The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-12
Howard. Accordingly they published an

q suburb of London, and was connected
with the police force; that the pastor
when boy had been apprcnticed on an
English vessel; that few years thereafter
he came to America, enlisted under the
name of Hewlett, on tho Arctic vessel
Tgress, which was sent in search of
the Polaris, then missing in the Arctic
seas; that he returned to Brooklyn, n. V,
three months thereafter, deserted and
went to South Carolina where he taught a
negro school and boarded with negroes
for some time; that he studied law, was
admitted TO practice, received the appoint
ment OF justice OF the peace, under the
carpetbag Governor Chamberlain, and in
the course of few months was compelled
to leave the State for malieasance in Office,
and that in fleeing he induced 10 clope
with him the wife of &. c. Brown, ut
whose house he had boarded, and together
they went 10 Georgia, where he aftcrward
abandoned the woman, went TO teaching
school again, profcssed religion, and was
ordained to preach year or two after
ward. These and similar charges of like
damaging character were made and signed
by Prois. q. w. Jarman, II. q. Irby, 4. J.
Deuprc, q. G. Savage, NIessrs. 4. VI.
Gates, w. ID. Deupre, Jas. Withers,
Q. A. Brown, j. +. Snider, b. O.
Snider, Revs. l.. A. McNiel,
ID. w. Hughes, Williams. Shelton
and several Others, and was published in
the FOrkod Deer Blade, OF Jackson; the Ten
ness,e Baptist, Memphis, and the Baptist
Reflector, of Chattanooga. The next step
was the filing OF suit by DIR. Howard
against all OF the above mentioned parties
for libel, and asking damages amounting
to $4,000. The ablest legal talent at the
jackson bar was retained on either side,
and went energe;ically TO work. Deposi.
tons by the rcam were taken both in this
| country and in England. DIR. Howard ut
first claimed that his father was a 1istin-
guished barrister, n Queens counsel, but
this claim was aitorward abandoned. lie
visited England twice during last year,
and the latter time took his wife hith him,
and one OF the strong points in his favor is
the fact that his wife states she met several
OF the witnesses whose dispositions are
claimed 10 be fictitious, and that she also
met and gave Photograph Of herself to
her husbands brother, w. j. b. Howard,
who the defendants insist Is myth. At
t0rneys and detectives were employed in
England, and the most scathng research
gone into. Those whose dispositions are
taken by the defendants state that the de-
ponents there for the plaintiff are spurious
and only exist on paper. Witnesses
there fail 10 establish Towards identity.
but positively state that his name IL How
lett; that they knew his father, who was
connected with the police force, and that
he is now dead. In answer 20 these
charges the plaintiff furnishes number OF
dispositions, among them one from his
rcputcd brother, w. J. b. Howard, who
attaches 10 IL the photographs Of his wife,
children and that OF Mrs. DIR. Howard.
One singular thing Is that the witnesses
fail 10 answer the simple interrogatories as
10 their age, vocation, number Of street on
which they live, etc. The commissioner
before whom dispositions for the plaintiff
were taken cannot be identified after the
minutcst inquiry by the defendants, while
the plaintiff has no trouble In communi-
eating with and receiving cabegrams from
him, and thus II goes on ad inhnitum.
Roth sides charge that the foreign depo-
sitions arc fraudulent, aud that Iinscrupu-
lous means have been rcsorted 10 10 obtain
them. The main question seems 10 have
resolved itself into the identity OF Howard,
and the bothersOme point about this IL
that Howard acknowledges that for several
years he went under the name of Howlc4t.
Why he did 40 Is his secret, which, Il IL
claimed, he will satisfactorily explain
when the time comes. But singular
thing II that during the two years
that his indemnity has been qucs-
toned that hc has not set this
point at rest. When the point was first
raised Mr.. Bullock for the defense pro-
posed that Mr.. Pitts, one Of the counsel
Tor plaintiff accompany him 10 London and
there take the evidence of all the witnesses:
had this boon done tho case would most
probably have been disposed of at this
term OF court. Now Il is Mr.. Pitts who
banten Mr.. Bullock 10 go to London for
that purpose, and the latter gentleman in
Inmates that he will 90. Then II counsel
for the plaintiff adhere 10 their recent dec
laration, that u the name OF their client Is
Hewlett, and not Howard the suit will be
Withdrawn, II Is quito likely that the point
will be settled 5000 miles away. But the
defendants Notwithstanding the multiiorm
and grave charges made In tho affidavit
for continuance, claim not TO have fully
shown their hand, and be the plaintiffs
name Howard or Hewlett, they already
have sufficient evidence 90 drive the case
ont oi court whenever the trial commences.
One thing Is certain, according 90 their
information they have succeeded in scat.
tcring the Howard family pretty much all
over the world; the latest information asto
their whereabouts, IL this; lloward's
father is dead and buried in the Eternal
City-Rome; his mother Is cnt0mbed In
Pcrc Ia Chais, Paris his brother, W. J.
Howard, Is In Calcutta, and his step
mother aud several children AFRO travelling
on the continent Of Europe, Just where, de.
PENDANTS claim they cannot ascertain.
The attorneys ON both sides deserve
credit for the indefatigabc work they have
done ON this case and seem determined
10 further do. II the case IL ever tried Il
will be most sensational from opening 10
finish. Should the angrincss Il has already
stirred up subside, II will then be revived
aud prove serious. The supporters and
friends Of both sides are not lacking In
nerve. A principle Is involved, and rs
members OF society they are going 10 stand
up for II. When II was supposed that tho
case would go 10 trial, DIR. ilovard's con.
grcgaiion resolved 10 hold prayer meetings
nightly during lis progress, and pray
especially that their pastor would be
triumphant before the court. While on
its face u i only q civil suit there Is in.
volycd IN II all Of those questions which
call forth religious real, and with a ieryor
that whether right or wrong are supported
with an oarncstnes which have marked no.