The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-06
MAXWELL ARRESTED.
How Miss Howell Was Constantly
Harrassed by COlvin.
Latest Developments in the Oakland Affair
The Condition Of the Wounded Man
Reported Favorable.

The shooting of c. L. Colvin. the STEM
| ographer, by John g. Howell in Oakland on
| Monday night has excited almost as much
interest in this city as in the place where
! the tragedy occurred.
This is explained partly by the fact that
some of the persons connected with the af-
fair are we'll known in San Francisco and
also for the reason that there is much mys-
| terry connected with the shooting. which will
| take some time to unravel.
Colvin's life still hangs by thread.
| Since all the bullets but one have been re-
! moved and GOWN has recovered from the
| shock his chances of recovery are consider
ably improved. by the advice Of his brother
| and physicians he has thus far said little OF
| the tragedy.
Miss Annie Howell, who was the innocent
cause of the shooting, and to whom Colvin's
| attentions became somewhat of a perseeu-
ton, has furnished through friends the fol
! lowing statement of her acquaintance with
| the wounded man:
MISS HowELL'S STATEMENT.
Miss Howell met Mr.. Colvin at A social given
| by the Unitarian Churcn on the Slh of Decem-
! Der, 1887. Tile acquaintance was the metest
| accident, lie having been introduced 10 her by an
| make The introduction. On that evening Mr.
| ColEin asked her permission TO call upon her.
| She said that she was TOO busy with her studies
at that tins 10 receive callers. Despite this lie
! called upon her four times in all. and upon the
! last two occasions she was absent from the
| house.
After The last call lie began writing her the
letters containing proIestations of Affection and
| TO one OF these she replied, deprecatng the fact
that she had excited such feelings IN him, she
| had not Intended to do so and had dOse nothing
i 10 make INN think as he said he did of her. She
also asked him 10 cease writing to her. He kept
| ON writing 10 her at intervals, DeyeItheless
| Finally she wrote 10 him that IL he did not let
| her entirety alone she would lay the matter =
| fore her father aud ask him 10 request MI Col
/ Vim TO cease prosecuting her.
lie wrote then promising to deslst and asking
! her 10 return all his letters including that one
She sent this letter back 10 him after writing
upon the back OF IL that she had iot kept one
! OF his letters an hour, aud for time he ceased
| prosecuting her. This was in 1889. In the
| sprlug of That year she had severe attack of
| malarial fever, and while she lay sick he again
wrote TO her. expressing the deepest sympathy.
| Maxwell asserted that lie had discovered that
| her mother had gone on bond, signing that she
owned property TO Tue value OF $1,000 which was
| unlneulnbered, and that lie visited COfaX and
Lander Station and Auburn and found out that
| the Howell ranch was mOrtgaged. He went to
| Heaidsburg aud found out every incident OF Miss
| HowelPs Ifs from the time she was years old.
Finding her mothers name on the bond and
the ranch mortgsged he arranged for an inter
| view with her through Mrs. B own at tho Cen
tennal, aud il was then that lie told her that her
| mother was perjurer. He told her also that
| Mrs Maxwell drank. ana since then Miss Howell
| says she has mol seen her. Then began The
newspaper prosecutions.
LETTERS IN CONFEDERATION.
Several letters were also furnished yes
! terday, one signed Ar. S. e" and the other
M which go to supStantiate the charge of
| Miss Howell having been badly prosecuted.
| The letter signed M states that she is
| back OF proof-sheet, printed in type like
| that used in the Current Comment office.
| The printed slip read as follows:
We have in preparation continued story, Of
which We VIII soon commence the publication In
| the Oracle, which we feel sure will pl aSe our
readers. And more so from the fact that all OF
the incidents contained therein are absolutely
| true and took place In Oakland. II Is, strictly
| speaking, story OF Oakland people who are
| well known here. The situations aud events
! read like the most erOtIe French Notwithstanding
in this case The saying TO Be true one that facts
| are stranger than nc ION. IL deals with church
| aud society people, scnoOlmarms, gamblers. per
Jurers firts, threats OF publication In The Morn
| ing Chimes, etc. Tbr names VIII be given with
| so llite change III them that the actors VIII be
easily recognized. Ii is love story III real life
one that IS sure to please. II has Tor Its heroine
| beautiful ana queenly Oakland young lady
with smile HeaVen-lif, teeth like monumental
alabaster aud complexion Ike ioSe-leaf. a
| sweet girl graduate, just nineteen when our
| story Olens, years ago. She moves IN the most
| select of pious people, occupies a front row at
| church and teaches a Sunday-school class. She
| Is seemingly an angl OF goodness. The deceD-
| ton Is kept up for five years, when finally the
contains a moral and many points which viii
| undoHbtedly create a sensation when it is pub
| llsned. We expect to be Idy for publication in
! short time Look out for Ii.
ARREST OF MAXWELL.
The chief development however, in the
| case yesterday was the arrest OF Perrie
Maxwell in this city by Detective Holland,
| who at once took his prisoner over to Oak
| land Maxwell could not be found on the
| night OF the shooting, but materialZsd on
| Tuesday evening and made statement in
| regard to his not being on hand. declaring
that he could easily have been found. as he
was at his office as usual in the day, aud on
| the street in the night. The chief part OF
| his statement is the following:
| Some limitations IN regard to my wife are en-
tirely untrue grossly unjust. to the effect LII at
| had reason 10 be jealous Of Colvln; that she had
| concerned herself In this affair heretofore. and
was present at ColVins bedside last night,
administering TO his wants, etc. Mrs. Maxwell
! was not In Oakland last night, and had not been
| for weeks before. neither has she had any deal
ings with MIR. Colvin 10 which L, as her husband,
| could object.
In an interview had in Oakland. Maxwell,
| speaking regarding the shooting, of which
| lie was a witness, said
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SHOOTING.
1--WE all went in together, aud were there
| about three or four minutes, should Judge.
| Here Colvin asked me 10 leave The room.
! There were some harsh words between the
parties. 1 was in the room all the time the
|
Howell draw his gun. | do not like TO say
just what passed, but Howell spoke first,
somewhat harshly, TO Colyin. There was an
interchange of sharp language, but There was
nothing abusive Immediately after the
shooting | went ont into the hall.
There were people coming up. and /
mingled with them and spoke to two or
three of them. Then came downstairs. |
| did not see Howell again, but he may have
| passed me in the hall. | am friend to
both parties. l knew Miss Howell long be-
| fore my marriage, and cores ponded with
| her. There has been cOrresp IndeDce since
my marriage between my wife and Miss
| Howell, and between that lady and myself.
| Yes, more than one letter passed between
| us. We have teen mere social friends. and
there was nothing of a compromising nature
in any of Miss Howeifs letters to me"
| After arrest Maxwell reused to say any
| thing in regard to his connection with the
tragedy. He is, by the way the official
| United States Army stenographer in the
| Judge Advocate Generals department.
| Major Hunter the Judge Advocate, thinks
well Of him. His conduct has always been
discreet and at army headquarters they
| speak well of him.
At 1880 last night ColyIn's condition was
| reported by his physician to be materially
improved, with temperature going down
and pulse lower He slept well part of the
afternoon and evening, and also took some
| nourishment His condition was considered
| favorable by the physicians.