Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-14
THE HOWGATE DEFENSE
Opening statemen. Today BY the Defend
ants Counsel.
Gen. Greedy and Others Testlfy to
Meeting Capt. HOwHatc In New
York City.

The trial of Capt Henry W. Howgate did
not really begin today until after 1 o'clock
this afternoon. The morning was spent in
first waiting for Mr.. Wilson, who had
case in the Court of Appeals, and then in
passing upon certain questions raised by
the evidence. Finally, Mr.. Wilson came in
when a recess was taken until l O'Clock,
when Mr.. Worthington opened the case Tor
the defense.
Mr. Worthington said that the jury would
for the first time learn with what the de-
PENDANT was charged from the defendant
counsel: from him: although the district
attorney should at the very commencement
have informed them. The district attorney
had. it was true, attempted to state the
charges, but no one but lawyer could
have understood him.
The defendant. explained Mr.. Northlng-
ton, was charged with first embezZl;nS the
sum of S11 500, and then with forging the
rame of Treasurer Rochester of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company TO voucher
for the purpose of conceal1nS the aiiesed
embezziement. But said Mr.. Worthington
the defendant neither converted the sum to
his own use nor forged Mr.. Rochester
name. He would show that the check was
made out for legitimate purpose, anu
with the approval CT the defendants CHIEF
Gen. Myer. and that Mr. Rochesters mans
not forged.
As to the Dead.
Counsel and defendant. remarked Mr..
worthington, had been charged with cast
ing reflections upon the honesty of both
Gen Myer and Leonard Whitney. But the
charge was false and unjust to counsel and
the defendant. Mr.. Worthington stated
that he knew both of the dead men well.
and paid quite graceful tribute to their
integrity. explaining that the defendant
nor his counse! fer a single moment even
thought Of rejecting upon the dead. But,
said Mr.. Worthington, the defendant Is
charged with dishonesty, and the acts OF
the dead had only been recalled to show
that if the defendant had done or even at
tempted TO do wrong SO careful and con-
scientious a man and officer as Gen. Myer
would have detected and prevented 1t. and
so honest man as the late Leonard Whit
ney would have exposed rather than par
ticipated in the alleged wronsdoing of the
defendant.
Not IA Fugitive.
Mr.. Worthington referred TO the conten-
ton of the prosecution that the defendant
had been a fugitive from justice and stated
that he would show that he never was
such. He would show that he roamed the
streets OF New York for years meeting
and conversing with high officers of the
government, and that not a step was taken
10 arrest him. I'VE will show exclaimed
tIr. Wort hinSton. in conclusion. that the
OSisnIdnl SURRENDERED nlUSeiI WHeH HTSl
accused, that he remained in jail for
months without being given n trial, and
that he was allowed to go out of Jail in
such way as to plainly indicate that they
wanted to get rid of him
Gen. Grcely's Testimony.
AS the first witness for the defense, Nor
ris c. Wyman OF New York was called. He
stated that he is a book dealer. and had
dealt with the defendant for seven years,
knowing him as r. Williams.
Gen. A. w. Greedy. chief signal officer.
was next called to the stand, and created
some surprise by stating that he twice
accidentally met the defendant in New
York about three years ago. He first met
the defendant on Aston Place. Broadway,
being called by the defendant. They con-
two months later they again met there,
when they corversed for about half an
hour. The defendant made no suggestion
as to witness concealing the fact of their
meeting or the whereabouts of the de-
PENDANT.
Lieutenant David J. Gibbon. L. s. A.,
retired, testified that he had known the de-
PENDANT for twenty-five years, and in No
vernber. 1850. met him in New York, at
9th avenue and Broadway. talking with
him for some few moments.
joseph Silk. Samuel Rainier and Samuel
Coulter of New York testified that they
were engaged in the book trade there and
had known the defendant there for several
years
At the conclusion of their testimony the
trial was Adjourned at 2:3O until tomorrow
morning.