Evening journal., 1895-06-28
A BOLT FROM THE SKIES
Richard G. Howard, One of the
Reformers Spies in Custody.
A SERIOUS CHARGE AaAIN5r HIM

lie Is Accused Of Using n Girl Under the
Axe Of Consent for Immoral Purposes.
She Comes From Norriatown and is in
Custody.
A new phase In the reform movement
developed to day which will not only add
zest to the war Of the reformation which
has been inaugrated by Revs. Drs.
Howard and Watt, but will also be q
great surprise to those who have given
the local imitators Of the celebrated New
York reformer their support and encour-
agement.
At the time the raid was made on the
keepers OF the houses OF ill-fame, where
liquor was sold without license.
according to the two men, Richard @.
Howard and Henry W. Farrier, employed
as spies by the reverend gentlemen, it
was claimed by those women that the
spies themselves we're not clear OF re-
proach, but that the fear OF incriminAtiuR
themselves kept them silent, especially
as their statements would not have the
same weight with the public 81 that of
the prosecuting witnesses.
The chief Of police was, however.
+ furnished with certain information
which pointed very strongly to the fact
that there was something wrong in
Denmark and Detectives McVey and
Wltsil took the matter In hand.
Alice DeComa. or as she Ia known,
Alice McUallum Is the proprietor Of one Of
the places against which the guns Of Drs
| Howard and Watt have been trained
One OF the inmates of this place has been
a girl by the name Of May Hill, native
OF Norristown, Pa. and barely
~ L. f.I.
that on one or more occasions
Richard a. Howard visited the house and
used May for immoral purposes This
house Was not ralded nor was Alice ia
any way molested When the raid was
made May left town and went
on visit home, but yesterday
she returned and was at once
arrested and taken to police headquar.
/ ters The registered certificate OF her
BIRTH showing that she is now but IL,
and other proof relative to the charge
made against Howard wore secured aud
the trap was sprung
Young Howard Arrested.
Shortly before u o'clock this morning.
Detectives McVey and Witsil, having
secured a warrant, went to the Asbufy
N. E. Church parsonage, At No 222
Walnut street, where Richard @ Howard
was stopping with his brother, Rev. DR..
J. H. Howard. and placed him under
arrest. He seemed very much surprised
and turned several colors
He was taken TO police headquarters
accompanied by DR. Howard and locked
up In cell Later on Rev. Mr.. Watt
and II. w. Ferrler, the prisoners com
panion on his tonrs, went to the station
house Howard was removed, shortly
after his incarceration, to the office of
the chief Of police where he still is.
An ehort Is being made TO secure bail,
which has been fixed at 81 600 The
oitense comes under the new law passed
by the last General Assembly, and which
likes the age Of consent at Is years. The
penalty is a fine Of not more than 81 900,
or Imprisonment not to exceed seven
years or both. The keeper OF the house
is also liable under the same act.
Said TO he a Married Man.
The arrest caused considerable excite.
ment and WAS the topic OF conversation
on the streets. Ths ministers were
Inclined 20 look on IL as an attempt to
get square while those who had opposed
the methods taken by Dr. Howard la
sending Ais brother and not going him
self and exposing Ferrier to the danger OF
lntemperance, looked upon the result as
only natural.
It is rumored that Howard is 3 married
man and has family in Portsmouth, Va.
"rrumpsd Up Charges"
When the detectives notified Howard
that they had warrant against him.
DR.. Howard said II understand you
have tfumped up charges against us aud
| you had better drop them.
Detective MoVey said Mr. Howard
We are not the law simply the instru-
msnts Of that law II there is TO be- any
dropping II must be after the evidence is
heard
Big Crackers Yet to Fire.
At the police station Mr. Watt re.
marked TO tina detectives: You needn't
think that we have fred of all the big
crackers first. not by long shot The
bigger crash will come yet =
Detective Wltsil replied " That doesn't
matter Mr. Watt The more the meErier.
Fire away"
FeIrier who was standing near pulled
a $40 and a So bill from his pocket. One
Of the detectives remarked: "It's pretty
good thing to have friends so you can
live without work. " Ferrier simply
laughed and rolling the bills up put
L eheNA ~ his fenb puohcbi
Squire Durney added :"Well It's always
good TO have a trade whether you work
at it or not
A newspaper man remarked that he
thought the law fixing the age Of consent
at Is years was very stringent, when
Ferrier said: Anything over eighteen
years isn't worth having"
The Hill girls mother is in Whining
ton and will be used to substantiate the
girls age.
Howard is q married man. He WAS
married some seventeen years and has
six children.
Another for the Edge Moor People.
PHILADELPHIA, June 2e Pier No. 30.
south wbarves, at the foot OF Pine street,
Delaware river owned by Henry Winsor
q Co., occupied for the past thirty-6Ve
L wars bv tha RDqtou aud philadalnhla