Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-06-18
DIR" Howard in Canada.


A dispatch from Montreal to the New
York Herald says:
DR.. CRANKY S. Howard, who is want
ed by the American authorities on a
charge of swindling Mrs. Joseph H.
Spccht out of 81, 900, has been in Mon
treal for sometime living quietly with
his wife. There is q strange story of
hypnotic influence mixed up with the
affair, and when / saw Howard he told
me of his experience since his hurried
flight from Gunston Hall.
He said that in 1855 he and his wife
passed through this city on their way
to England. At Quebec his right ankle
was crushed and he was brought back
to Montreal. Here he was laid up Tor
six weeks. In 1890 Colonel Price lee
tured onsfhe new doctrine, and he was
sent for to assist him. His success was
such hat on his return to Montreal he
received letters suggesting that he
should organize s. home for students of
their religion and the aged and sick.
He was to teach Brahminism as it
was before the days of Buddha, as pre-
served by a certain sect of priests in
India. Mrs. Specht having offered to
furnish funds, he went to st. Louis and
was given $500 without any condition
as to its application or control. 1t was
an absolute gift, and copies of letters
here now prove the truth OF this. The
money was spent on the purchase and
improvement of five acre park, with
houses, adjoining Gunston Hall. He
claims that all was going well until Il
few months ago, when Specht and his
son endeavored to steal from Mrs.
Specht the right to the Gunston Hall
property.
He met Mr.. and Mrs. Specht and son
at the St. James Hotel, Washington,
on May 10, where Specht tried to force
his wife to give up her claim. Failing
in this ne locked her in her room, and
with his son got out a warrant charg-
ing her with lunacy. Howard was to
be called as a material witness, but il
was soon seen that before "A Jury who
knew nothing of the strange religion
Mrs. Specht had accepted the doctors
testimony of the oaths and obligations
she had taken would surely result in Il
verdict in accordance with the charge
of lunacy.
In order to save Mrs. Specht he de-
parted for Canada. Mrs. Howard was
left behind with all the archives of the
order, containing private letters, obli-
cations, oaths, &c, which if made pub
lie would create no end of trouble.
Mrs. Howard finally arranged for the
burial of most of the archives in four
strong boxes, and then, after repeated
ly Disgusting herself and suffering hard
ships on the journey, reached Montreal.
But the Spechts were ut work, said
Howard, and IL mar received $3.50 TO
find the archives, which were dug ny
aud handed over to young Specht.
Having received word that the archives
were going to be made public, Howard
says he wired his lawyer, Captain Il.
Sprague, of st. Louis, TO restrain all
publication, as the letters were stolen
property.
Howard wired his lawyer yesterday !:
Under no consideration delay the
arrest OF latnef ana son. tfOOuS stolen
from your custody and offered for sale.
Stop this thing ut once"
Shortly after the doctors last arrival
here he vas known as w. Wilson.
This was done in order to better COM
municate with his wife and lawyer.
Have you any reason to expect arrest ]
asked of Howard. No, none whatever; as
far rs know there has been no LEGAL action
taken against me in the United States, norarc
there any grounds for action
The doctor and Mrs, Howard then gave
me an interesting description of how she
burned such large quantities of the archives
Just before she left the United States. The
more valuable ones she had buried, but, as
already told, they were discovered. Mrs
Howard said that often to protect herself
from violence she shouldcred a gun as
she walked the grounds in her husbands ab-
scncc.