Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-09-15
HOWARD ESCAPES.

HOWARD ESCAPES.
As stated in the GAZETTE of that
date Rev. G. P. F. Howard, the most
noted prisoner in the Ohiu penitentiary,
escaped on Monday morning. Howard
had been a "trusty" about the prison
since be was made editor of the Peni
tentiary News, several months ago, and
on account of his place as an editor had
Ill the privileges it was possible to give
10 man 10 his situation. The guards
outside of the prison walls we're ex
pscted to keep him under their sur
veiance when he was about the front
office. The only reasonable theory as
to his escape is that the outside senti-
uels became Careless and allowed How
ard to pass them by unnoticed.
He is said to have bad considerable
money, and it is not believed he ia
without friends in Columbus, O. 1t is
the opinion of some that he is now in
hiding in some house in that city.
Howard has attracted the notice of a
woman who has visited the prison sew.
eral times of late and who always in
sisted on being shown through the
printing Office. Her name is not known
but the police are endeavoring to fed
ner from description which has been
given to them.
Ever since Howard entered the
prison, on January 25, 1894, he has
oeen struggling to get out. He has
tried every conceivable plan, attempt
ing to win the confidence oft the officers
aud getting them to sign petitions for
his release, and begging help from dis
tipguished persons all over the coun-
try. Not long ago be tried to get the
prison physician to assert that be was
sufferer from Bright's disease. He
made an effort to destroy the negative
of himself in the photograph gallery
under the Bertillon system of identif
cation, but Yves unsucces >ful. He had
six years yet to serve.
Rev. G. P. F. Howard has been
sailor in the merchant marine and in
the United States navy, q teacher in
negro school, justice of the peace.
lawyer, the principal of large school,
1 college professor and preacher OF
the gospel. He was born in Edmon
Ton, England, about forty-five years
ago. His mother died when be was
about q year old. His father, if be is
still alive, is q retired London police
man. His name as boy was Frederic
Atryde Hewlett, and it was as Frederic
Hewlett that he began his American
career as a sailor in the navy 10 1874,
and he kept his name for number OF
years while he taught negro school
at Smokes Cross Roads, Colleton coun-
ty, s. c., and as justice of the peace
and lawyer at Walterboro, S. Q.
1t was at this time that his criminal
career began, and he ran away TO es
cape the service of warrant for his ar
rest. He was next heard of at Port
Robbins, s. c., where he induced the
wife of railroad man named Brown to
run of with him. He imposed upoo Al
exander Stephens and Judge Lumpkin
until they discovered that the woman
whom he introduced as his wife was
Mrs. Brown. and then he was driven
out of town. He appeared next at
Fayetteville, Ga, where he called him.
self Frederick Howard, and practiced
law with Eugene Blaylock as his part.
ner. Here be joined the Baptist Church
and was received by the best people
until Judge Lumpkin's mother recog
oized him, told his story, and drove
him out Of town again.
At Atlanta, where he went later, he
was at the head of big school and
married Mrs. Burk, sister OF Con.
eressman Cobbinness and Editor Cob
6inness. of the Atlanta Journal. Here,
through DR.. Gwynn, he was taken into
the Baptist ministry and later became
the pastor of the First Baptist Church
at Jackson, Tenn. This was in 1881,
and when he arrived at Jackson, be
called himself George Frederick Bur-
poyne Howard and said he came OF a
distinguished English family. His elo-
ouence and general air of accomplish
ment led to his being made professor
OF moral philosophy at the Southwest
ern Baptist University, and Auburn
University of Alabama made him 8
D. D.
The first wife having died he was
married again III JaCAson w Ni9o
zie Hughes, member of good faml-
ly. In Jackson he established a new
church and also newspaper, the True
Baptist, and it was out of warfare
that he made upon the Southwestern
University in this paper that his his,
tory again became known. "He sued
the Blade of Jackson for $50, 900 dam
ages, and in preparing for the defence
Howard's history was gathered from
his youth. He got verdict of one
cent damages and bad to pay the costs
He continued, however, to preach
until 1891, when he went to New York,
ostensibly to practice law.
he lived on Staten Island, Kept q
yscht. and confessed new creed of
occultism, which he called the true
Brahminism as it was before the days
of Ruddba. He talked of his mother
having been a Begun of Iudia. who
laft him the title of Prince of Prena-
cavs cav and said that he had been a mem
S Ssy of Parliament, q soldier in India,
and that he was Knight Commander
of the Bath and member of the OTder
If the Garter. 1t was during these
- that he entared into the