The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-28
HowGATEs FLIGHT.
Fled While His Daughter Was Enter.
thinning the Officers by SINGING.


WASHINGTON. Sept. 27.-Captain How
gate was arrested in Washington in 1881
for embezzlement of funds that passed
through his hands as disbursing officer of
the signal corps and also for forgery. The
total amount involved was s101,257. He was
Indicted on six counts before a United
States commissioner. His bail was fixed at
SO 600 and he was released. He jumped his
bail and disappeared. Subsequently, In lsSS,
he reappeared and gave himself up to
stand trial. but he escaped April 13, 1852.
and has not since been seen except by
vague rumors. The district attorney was
informed several days ago that Howgate
had been discovered and would be arrested.
His information came from ex-Chief Drum
mond, of the secret service. 1t is said that
people in Washington have seen and talked
with Howgate on the streets of New YORK
several times within the last few years.
1t had been supposed that the federal
authorities had abandoned the purpose OF
prosecuting the case.
The story of Howgate's exposure and OF
his relations with a woman named Nettie
Bu--in caused a great sensation at the
time For several years he had led double
domestic life in Washington. But few
squares away from the home that contained
his devoted wife and the daughter who was
% cling to him so determined in the dark
hours to come he supported a woman IN
luxurious STYLE. When the crash came ana
the EXPOSURE of Howgates 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
consideration than ordinary malefactors.
He was so utterly opposed TO using the
common bath tubs in the lail that ms
kind hearted guardians relaxed the rules
of the institution 10 the extent or allowing
the Captain to visit his residence on mir
teenth street on April II, lsS@' IN ORDER 70
indulge in lavatory luxuriance. The officers
remained sitting in the sitting room wnIe
Howgate went upstairs for MS Datn. IL
an exquisite voice. sang TO the guardians
of her father and made time pass so pleas
antly that en- hour elapsed before tney
awakened to a proper realization OF wnat
thew were there for They asked Miss
Howgate TO call her father. She was gone
a long time and then came back pale ana
excited She could find her father nowhere
then rushed out and gave the alarm
Captain Howgate by this time had two
hours the start of pursuit If IL had been
Instituted Immediately. 1t is thought he
was steaming down the river below Alex.
andria before his daughter had finished
SenGinsf; SeaT af the house when he was supposed
TO go 10 the bath room, and, going out INTO
the blind alley In the rear. turned into the
carriage containing Nettie Burrill was
awaiting him A search was Immediately
made for him. but he was not apprehended.
although it was notorious that communi-
cation was readily established with him
when his friends found IL necessary. IL Is
generally believed that Captain Howgate
went down the river Immediately upon his
escape and took up his residence In ST.
Mary's as IL was well known in Washing
ton that he was continually seen In that
neighborhood as late as 1SN. He then went
TO New Orleans and remained there until
he believed the secret service detectives
were after him. Accordingly. he took his
departure westward. and was seen at one
or two places on the Pacific coast For
two years past he has been in the East,
ard made his home in New York city.
District Attorney Birney said to-day that
there would be no trouble In having How
gate here to answer the several indlct-
ments against him, either tomorrow or
next day. When he did reach here bail
would be asked for In such an amount as
10 make his appearance amply secure. and
no time whatever would be lost in push
ing the cases pending against him. There
were just eleven indictments pending
against the captured man, seven OF them
charging embezzlement and the others
forgery all brought in during October and
November, 1881. He was released on his
personal recognizance in the sum OF $1,000
Oct. s, 1881.