Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-01-21
A FAMOUS SCANDAL
Recalled by the Death
of Mrs. Howe.
A LIFE ENDED IN POVERTY
Although She Possessed Fabulous
Although She Possessed Fabulous
Sums a Few Years Ago.

bos sroN, Jan. 2l.-Mrs Sarah f. Howe,
whose Woman's Deposit bank proved
such "a successful swindle just previous TO
$780, but whose shrcwdncss did not serve
To keep her from the hands OF the law,
died yesterday of paralysis, at ;33 Ire.
mont street
Adverse fortune had so wrecked her life
that she died pCnniless the expenses OF
her funeral deyolving upon her acquaint-
ances of the city She had no friends and
no relative so far as il known For three
months she had been living in boarding
and lodging house, carefully keeping from
those she me. ho knowledge that she was
the notorious Mrs Howe of womaus bank
memory. As feeble as most old ladies Of
IS, she experienced all the priyations that
fall upon penniless friendless person.
"The woman's Deposit"
OF which Mrs. Howe was the ostensible
head, was probably one OF the most skill
fully managed plots 10 swindle women Of
moderate means that was ever devised
Even 80 shrewd "a woman as Gail Hamil-
ton was 50 completely beguiled by its
guisc Of sweet charity that she recon-
mended her friends 10 invest their money
in it and even after its promoter had been
found guilty OF obtaining money under
| false pretences, she came To its defense in
bright and caustic article published in
! The Atlantic Monthly
Its Career began some time in 1882 in
| humble quarters on an obscure street at
| the South End Invitations were ex-
tended to unmarried women OF small
means TO invest in the bank not more than
5000 being received, and not less than
500 No married woman or man could
become deposltor. In return they were
to receive 3 per cent per month, payable
quarterly, the first payment Of interest to
be paid ia advance At the end OF a year,
IL will be seen, the depositor OF slU would
receive in interest Sl2O And for years
many persons did receive this income from
their humble investments.
To all Inquiries made by inquisitive
women IA To where these fabulous sums
Of money came from, the reply was that
| number Of benevolent Quakcrs, wishing
to benefit won ~ OF humble means, had
made Mrs Howe the custodian OF their
charity, and that they were paying inter
est out Of their own pockets without de
pending on the money deposited 10 make
any returns of income. This proved 20
completely satisfactory that fabulous
sums Of moucy poured into the lap Of Mrs.
| Howe.
IIushed with Success
! and not satisfied with her humble sur
| rOuudihgs, in an unguarded moment she
purchased for SiOCo the beautiful house
on the corner OF East Brookline and
| Washington streets 10 was furnished
sumptuously, n cupola aud a conservatory
added and tho front parlor turned into n
banking Office IN charge of Miss Julia
Gould, or J. Could, IA she was familiarly
called The front door was jealously
guarded 10 prevent the entrance of men,
and no woman, unless introduced by de
positor or agent, was allowed inside. A
branch Office was established on West
Brookline street Many women in Boston
and other cities were made agents and re
ceiycd commissions for inducing their
female friends 10 become depositors. There
was, In fact. little short of craze to get
inside the place for purposes Of invest
mcut and 10 all suggestions that the con
Germ was swindlc came the cunanswcrable
reply that the interest was paid promptly,
and hud been for years.
Newspapers Caught On"
At last the affair attracted the attention
of the press, but rather in the form of
ridiculc than serious mention. Tho Ad-
| vertiser was the first Co realize the gigan-
| tic swindle that was being pcrpetrated
and how it was gathering strength for its
| ncfHriuus business 4 systematic effort
! wa- made to hr,uk Il up, and By the
! aid of bright and clover women, who
! gained access to the inner circles, the in
/ side working, of III" institution were re
/ vcalcd for the first time 10 the public at
! large This was in the summer of the
/ year 1882. and in two weeks after the first
assault was made, the place was in the
| hands ~ the sheriff This move was made
! by Augustus Russ, who brought suit in
| the name Of two clients, ~ soon as the
concern stopped payment, TO recover the
amount of their deposits
The run on the bank started by The Ad-
yertiSer, and the stopping Of new dep sits,
! To which, OF course, Mrs Howe looked for
the sources of her interest, had left il so
| completely without assets that Mr.. Russ
claims could not bc paid, and a keeper was
| placed in charge The police authorities
. had claimed that no criminal act had beeu
| committed and refused to interest them
I selves. but witnesses were found who
| could testify that Mrs. Howe had told
| them about the Quaker fund, and on an
| indictment for obtaining money under
| false pretenscs, she was arrested and
| tanned as her counsel and John w Way
and prominent Boston business man
named Greeley went her bail and she was
released from custody.
sentenced to Prison.
She was, after considerable delay, tried
| in the superior criminal, found guilty aud
sentenced TO three years In the house Of
| correc, ion. She served out her sentence
and again started q similar business at
| l32 West Concord street, but she was too
crafty to hold ont any false pretences and
IL Is believed few people showed their con
| fidyncc bv investing money.
She soon 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 authorities there.
| She finally drifted back To Boston.
AZ the height of her career she lived
sumptuously had horses and carriages
| and servants She was deaf. almost blind,
/ aud gave no indications OF the great abil.
| ity necessary TO plan and successfully
/ carry on n great swndle II wns this fact
| that led 70 the belief that she was the will.
ing tool II designing men.