The Monticellonian., 1895-03-01
HoWGATE ACQUITTED.

The Case Not Barred by the Statute of
 Limitations. but Defendant Found Not
 Guilty-The Prisoner, demanded to Gus
 tody on Account of the RemaiDing In-
 dictment, Danced for Joy-The Jury
 Sternly Discharged.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Capt Henry W. Howgate was acquitted ves- terday of the charges of embedding s11,s from the government while holding the position of disburing of ficer in the United States signal serv- ice, and of forging voucher for that amount to even up his alleged wrong. doing. The verdict was rendered about noon, when the jury had been locked up nearly seventy-two hours.
 Capt. Howgate received the an- nouncement without emotion, but after he had been taken to his cell be- heath the court room he danced for joy in the realization that part of the burden and anxiety of fifteen years ! had been lifted from his shoulders. In accordance with his statement when the court adjourned Friday, Judge McComas entered the court room shortly after II o'clock yesterday morn- ing, and received word imme diately that the jury had agreed. Some time was spent in securing the attendance of the attorneys in the case. Messrs. Warrington and Wilson, of the de- fense, responded promptly, and at noon Mr. Jeffords, assistant district attorney, made his appearance as the representative of the government. Capt. Howgate was brought from his cell and took his usual seat beside his faithful daughter, Miss Ida Howgate, who was on hand promptly as usual.
 Judge McComas had instructed the Jury to bring verdicts upon three dis tinct points The first of these was whether the government was disbarred from prosecuting Howgate because of the statue of limitation. An affirma- tive reference on this point would have the effect of not only throwing out the indictments charging forgery and em- bezzlement, but of disposing in a like manner of all the other indictments against the defendant and thus set ting him free.
 Clerk Downs put the usual question as to whether the jury agreed upon verdict, and when Foreman Irsell had responded in the affirmative, he said: i.
 What say you as to the issue upon the plea of the statue of limitations upon both cases upon trial? Do you find for the United States or for the defendant?"
 ''For the United States" was the answer, and Capt. Howgate turned shade paler.
 What say you as to the issue be- tween the United States and the de- fendant as to the charge of forgery contained in the first indictment?" continued the clerk. Do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty9"
 Not guilty" was the response.
 Two or three of the half-doz en spec- tators in the court room arose in their excitement and moved towards How gate with outstretched hands. but the clerk had begun the next question and they restrains d themselves.
 What say you as to the issue be- tween the United States and the de- fendant as to the charge of embezzle- ment contained in the second indict- ment? Do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"
 Not guilty" said the foreman.
 Mir. Warrington arose with the re- mark that the defendant would be re- manded to custody on account of the remaining indictment Judge McCo- mas made no answer to the question, but announced, somewhat sternly, that "The members of this jury are now dis charged"
 Howgate was then taken back to the prisoners cage.