The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-04
WAY OF THE TRANsGREssoR.

Wrecks Made by the Southern Prison In
quiry-Howard on the Verge of Perjury.
Louisville Times.
Bad luck seems to have followed all the ex-
officials of the Jeffersonville penitentiary who
were ousted by the legislative committees in
vestigation. Especially in the of ex-Warden
Howard has the mighty fallen. There
time, but a few years ago, when Jack Howard
was power in politics. and it has be.n said that
the fate of a bill in either house of the Legis-
lature depended largely upon his opinion of 1t.
Everybody knew and every body liked him. He
spent his money freely. and while it lasted he
considered "a good fellow" Almost all his
life spent in public Office. When but
boy he was a deputy ~city official, and
clerk of Jeffersonville Then he was
elected treasurer number of times. AT length
he defeated for the latter Office. but he
determined to have something in the family and
he had his brother George elected sheriff. At
that time he was recognized as one of the ablest
politicians in the State, and when he asked for
the wa rdenship of the penitentiary he got it.
The salary attached,Is ST. 500 year. but that
amountdid not pay one-third of the Captains
becoming short" but when the Leg
isature sent down investigating commit
tees every two years, Is the
custom, they were treated royalty, and no one
thought of looking over the genial Captains
books to see if they were all right. Thus things
went on for twelve years. and he was hopelessiy
involsed His private estate had dwindled
nearly away, but he assigned what left to
his creditors. Now he is almost poor the
poorest of Jsffersonvilles people, and the crowd
OF admirers that chung TO him during his pros
perity are conspicuously absent. His coat is
frayed the edges. and he walks about the
streets with discouraged air; he looks what he
is-a political wreck.
Captain John Craig, who deputy warden
under Howard, and against the estate of whom
Attorney General Kitchener also brought suit
make good part of the shortage, is dead 1t is
probable that the suits will be dismissed.
Captain Matt !. Huette, the ex-cierk, was also
at time prominent politician. and there is
civil suit against him. but he is worth nothi ng
and Judgment would be of no benefit to the
State He is slowly dying of cancer.
Capt David NJ. Allen. the last against whom
the Attorney general fled suits, was steward,
and received 500 month. When he took the
place he was poor the proverbal church
mouse, but when he went out we'll, people said
he had money. He bought all the provisions
for the prisoners. and it is charged that he spent
$3.50 000 of which he give no account. Upon
one occasion the investigating committee asked
to see his books. and he replied that he had
none-he kept all of his accounts in his head.
Captain Allen has visible" property. He
declines absolutely to talk about the case.
The question among the people of Indiana now
is. how is the State to get the missing money,
when all of those who had charge of it are
"broke?' It has not been fully determined just
who did get it. but each vaguely intimates that
the others had something to do with it.