San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-01-26
SWINDLED HER SEX.

Death of the Notorious Mrs. Howe
OF women's Deposit Bank Fame.
Special dispatch to the Globe Democrat.
BOSTON, Mass, January 20.-Mrs.
Sarah z. Howe, whose WOmsn's
Deposit Bank proved such success
full swindle just previous to 1850, but
whose shrewdness did not serve to
keep her from the hands of the law,
died in Boston today of paralysis. Adj
verse fortune had SO wrecked her
life that she died penniless, the ex-
her aquaintances Of the city. For
three months she has been living i'm a
boarding and lodging house, careful
ly keeping from these whom she met
the knowledge that she was the no.
torious Mrs. Howe, of WOman's Bank
memory. She has Kept herself from
starving by telling fortunes.
The Woman's Deposit Bank, of
which Mrs. Howe was the ostepsible
head, was probably one of the most
skiIlfulIy managed plots to swindle
women Of moderate means
that was ever devised Even so
sbrewd q woman as Gail Hamilton
was so completely beguiled by it's
gulse of sweet charity that she re-
commended her friends to invest their
money in it, It's career began some
time In 1882. Invitations were extend
ed to unmarried woman of small
means to invest in the bank, not more
than $1,000 being received, and not
less than 500. No married women
or men could become depositors. In
return they were to receive per
cent per month, payable quarterly,
the first payment of interest to be
paid in advance. A the end of the
year it will be seen the deposition OF
500 would receive In interest $l20,
and for years many persons did re-
ceive this income from their humble
investments. To all inquiries made
by inquisitive woman as 20 where the
money came from, the reply was that
q number of benevolent Quakers,
wishing to benefit humble means,
had made Mrs. Howe the custodian
of this charity, and that they were
| paying the interest out Of their own
| pockets without depending on the
money deposited to make any returns
OF income. This proved so complete.
| ly satisfactory that no further ques-
tons we're asked, and SO thoroughly
did the charity become advertised
| that women in the very best circles
of society, not only In Boston, but In
far distant ciJies, fairly begged to be
permitted to participate in its bene-
fits, and fabulous sums of money
poured iuto the lap of Mrs. Howe.
She moved into more expensive quar-
tiers, and went into the business on
! such large scale that 1t attracted
the attention of the press. The
swindle was exposed. Mrs Howe
was arrested and convicted of obtain
ing money under false pretenses, the
wealthy Quakers being only myths
She was sentenced TO three years In
the House of Correction, and served
her sentence. After her release she
opened the bank again, but was care
full not to hold out any false preten
SEES. This venture failed. She sooI
left Boston. for Chicago, and news
came from there that she was trying
her arts on the women of that city
Getting into trouble with the authori
lies, she finally drifted back to Bos
ton. At the height of her career sh'
lived sumptuously, had horses ant
carriages and servants. She was yer.
deaf, almost blind, and gave no In
, dicstions of the great ability niece
ssary to plan and successfully carr.
on a great swindle. 1t was this fac
that led to the belief that she wa
the tool of designing men.