The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-26
FROM THRONE TO PRISON. F.
WILLIAM HOUGHToN, WHO ONCE
RULED ABYSsINIA.

One of the Most Brilliant Criminals
and BIaclkmaiIers--How He and
Major Barlow BambOozIed n king.
Houghton WAS Made Prime Minis
ter and His Comradc Given Conn
mand of the .Army-.They Lived
Like Princes--BarIow Was KILLED
and HOughton IL Doing Time.
From the Philadelphia Times
There has just been lodged in jail the
only man who has tasted the sweets OF
power that prime minister wields, and
has run the gamut of crime that conclu-
ded with the convicts stripes.
William Houghton is the individual to
whom has fallen this remarkable expert
ence, and the distinction is accorded him
of being one Of the most brilliant crimi-
nails and blackmailers that history Is
cognizant of. In the course OF his career
the distinguished portion of which began
with the year 1888. he has ruled king
dom. He was the prime minister Of
Abyssinia. the chief adviser OF King John;
his word was law. and he could order the
execution of any one but the king and his
immediate relatives. This hight of power
Houghton reached from the plane of life
OF the ordinary adventurer. For years
he maintained his power, and when at last
fortune forsook him he turned to the capt.
tails of Europe for fresh tributes to his
genius as a swindler.
Houghton first achieved notoriety In
1876. In that year he journeyed from Eng
land TO Egypt, a crusader as much as
Richard the Lion Hearted, who made the
same Journey centuries before, but this
atter-day. crusade was for fraud and theft
Maj. Barlow, who had been an officer OF
the Yorkshire, Eng, yeomanry, was his
companion. Both had planned out pro-
gramme of adventure that was as daring
Just at that time the relations between
the Khedive and the King of Abyssnia
were very strained. In fact, so slender
was the tie that It needed but the weight
Of a diplomatic straw 10 break 1t alto
gether. Houghton and his partner made
their way into Abyssinia, and IN man
ner that no one seems TO be familiar with,
ingratiated, themselves with King John.
Maj Barlow was the first of the two 70
gain prominence, for he induced the king
to give him very excellent appointment
more than willing TO have his troops re-
ceive the benefit of the military knowl-
edge of an English officer, and Il was not
long before Barlow was placed at the head
of the Abyssinian army. No sooner had
he gained this point than he began to
labor with the king. In the. interests OF
that the English adventurer became King
Johns political adviser, and later on
prime minister of all Abyssinia.
BY this time Mai. Barlow had so won
the king over that the title Of general
was created for him, and he was formally
appointed commander IN chief of the Abyss
slnian forces WIN YIN from to,ooV 20 s sgsg
in this force was the famous brigade OF
Amazons, who were placed in such a state
of efficiency by this man that they became
a fta.r In al mr. nd
won fame that to this day has made them
While Abyssinia Is in state Of semi
civilization, there is yet a strong leaning
toward the barbarlc. and al times these
events occurred that prediction was
even greater than now. So the two Eng
tain prestige and power they must con-
form to the native customs, decided to
impress the fact of their high position and
favor with the king by series Of cere-
the soldiers OF the army danced and feast
ed. the ceremony being Witnessed by the
king Houghton and Barlow, the latter
two decked In paint, beads and feathers
and portions OF uniforms of English Off
GERS. This had the desired effect. The
Englishmen found themselves thoroughly
established with royalty and people.
Power was not all these gentlemen were
looking for. Their mission 10 Egypt and
10 Abyssinia WAS principally to gain tre-
mendous wealth; this they seemed now in
a fair way 10 secure They deliberately
appropriated gold and silver and ivory
from the stores Of the kings subjects,
sparing no one but the king himself. How
much they managed to secure no one viii,
ever know, but certain II is that the
amount was enormous. Wealth achieved,
this pair Of adventurers turned their at
tention TO politics. and very soon had the
Egyptian government and King John by
the ears. They stopped at nothing. Their
daring was sufficient TO overcome any OBJ
stacie. Their advice, no matter how ex-
was Always taken, and the
commotion Abysslnia created under their
practical suzerainty was such that all the
nations OF Europe had their attention
the various parliaments, and IL looked for
a time as II the very peace Of Europe had
been ieopardlzed by the marvellous effront-
cry Of two English renegades.
While all this was going on. Houghton
and Barlow lived as well as Abysslnia
could permit When they travelled ft was
In state chairs, carried by Amazon war
riors Each mad a harem, and for this
the youngest and, prettiest Apyssnian
girls were selected, Presently these two
ding, and had their meals served apart
from him prepared by an old aoyrasnian !
whom they had indicted into the mys- |
Iery OF the preparation Of English din
uninterrupteds success made them stilll
boider, and they induced the king to pre- |
cent them with a large quantity or gold |
lust, which. they proceeded 70 transform /
INTO a nest egg BY placing II TO their credit |
n bank a. Berlin, Germany. 20 which |
Abysslnia. About all the king Possessed |
n the way OF valuablcs OF which they |
allied 70 get az least q portion was an |
rhey told the king that be should give |
Queen Victoria and that On rerainf ft.r,. I