The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-28
| HOWGATE CAPTURED.
Robbed Uncle Sam While Chief of
the Weather Bureau.
A AFUGI1iVE FOR THIRTEEN YEARS

His Escape from Washington with a wo-
man Who Aterward Deserted Him.
keeping an Old BOOK Store in New York
Whom Arrestsd-stoIe $500. 900.
NEW YoRK, Sept 2s.-Cnptain Henry
w. Howgnte, formerly chief of the
weather bureau in Washington, who was
disbursing officer as we'll, was arrested In
this city yesterday en- the charges of forg-
cry and the embezzement of 5000 900, com
mitted in 1873 and 1870, The arrest is the
result of a search which has occupied the
attention of the United States secret ser-
vice for over thirteen years
After having searched nearly the whole
country for Howgate, exChief Drum
mond received information that the fugi-
tive was a dealer in old books and pam PHI
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
fRms. 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.
Howgate was, when he fled from Wash
fngton, an active, black haired man in the
prime of life. He is now 60 years old, bent
and broken, with gray hair and beard
The story Of Howgate's exposure and Of
his relations with a woman named Nettie
rFtI Ef.sl
time.
For several years he had led double
domestic life in Washington But few
squares away from the home that con
tanned 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 luxurioua 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
Eideration than ordinary male factors.
He was so utterly opposed to using the
common bath tubs 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-
tsenth street. In order to indulge in lava
poiS bh AITl IL, lNNS L lie
officers remained in the sitting room while
Howgate went up stairs for his bath
1t is said that Miss Howgate, who pos
Bsssod an exquisite voice, sang to the
guardians of her father and made lime
pass so pleasantly that an hour elapsed
before they awakened to proper realiza-
zion of what they were there for They
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 aud gave
the alarm. Captain Howgate by this time
had two hours start
IL is thought he was steaming down the
river below Alexandria before his tiaugh-
ter had finished singing. He escaped by
going out of the rear of the house, when
he was supposed to go to the bath room,
and, going out into the blind alley in the
rear, ourned into the exit Running out 10
the street, where u carriage containing
Nettie Burrill was awaiting him.
A search was Immediately made for
him, but he was not apprehendpd, al
I'll ugh II was notorious that communica.
tion was reGdily established with him,
when his friends found il necessary. for
months after his departure.
II was generally believed that Captain
Eowgate went down the river Immediately
np1n his escape, and took up his residence
IN st, Marys, as it was well known in
Washington that he was continually seen
tn that peighborhod as late us 1887
He then went to New Orleans and re.
manned there until he believed the secret
service detectives were after him. Ac.
cordingly he took his departure west
ward and was seen at one or two places
on the Pacific coast. For two years past
he has been in the east and has made his
home in New York city, Nette Burrill
deserted him two years ago
There are just eleven indictments pend.
ing against the captured man, seven OF
them charging embezzlement, and the
Others charging forgery, all brought in
during October and November, 1851