they were pursued and fearing that
the rig and horse would betray them, they
drove into dark piece Of woods, cut the
horses throat, and, leaving it there dying,
they took across the country on foot. They
were subsequently captured and sent to
Auburn. When Howard got out he and
others committed a robbery in Barry, Vt
lie is also said to be one Of the parties
connected with the robbery Of the King.
sion Bank, Of Philadelphia, where
two of the gang personated policemen
and went to the bank watchmsn at the door
and warned him against burglars in the
vicinity Of the bank. The men were dressed
in full uniform, and one of them.enticed the
watcbman out of the bank and out of the
building to look for the supposed burglar,
while the regular watchmsn remained with
the other uniformed burglar. The regular
watehman was "bucked' and gagged and the
other watchmen was treated the same way
when he got back, and then the gang went
10 work and riaed the bank Of its contents.
In company with Jimmy Haggerty and
others, he is accused of robbing the
Catholic Beneficial Savings Bank of
Philadelphia of a large sum of money.
This occurred twelve years ago, Howard
being at that time an escaped convict from
the Auburn penitentiary, The next heard
of him was in company with Jimmy Hope
and Johnny Bobbs, and two other men.
They attempted 10 rob the First National
Bank Of Wilmington, Del, by bucking and
gsgging the family Of the cashier, aud
making the cashier 60 and open the vaults
'or them. A negro servant succeeded in
getting out OF the house and ran to the
police station, and the whole gang was cap
tured. All were tried and sentenced to
Twelve years imprisonment, one hour at the
pillory, and forty lashes on the
back. This was in 1874 and they
remained in prison at New Castle, Del,
for while. and then succeeded in making
their escape on a tugboat which was sent
especially TO take them away, the prison be-
ing on the river. The tug was sent from
Philadelphia. About two years ago, in con-
nection with an expert gang Of thieves he
made his appearance in Chicago. but was
quickly spotted and arrested BY detective,
Who found him in company with another
noted thief. AS there were no charges
against him he was liberated, after having
his picture taken, and he has not been in
this vicinity since. The arrest Of this man
by the Pinkertons is considered oil great
importance to the bank and jewelry fraterni'
ty. as his Identification is complete, and he
will undoubtedly get long term Of impris'
onment or his crime in Michigan.