The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-17
HOWGATE IS CAPTURED.
FOB TWELVE YEARS a FUGI-
TIVE FROM JUSTICE.

Accused Of Stealing $37O,O00 From
the Government While Chief Of
the Signal Service at Washington
Escape and Subsequent Remark.
able Career.
Captain Henry ". Howgate, formerly Dh.
bursting officer Of the United States Signal
Service, who used his official position to en-
bezzle about ESQ, 900 OF Uncle Sans money,
and since 1882 has been fugitive from jus.
lice, was arrested few days ago in New
York City. This arrest is the cul.
mtnation OF mo-e than twelve years
Of United States authorities to apprehend
him, and marks the close Of the career OF one
Of the most picturesque and interesting
criminals in official history. During the
twelve years since this man escaped from
the hands OF justice by climbing out OF
back window of his house, In Washington,
D. c., while the Sheriff waited in his parlor,
the Secret Service has been untirln9 In Its
efforts to capture him.
And after all these twelve years OF un-
wearied and expensive search, Captain How
gate was at last discovered IN New York
City, where, for five or six years, he has
been living the quiet and peaceful lite OF
dealer. In second hand books and old
pamphlets. Under the innocent name OF
Harvey Williams, he has attained some
prominence In this obscure and musty busi'
ness. He had an establishment In the
cellar Of No. 80 Fourth avenue, place we'll
known to book worms and students OF
meteorology and old magazine literature.
he has lived for four years quiet and In.
offensive private life with young and pretty
woman wnom he called his wife at No. 195
West Tenth street, within sight OF the tall
tower surmounting Jefferson Market Police
Court. No family was ever better spoken OF
than were the Wllliamses By their neighbors
In the old Ninth Ward.
expressed no surprise. He said he had e1-
pected capture for years. He added that he
had come to New York because he thought
II the safest place In the United States Tor
one In his position to hide In. He ought to
know. for he has covered the continent since
his escape In his efforts to find secure re-
treat. The story OF bis lie is romance.
Captain Henry W. How3ate, the once dis
tinguished officer In the United States Army
led the Howgate expedition into the Arctic
Sea and was made Chief Of the Signal Ser
vice upon his return In 1878. he Is sixty
two years old now, miserable, broken
down man.
Howgate resigned his commission In the
United States Army IN 1880, and at the death
Of General Myer announced himself as q
candidate for the Office Of Chief Signal Off,
Ger. At the time he wcs q very popular man
and was considered honest. He was
Michigander and once was postmaster at
Bone, Mich.
A naison with dashing young ad7entur-
ess was the cause OF Howgate's downfall,
which was precipitated by discoveries made
by General Hazen aftera Washington news
paper had published rumors about his ad-
ministration as disbursing officer.
Howgate fed IRON Washington April 16,
1881, and he was not arrested until October
4 ofthat year, when he was found at Mount
Clemens. Mich, where he had been laid up
with sciatica.
He was first charged with embezzling
$4,000, but the amount grew with tnvestt-
cation OF his accounts, until It was estab-
ilshed that he had squandered between
1000 and $1,000 OF money stolen from
the Government. In spite OF this Howgate
was released on ball, and 1t was rumored
that his iniquity was shared by others, and
that to protect them he might never be tried.
Color to these insinuations was given In
the sudden disappearance OF Howgate. and
1t was thought that he had forfeited his bail
lngton and was put In jail. He had been In
New York with the woman TO whom he owed
his disgrace.
In spite Of repeated warnings. the officials
favored the prisoner In an extraordinary
way. He was often allowed to leave the
prison In charge Of On officer, and ran up
large bill for carriage hire, which was the
subject Of lawsuit.
April 19. 1882, . on IN application from
Howgate, Judge A. Wyne, OF the Supreme
Court OF the District of Columbia, issued an
order By which HowRate was able to leave
prison In charge Of Court Bailiff Doing.
Howgate's excuse to Judge Wylie was that
he wished to 60 to GIT Thirteenth straet
Northwest, to see his daughter. who had Just
come from Vassar, and to look over some
private papers. Doing, after reaching the
house, did not trouble himselfto look after
his prisoner. When two hours had elapsed
and he inquired for him he was told that
Howgate had gone ITO stretch his legs, and
the last clue to the fugitive was from boy,
who said that he saw him playing with dog
on the next square.
For the next five years Chief DrummoDd re-
ceiyed abundance OF false news about How.
gates movements, and now and then OBJ
tanned information of his having been In
various places, but he escaped arrest. In
1887 the detectives believed that they could
catch him when he visited his daughter In
Newburyport, Mass. If he had such inten-
ton he was warned, as the house was
watched In vain for many weeks. News OF
Howgate's arrest was sent to Attorney
nooorol nIpar-