Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-21
WRECKER OF WOMEN
Who Confded in Her and Placed
Their Money in Her Deposit Bank.
THE DEATH OF MRS. SARAH HOWE
Recalls the Manner in Which The Imposed
on the Savings of Her Sex.
HER JUST PUNISHMENT FOR THE CRIME

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.t
Boston, Jan. 20.-Mrs Sarah E. Howe,
whose Woman's Deposit Bank proved such
a successful swindle, just previous to 1882,
but whose shrewdness did not serve to keep
her from the hands of the law, died in Bos-
ton to-day, of paralysis. Adverse fortune
had so wrecked her life that she died penni-
less, the expenses of her funeral devolving
upon her acquaintance of the city. For
three months she has been living in board
and lodging house, carefully keeping from
those whom she met the knowledge that
she was the notorious Mrs. Howe OF
Woman's Bank memory. She has kept her
self from starving by telling fortunes.
"The Woman's Deposit" of which Mrs.
Howe was the ostensible head, was proba-
bly, one of the most skillfully managed plots
to swindle women of moderate means that
was ever devised Even so shrewd woman
as Gail Hamilton" was so completely pc
guiled by its guise of "sweet charity" that
she recommended her friends to invest their
money in it. Its career began some time In
1882
Manner of Working the Fake.
Invitations were extended to unmarried
women of small means to invest In the bank,
not more than 81, 900 being received and not
less than 5000. No married woman or man
could become depositor. In return they
were to receive per cent per month, pay
able quarterly, the first payment OF inter
est to be paid in advance. AT the end OF the
year it will be seen the depositor of 500
would receive in interest S120, and for years
many persons did receive this income from
their humble investments.
IT, oil - ooda hu
women came the reply that number of
benevolent Quakers wishing to benefit
women of humble means had made Mrs.
Howe the custodian of this charity, and
that they were paying interest out Of their
own pockets, without depending on the
money deposited to make any returns of in
come. This proved so completely salts
factory that no further questions were
asked, and so thoroughly did the charity
become advertised that women in the very
best of society not only in Boston, but in
far distant cities, fairly begged to be per
mitted to participate in its benefits, and
fabulous sums of money poured into the lap
Of Mrs Howe. She moved into more ex-
pensive quarters and went into the busl-
ness on such large scale that it attracted
the attention of the press.
Howe Mrs. Howe Was Punished
The swindle was exposed. Mrs. Howe was
arrested and convicted of obtaining money
under false pretences, 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 careful not
to hold out any false pretences. This ven
ture failed. She soon left Boston for Chi
cago, and news came from there that she
was trvinu her arts on the women of that
CITY. Getting into trouble with the authori-
ties, she finally dIifted back to Boston.
At the height of her career she lived
sumptuously, had horses and carriages and
servants She was very deaf, almost blind,
and gave no indications of the great ability
necessary to plan and successfully carry on
a great swindle. 1t was this fact that led
to the belief that she was the tool of de-
signing men,