Milford chronicle., 1889-01-25
m VS. "L1rrLE nonAcr. y

Four days later Robert and William Pink
Frton, the celebrated detectives, happened tC
stop over in Denver The authorities had a.
yet been baiIied in discovering the identity OF
MIR. Metz,n and decided to call on those
chiefs of thief takers.
Little Horacew exclaimed Bob Pinkerton
assoon as he clapped his eyes on the prisoner,
Metz was silent for a moment, and then
frankly admitted he was none other than
Horace Hovan, one of the most celebrated
and successful bank snealls the world ever
knew
When reminded Of his arrest by Mr.. .Pinker-
ton for the robbery of the Middletown tConn.)
bank in 1879, out of which he secured $780,
0O0 in bonds, Little Horace admitted that
such was the fact
Talking with Detective Pinkerton, Hovan
gave a brief sketch Of his career, and it is Ger
tainly most interesting account of the life
Of a criminal
Little Horace has been associated with the
best bank snealls in the country, and his lines
have frequently thrown him with other noted
crooks whose specialties differed from his. In
appearance he is very gentlemanly looking
Of slender build and Of genteel appearance
and dress He is the last man whom any one
would suspect Of being a dangerous criminal.
He is possessed Of the greatest nerve of any
man in the world, and, up to eight or ten
years ago, was most successful Unlike most
professional criminals, he is very steady in
his habits, outside of associating with them in
his profession he never associates with them,
nor resorts to places frequented by criminals.
Although he has been engaged for a number
Of years as a professional criminal, he is verv
little known to police officials. He is domestic
in his habits, always selects quiet residence.
and stops around home He is in no way a
desperate criminal and when cornered he
viii endeavor to sneak or run away. He
has never been known to carry weapons Of
any kind, and be not only abhors such things,
but will even refuse to work with any one
whom he thinks would attempt to do any one
an injury. In police circles this is considered
one Of the best traits of his character. He
never allows any one to visit himself or his
family, and never lets any one know where
he lives
ONCE A THIEF ALWAYS A THIEF.
In 1870, in company with man who has
since reformed, and who is now living hon
estly, and Big Ed Rice, Little Horace stole
$4,000 from Halifax On. 81 bank. Hovan
and the man before mentioned were arrested.
but Rice got away with the money. Both
men were released, as the money was re-
turned to the bank In 1878 Hovan was con
victed for a sneak job in Pittsburg and SEN
fenced to two years and eleven months in the
Western penitentiary at Allegheny City. He
got away, and Robert Pinkerton arrested
him shortly afterward for the robbery Of a
vault of the Middletown Conn., bank, where
be secured over 800, 600 in government, state
and county bonds. The bonds were returned
and he was released In 1881 he was arrested
In Philadelphia with Frank Buck for the lar
ceny Of $lO,950 in securities from a brokers'
safe in that city He was convicted Of bur
glary and sentenced to three years in the
Eastern penitentiary. He was pardoned out
IN 1888 on condition that be would 70 to
Washington and testify against some officials |
who were on trial He agreed to do so on /
condition that an old case against him in |
Charleston, S. C., should be settled, and the I
authorities agreed to his terms He gave his /
testimony, which was not credited by the |
Jury, and in 1854 he was discharged. A |
month after his release ho and Buck TAYLOR /
we're arrested in Boston, but as snothing could /
DO proved against him he was simply ordered /
'ut Of the city
In the fall Of 1885 he was detected in alb /
tracting a package Of bank notes from a
aAS Ii an Ail5llsu DankefS ONCE and was
entenced to three years imprisonment
After he had served bis time abroad he re-
urned to this country via Canada, and came
o Chicago and lived for a while at the Ire
mont house. He then left and went west by
way Of Kansas City
The crook then summarized his career as he
,hatted with the detective; "Why don't you
'eforln, as once advised your asked the de
ective.
81 would only be too willing to do so if any
me would give me employment that my
lealth would stand, but where could man
Ike me get workl You once advised rae to
make an honest living and I determined to
lccept your advice. l went to a city to settle
lown and get employment. a detective came
long, identified me and informed the police.
Although my family offered bond for my
,ood behavior, they were afraid to let me live
here. If they had let me alone I'd been an
lonest man today. / had a family to support
nd had To do something. Tho detectives
united ms down so that / could get no en-
'loyment There's nothing in criminals