The San Francisco call., 1895-11-14
HOWELL'S THIRD TRIAL.
His Prosecution in the Federal
Court Begins Again
To-Day.
Matt Jones Expected to Be on Hand
This Time TO Upset All Howell's
Defense

The Howell counterfeiting case comes
up this morning in the United States Dis
trict Court for its third trial. Secret
Service Agent Harris is confident that he
has evidence enough to convict this time.
NJ d. Howell was arrested June %, 1892
at his residence in Stockton. He was sus-
pected of being member of the notorious
North Beach gang of counterfeiters. The
following month he was indicted and q
trial was had in August, the jury Disagree
ing. He was again indicted in October of
that year, and the second trial began July
p, 1898, and lasted until August 10, when
a second disagreement resulted. A third
indictment was returned by the Grand
Jury in April, 1894. Since then another
indictment has been found.
The Indictment on which Howell is now
to be tried differs in some important par
ticulars from the others, and was drawn
up by Assistant United States District At
tornev Knight.
The others charged only the passing OF
counterfeit coin, for which the maximum
penalty is ten years imprisonment, but
Mr.. Knights Indictment charges also the
passing of $5 greenbacks, for which the
maximum penalty is fifteen years.
Sheriff Cunningham is expected to send
several important new witnesses from
Stockton this morning. Perhaps the most
damaging evidence SO far brought against
Howell has been that of his domestic,
Laura Wllks, and on the coming trial it is
believed all her testimony can be fully
substantiated. But the most important
new witness expected is Matt Jones, who
was tenant of Howell, occupying desk
room in the latter's office. Jones man
aged to be absent from the country-at
least this part of it-during the two for
mer trials, but Secret Service Agent Harris
Is at last able to lay his hands on him.
HowelPs defense has always been that
while the counterfeit money sent from this
City to Stockton was addressed to Howell
it was intended for Jones.
This story, it is said, Jones will now go
on the stand and deny.
Howell has had the fortune of having
married rich girl who has been his finan-
cial support all through the celebrated
case. She was the daughter of Captain W
b. Johnson, who owned a great deal of
land i'll the San Joaquin Valley and con-
siderable real estate in the city of Stock
ton. He died leaving an estate worth
$500, 900, and it cost Mrs. Howell, it is cur
rently reported, about $164 900 to buy off
the contestants of his will. Mrs. Howell
her husband. He is now under $4,000
bonds on the April, 1894, Indictment, but
was permitted to enter his own recogni-
Zance on the last Indictment. His wife is
said to have spent $50, COO at least to keep
him out of the penitentiary.
Some time ago United States District
Attorney Foote recommended to the De-
partmeut of Justice that the case be not
pressed any further, but Mr.. Harris learn
ing of the District Attorneys intentions
made report that caused positive in
structions to come from Washington
ordering the case to be prosecuted to
final determination. Mr. Foote fully
agrees now with Mr.. Harris position. The
two former trials of Howell were had be-
fore Mr.. Foote became District Attorney,
and since the last jury disagreed there has
been great deal said about Howell being
prosecuted. The popular opinion in
Stockton has been that the prosecution of
Howell has acted as a great hardship to
his wife.
Howell's attorneys are ex-Judge Bald
win of Stockton and Joseph Campbell and
E. S. Pillsbury, of this City.