The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-26
KILLED MANY MEN.
A Young Kentuckian Boasts of
His Bloody Career.
Pardoned for stage-RObbery in Order That He
May Be Taken Back to Missouri
and Tried for Murder.

Governor Markham's first act of executive
clemency was to grant a pardon to Wilson
Howard alias Charles Brown, whowas sery-
ing eight years Imprisonment at San Ouen-
tin for robbing a stage in Calaveras County
last August. The pardon was granted at
the request of officials from Missouri, where
HO ward is wanted on charge of murder.
Howard was not at all pleased with the
Governors clemency for the reason that
when released from the Pententiary yester-
day he did not go forth a free man. He was
at once taken in custody by Detective #. V.
Imboden of Dixon County, Mo-, brought to
this city and lodged at the City Priso,
The crime for which he is wanted for trial
In Missouri is the murder and robbery Of a
deaf mute named Jones in Dixon County.
That crime pales into insignifcance, how
ever, when the whole record of the prisoner
as gun fighter is given.
TEN NoTCHEs ON HIS GUN.
Although less than 2S years of age How
ard is credited with having killed no less
than ten rleD in Harlan County, KY, where
for eight years lie waged bitter warfare
against the Turner and Hall faction. In ap-
pearance lie is typical young Kentuckian,
OF medium build, dark complexion and
piercing black eyes.
When interviewed he claimed to be inno-
cent of the charge of numbering the deaf
mute, but he frankly confessed having killed
half dozen men in Kentucky. He spoke
as coolly Of shooting down men as an ordi-
nary man would Of staying ducks. In every
Instance he claimed that lie shot in self-de-
tense, or killed in order to prevent his own
life from being taken. During the eight
years the feud was being waged between
the Howard and Turner families and their
fOll0wpTG taG q n ar " fonr
sons were slain.
SHOOT OR BE SHOT.
It's just like this" said the prisoner,
had to do some pretty tall shooting or be
killed myself. The trouble started while
my father was Sheriff of Harlan County,
killed man, and when my father went
after them they declared war ON US. While
was off working on farm fifteen miles
away the Turner crowd went 10 the house
OF my father and mother at Harlan Court
House and drove the old folks away. They
also tried to burn the house down. My
mother escaped and rode over to where I
was working l rode to the town, armed
and ready for action. AT daylight | ap-
peared in front of the house occupied by
the Turner'S. They opened up on me and
returned the fire with such effect that three
OF their men were killed"
TEN MEN AFTER HIM.
Howard boasted of several other similar
encounters i'll which lie always came out
victorious After his father ceased to be
Sheriff, q friend of the family was elected
and no attemtt was ever made to arrest him.
Several times" lie continued, latter leav-
ing the county | wrote to the Sheriff and
volunteered to 90 back if tile people would
give me square trial. The Sheriff would
take no action in the matter. Finally the
County Judge hired ten men to arrest me
and bring me before him for trial. Most of
tie men were killed in trying to carry out
the Judges orders. This is how it hap
pened: | had the name of being king of the
Harlan moonshiners, but it WIS not true.
was friendly With them, but toUk no part in
the illicit distillng of whisky. One night l
was up in camp with four muonshiners.
They were playing cards and took a seat
on log twenty ieet away. Suddenly there
was a shot and young m0onshiner named
Spurlock fell dead. The ten men hired by
the Judge had slipped up and mistook
Spurlock for me. Well, we grabbed our
the leader after he had shot at me, and l
reckon several others fell by the Wayslde
that night.
GOT THE DROP ON HIM.
cat another time fellow named c. aig
took contract to kill me for $1,000. | met
Craig one afternoon, and as Pm pretty handy
with a gun, got in the first shot and killed
him. Craig belonged to bad family, any,
low, and his loss was not mourned much.
Seven meE were killed over his mother and
Jlree over MS sister.
Howard has brother, John D. Howard,
aged II years, who is accused of having
Killed several men, and is now in Jail on a
charge of murder.
Detective lmboden is accompanied by a
young man named Bayley, who declares
that Howard lay in ambush and deliber-
atcly shot down two of his uncles. Howard
denies this, and says he expects to be killed
before reaching Missouri by Bayley, who is
somewhat of a gun fighter himself, anu who
the prisoner says is a member of the gang
he fought against for so many years. IF
he does kill me-" said Howard, 'he won't
live long after he gets back to Kentucky"
IN CALIFORNIA.
Howard came to California about year
ago. He drilted around until ne arrived in
CalaveraS County, where he worked on n
farm. In West Point he was arrested for
drawing a gun during a quarrel, but es-
capped conviction. The next DAY he wan
dered down toward Mokelumne Hill and
held up the stage. He secured Wells,
Fargo & Co.'S treasure-boX. but it contained
nothing of any value. He was promptly
arrested, aud at San Andreas pleaded
guilty and received the term stated.
He would have served out the full term
had not the Missouri authorities discovered
his whereabouts and induced the Governor
to pardon him in order that he might be
tried for one of his many murders. The
officer will start East with him this morning