The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-28
LONG HUNT FOR HOWGATE.
The Aged Criminal Under a False
Name Dealing in Old Books.

Eluded and Fooled His Pursuers,
but Was Caught at Last-Reavy
Bail Demanded of HowRate on Two
Charges-He Goes to Jail.
New York, Sept 27.-Capt. Henry w.
Howgate, formerly chief of the weather
bureau in Washington. and who has been
a fugitive from justice since the winter
Of lSSO-8l, was arrested to-day at 10
o'clock in Ninth street between Broad
,vay and Fourth avenue, by Detective A
I. Drummond of this city, acting for J.
sterling Morton, secretary of agriculture
at Washington
Howgate was not only chief but dis
bursing officer of the weather bureau.
His embezzlement, forgeries and larcen-
les. it is alleged, aggregated $4,000 at
least.
He was an officer of the regular army
and being genial whole-souleI man, had
hosts of friends. There are seven indict-
ments hanging over Howgate, each con-
tanning a number OF counts
Howgate was arrested in 1881, but es-
caped from an officer, who had him in
charge, on a visit to his home.
He disappeared, and has not since been
seen and identified by any United State
Washington with a woman not his wife.
He mad family at that time. He now
has a daughter who lives at Newbury
port, Mass.
The woman with whom he fed from
Washington has long since left him.
Howgate was, when he fed from Wash
ington. an active black-haired man in the
nrime of life. He is now 80 years old,
bent and broken, and with gray hair and
beard.
Though the United States officers have
beeu hunting all over the United States
for Howgate. he has been living quietly
here in New York city as dealer IN sec
ond-hand books His place OF business
was at No 50 Fourth avenue in base
ment. He had cards printed bearing the
name of Harry Williams" and by that
name he has for years been known to the
book trade of this and other cities.
Howgate's cards announced that he
deals in ''old magazines, revews and
periodicals" His residence was 1875 West
Tenth street, where he had bachelor
lodgings" and kept large amount OF
stock for his store.
Detectives hunted the continent over
for Howgate but without success.
Four months ago DrummOnd learned
that Howgate was in the book business
in this city or Brooklyn. A systematic
hunt of the book stores in the two cities
"
employe as no bookseller named How
gate was known to the trade. Whenever
any of DrummOnd's agents learned that a
man sembling Howgate in appearance
had been found in bookstore, that en-
ploye was shadowed. His acquaintance
was formed, and his private life fathomed
by conversation. A week ago Drummond
tried the plan of haunt ting book sales auc-
ton rooms 1t was a happy thought.
A clerk from the war department in
Washington who knew Howgate made
the rounds of the book auction rooms
every day.
On Monday the clerk saw Howgate en-
ter an auction room on Broadway neal
Tenth street. The clerk was not certain,
however, as Howgate had changed.
From a man weighing upward of 19C
POUNDS he has grown to be dried up ole
man of about l45 pounds.
The clerk went again TO the book sale
on Tuesday and entered into conversation
with Howgate. From Howgate's manner
of speaking the clerk was certain that he
stood before the fugitive at last. Drum
mond took the midnight train for Wash
iDgton on Tuesday, and yesterday got &
bench warrant from Judge Bingham OF
the supreme court. he returned TINS
morning. When Howgate was arrested
he remarked quietly, 81 know when an
beaten" The detective and his prisoner
EoO Ol d + OuIbl dN6uuS Cdl anu N1AO u
the federal building. United States Com
missioner Shields turned the case er Il
United States Commissioner Alexander
United States District Attorney VI allact
Mct arlane appeared for the goyel ment
Howgate had no ,ounsel.
Howgate was arrai- ned on the nOmina
charge made in the Washington indict
ments in 1879, of obtaining $500 on ;
for ed receipt from II. ID. Sawyer, IL
July, 1879.
"i ou understand this charge2" asked
Commissioner Alexander. ''Uh yes, sait
Howgate, with a feeble smile. 'lt is on
OF the old series, ! suppose"
This said the commissioner, "is al
application to hold you in order that
warrant may be obtained from Unitet
States district judge, so that you may b.
taken to Washington. Do you demand al
examinations"
mo, no. waive an examination, ant
admit my IDENTITY" said the old man
II here is no object in delay"
Bail fixed at Sl0,0O0," said the com
missioner.
II here is another charge" said Unitet
States District Attorney Mct'arlane
Here is another charge of embezzlinl
the sum of S54 600"
same bail fixed for that-Sl0,0O0,'
SAID the commissioner. Howgate said h.
could not give bail, and he was taken L
ludlow street JAIL pending advices iron
Washington.
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES.