The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-09-28
HOWGATE CAPTURED.
Robbed Uncle Sam While Chief Of
the Weather Bureau,
A FUGITIVE FOR THIRTEEN YEARS

His Escape from Washington with - Wo-
man Who Aftcrwnrd Deserted Him.
Keeping an Old Book store in New York
Whom Arrested-stoie $500 600
NEW YORK, Sept. oS-Cap'ain Henry
w. Howgate, formerly chief of the
weather bureau in Washington, who was
disbursing officer as WELL was arrested ia
this city yesterday on the charges Of forg-
cry and the embezzement of S3OOOOO, com
mitted in 1878 and 1919 The arrest is the
result Of a search which has occupied the
attention of the United States secret rer-
vice for over thirteen years
After having searched nearly the whole
country for Howgate ex Chief Drum
mond received information that the fugi-
tive was dealer in old books and pamph-
let's in this city. Every book store was
visited by detectives, without success.
Finally an officer was detailed to watch
the auction sales for Howgate.
About two weeks ago it was suspected
that the fugitive was keeping an old book
store in the basement of No. so Fourth
avenue under the name of Harry will
Jams. A clerk in the war department at
Washington, who had been associated
with Howgate in the weather bureau.
came to this city and identified him.
When arrested Howgate admitted his
identity. He could not furnish bail, and
was taken TO Ludlow street Jail. He will
be taken to Washington this evening.
HowRate was, when he fled from Wash
ington, an active, black haired man in the
prime of life. He is now go years old, bent
and broken, with gray hair and beard
The story of Howgaue's exposure and of
his relations with woman named Nettie
Burrill caused great sensation at the
time
For several years he had led a double
domestic life in Washington. But few
squares away from the home that CON
tained his devoted wife and the daughter
who was to cling to him so determinedly
in the dark hours to come he supported a
woman, Nettie Burrill, in luxurious style
When the crash came and the exposure
of Howgate's dishonesty was followed by
the discovery of his domestic duplicity
| few of his old friends turned from him
At the Jail he was treated with more con-
sideration than ordinary male factors.
He was 50 utterly opposed to using the
common bath ubs in the Jail that his
| kind hearted guardians relaxed the rules
| of the institution TO the extent of allowing
the captain to visit his residence on Thir-
teenth street, in order to indulge in lava
tory luxuriance, on April -, 1882. The
officers remained in the sitting room whils
| Howgate went up stairs for his bath.
1t is said that Miss Howgate who pos
sessed an exquisite voice, sang to the
guardians of her father and made sime
pass so pleasantly that an hour elapsed
| before they awakened to a proper realiza-
| tiAr, af hot thara
asked Miss Howgate to call her father.
| She was gone a long time, and then came
| back pale and excited She could find her
father nowhere, she said. They searched
the house and then rushed out and gave
the alarm. Captain Howgate by this time
had two hours start.
1t is thought he was steaming down the
| river below Alexandria before his daugh
! Ter had finished singing He escaped by
going out of the rear of the house. wheu
I he was supposed to go to the bath room
/ and, going out into the blind alley in the
J rear, turned into the exit running out tC
| the street, where a carriage containing
| Nettie Burrill was awaiting him.
A search was Immediately made for
| him, but he was not appreheuded, al
h1ugh it was notorious that communica
tion was re, diy established with him
when his friends found it necessary foI
months after his departure.
1t was generally believed that Captain
| HowGate went down the river Immediately
upon his escape and took up his residence
in ST. Mary's, rs it was well known il
Washington hat he was continually seer
in that neighborhod as late as 1887.
He then went to New Orleans and re
ma ned there until he believed the secre
service detectives We're after him. Ac
cordIugly he took his departure west
ward and was seen at one or two places
on the Pacific coast For two years pas
be has been in the east and has made hi
home in New York city Nettie Burril
deserted him two years ago.
There are just eleven indictments pend
ing against the captured man, seven o
them charging embezzlement, and tn,
others charging forgery, all brought il
turing October and November, 1851.