The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-24
DEATH OLA FAMOUS MURDERER
The Imprisonment and Escape of william
HOward-His Subsequent Career.

During the summer of the year 1852, says
the Louisville Commercial, this city was
visited with a scourge Of cholera, which
caused the death of hundreds of citizens.
Ideas and energies turned to some means
and care looking to distinction. In the fol-
flowing year everybody was anxious to
cleans his premises and cause his neighbor
to do likewise. 1t was in June, 1858, that
William Howard, then a well-known a1c-
tioneer, entered the saloon of Henry Dire
hauss and requested that gentleman to pur-
chase five cents worth of lime TO sprinkle in
gutter about his place. Mr.. Driehauss re-
marked that he already had barrel of lime
in his cellar, and suggested to Howard that
he had been in the habit of sprinkling lime
in his cutters, and expected to continue
doing so. This retort brought about words
between the two men, which resulted In
HOward's making an assault upon Driehauss
with huge knife. The knife was sent three
times to the heart, and the saloonist was
killed instantly.
No tragedy that had ever preceded this
caused half the excitement in Louisville as
did this one. Howard was promptly arrested;
in fact, he made no effort to escape, but so
great was the popular feeling against him
that a change of quarters in Jail was easily
granted, but he was removed to the Oldham
County Jail. at La Grange While there he
was tried and convicted of murder in the first
degree, and day was set for his execution.
However, Howard broke Jail and made
good his escape, and charges of bribery were
freely put against the jailer. This so worked
on the latter's mind that in few weeks
after the escape committed suicide.
The newspapers were filed with reports
regarding Towards escape from Jail, and
every effort was made to secure him, but
without success. In the year 1859 letter
came to Mrs. Howard, whom he had left be-
hind stating that he was located at Ade-
lside, Australia 1t was afterward learned
that after escaping from La Grange Jail he
made his way to Branderburg, Meade
County, where he employed himself on a
pair of floating coal-boats, which were being
pilOted TO New Orleans by Mart Dickens, and
worked as ap.ordinary hand. After arriving
at New Orleans Howard engaged in the crew
of a sailing vessel and eventually landed in
Australia, where he re-embarked in the auc-
ton business.
In the course of time it was learned that
during his voyage from New Orleans to AIDE
laide be met and became infatuated with the
wife of the vessels purser. Finally her hus-
band abandoned her, and the result was a
continued laison between the woman and
Howard in the city of Adelaide. She bore
Howard two children but one night, while
he out On a drunken carousal, she enter
tanned other company, and he. returning
and finding her in a questionable attitude,
plunged knife through her heart. As Aus
tralia at that time was an asylum for thieves
and murderers from all parts OF the world,
he was tried by jury OF his peers and
promptly acquitted.
During all these. years OF Towards resi-
dence in Adelaide he accumulated wealth
with the same good fortune that had met
him here. He saved half million OF dol
lars, and reports say that he became one OF
the most influential men in Australia. His