The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-09-22
BEHIND THE BARS.
Rev. G. T. 3. Howard, the
Famous Swindler, Re-
captured.

ol Tue escape, capture ana
operations of a man who has
an extensive acquaintance in
this section Of country:
I COLUMBUS, o., Sept. l7.-Rev.
G. F. B. Howard, world-famous
for his swindling operations in con-
nection with European estates, who
scaped from the penitentiary in this
city September y, 1897, was
brought back to the penitentiary at
O'Clock tonight in charge of Unit
ed States Postofice Inspector Will
liam 8. Baird, Of the Tennessee
division and Guy 7. Gould of the
Chicago division. He was captured
Saturday at Horton, a small village
near Jackson, Mich, as detailed in
Sundays dispatches. He spent Sat
urday night in the central police
station at Chicago, and at 10
O'Clock this morning the officers
started with him to Columbus, ar
rived shortly after o'clock tonight.
Warden Coffin met Howard and the
officers on the walk leading to the
prison. Howard rushed up and told
the warden that he was very glad to
get back. Warden Coffin assured
him that the feeling was mutual,
and that he would see that there
was no cause for a separation in the
future. The prison corridor was
lined with trusty prisoners and
Howard shook hands with all as he
passed along the line. He was taken
at once to a small cell and locked up.
Later he was visited by Warden
Coffin and the newspaper correspon-
dents. Howard said that he had
not spent an easy hour since his es-
cape. As is well known, he was a
trusty at the time Of his sudden de-
parture, and had unlimited privileg-
es about the prison. One of these
was to remain outside as long as he
wished at night. Howard said this
privilege proved too much of
temptation and he decided to skip
out. lie walked to small station
about q mile from the city on the
night of September II, 1897, and
boarded a train. He had no particular
place in view, so he got of in
small town In Indiana and remained
several months. He then went to
Herman, H., where he conducted
revival meetings for month or two.
Towards next move was toChicago.
There he saw so many familiar faces
on the streets that be found he could
not remain there. One of the men
he met was a guard recently dis
charged from the peuitentiary, who
promised not to give him away if
he would produce $40. This offer
was promptly accepted.
Howard went to Horton, Mich,
from Chicago, where he organized
a church known as the Ethical
Society, which at present is the
leading religious organization at
Howard was infatuated with
two women at the same time in
and as a result there is now
pending a damage suit against him
there. During his spare hours
Howard conducted swindling game
by claiming to be customs officer.
He would write to party stating
that there was package at the Of
fee containing 5000, which could
be had by sending $50 to pay the
customs duty.
Howard told the warden that he
had read about the efforts to capture
him and intended to leave Horton to-
morrow. He had date to preach |
tonight or he would have left Sat
urday, he said.
Warden Coffin has not decided |
yet what he will do with Howard
n the matter of punishment, but
declares that he will be put to work
or the hardest contractin the prison.
JACKSON, Mich, Sept. 1.-THE
people of Horton are all torn up over
he escapades of q. e. E. Howard,
Who escaped from the Columbus
oenitentiary September u, 1897.
Howard, who gave his name as
Herbert Harper, came to Horton
% or 30, 1898, and rep
esented himself to be a Methodist
Minister, stating that he was in com
ortable financial circumstances and
as looking for a place where he
night do some good. lie went to
be homes of several Methodists and
ried to enoaoe board. but with lit