Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-06-09

DIR" HowARD.-A special from
Washington to the New York World
saws .'Dr. Granleigh s. Howard, who
has been arrested in Canada IN a charge
of defrauding Mrs. Joseph H. Specht, OF
Gunston Hall, wife of q wealthy st.
Louis merchant, came to the United
States from England a few years ago,
representing himself to be n physician.
He was apparently about sixty years OF
age and of good breeding.
Howard gave himself out as an ex-
officer of the Eleventh Lancers, but
there is not and never has been such a
regiment in the British service, Elev-
enth having been always a Hussar
regiment. AS an officer OF the suppos-
ititious Eleventh Lancers Howard al
legged that he went out 10 India many
years ago, his relations with the court
aud royal family being such that he re-
ceived his instructions personally from
the Queen.
In st. Louis he gave out that he was
commissioned by the Brahmins to found
in America a branch OF the Oriental re-
lgious order known as the wisdom Of
Cod" Into>this order" he indicted
she wife and eldest daughter, also mar
ried, of Specht, who is a well-known
clothing dealer in st. Louis.
Two or three years ago Mr.. Specht
bought an estate on the Virginia side Ct
the Potomac river known as Gunston
Hall. The Spechts had not long been
domlciled in their Virginia home before
Howard turned up. 1t is said that he
acquired a complete hypnotic control
over Mrs. Specht, who was convinced
ofthe geGuineness of his mystic proies-
sions. lie represented himself to be
the agent Of a society with a capital of
$4,000. 600 which desired to establish a
college of occultism in America.
Mrs. Specht fell readily in with ths
plan. and small buildings were erected
Al Ganston Hall, in which the studies
were prosecuted. the lady. it is said.
paving all the expenses. a number OF
people were interested in the matter
aud Howard brought several well"
known -. Louis people to Gunston
Hall as students in his so-called col
iege.'
Mrs. Specht was buoyeG ~ by the
promise that she was TO be made nigh
priestess OF the order of America, and
went into the work with o will.
on Friday. May II, Mr.. and Mrs.
Specht and Howard went to Washing
ton. when Mr.. Specht inquired aDoat a
certain y, 600 that he lad drawn from
the bank and intrusted TO his vile. she
acknowledged having received IT,, but
could not tell where it was. That night
Howard disappeared.
A dispatch from St.Louis says: Hun
dreis of people in st. Louis are inter
ested in the report that DR., Howard Is
under arrest in Canada. He made his
appearance i st. Louis seven years
ago. and soon wormed his way into ne
inner circles of the students and follow
ers Of t~heosorhy here, who at that time
were quite numerous. Among the most
conspicuous of them was Alexander
Russell Webb, then a newspaper man.
Howard feared him, as he thought mat
Webb knew or suspected him 20 pe Il
fraud. 1t is reported that webb warn
ed others against him.
among those who became interested
in Howard were CELSIUS and Qu!ntlus
Price. sons OF the Confederate General,
Sterling Price. CELSIUS was State lnsur-
nnce commissioner, and Quintius was a
prominent merchant. DR.. Sylvester
Nidelet, one of the most prominent phy-
sicians in the city, also became q cou-
vert and followed Howard
Nothing has been heard in this city
of DR.. Howard since it was stated a
week ago that he had been arrested in
Canada and that n requisition would be
asked for his return TO Virginia. Peo-
plo in the Gunston neighborhood say il
he is brought back nothing can be done
with him as Mrs. Specht either gave or
loaned him the money.