The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-29
ARREST OF JESTER FOR THE
MURDER OF GATES.

tocracy of England and having defeated
the Prince of Wales at baccarat. The
story Of his life Is hardly an instructive
one nor adapted to the use Of Sunday
school superintendent In pointing a NOR
al adjoining a tale. But it is interest
ing as the history Of man who was at
the head Of his class the world over,
who was charged with murder, relent-
lessly bounded by detectives, captured
and sent to prison; was paroled and par
doned was a member of some of the
most exclusive and fashionable clubs in
this and foreign countries, and who hob
nobbed with royalty scarcely a year aft
er his release from the penitentiary,
where he served part of a sentence for
an atrocious crime. He gave the "gled
hand to the scions Of European king
ships and dealt short hands from a
cold deck" as friend tersely put it.
Houck was an Indiana product of which
the state was not proud. He was ma
tive Of Connersville, born and raised In a
Christian family and his early life was
surrounded with every influence which
should have tended to develop the better
qualities Of his nature. He attended
common school and what little education
he had was gained there. Incidentally he
also learned the mysteries that lie con-
cealed in a deck of cards. He soon be-
came an adept and rapidly became the
most feared and most expert man in
gambling and 'three-card monte In the
country.
TAKES TO THE ROAD
From the card sharp Of the plebeian
kind he became train man" He
Travelled on railroads carrying plenty of
wealthy passengers, and every now and
then a victim would fall into his net.
Then he changed roads, but never for a
moment did he abandon his business. He
never got into trouble until he was going
from Toledo to Columbus, O., on Hook
ing Valley train Paul Lehman, a travel
ing man, had been inveiged into game
Of cards and the victim discovered he was
being f1eeced and grabbed his money. In
the struggle which followed Houck drew
revolver to protect himself. In some
manner, Houck always claimed acciden-
tally, the gun was discharged and Lob
man was killed. The train was nearing
Delaware, o., and Houck ran from the
car and leaped at the first street crossing.
An attempt was made to stop the train,
but just off from the street crossing there
was long and high trestle, at the other
| end Of which was the station. Houck's
| confederate also rushed for the car door,
but by the time he reached the platform
| the train was on the trestle and it was
| too high to risk leap. He was trapped
| and turned over to the officers He con-
| tended that Houck had fired the fatal
| shot and he was convicted of a minor Of
| Tense only and served less than two years
| In the penitentiary. Before Houck was
recaptured his confederate died
After leanirg from the train at the
| street crossing Houck went to the Big
| Four station and there boarded a north
bound train, which had lust pulled In
| On 1t he escaped to Cleveland and thence
! to Canada. A large eward was offered
for his capture by the Delaware county
| commissioners and many detectives took
| UP the scent, but 1t was John T. Norris
who persisted In the trail and finally cap
I tIred him two years later after chase
that will live in the criminal annals of
| the country for many years.
FLIES TO EURuIE
| From Canada Houck went to Antwerp
| and remained in Belgium and Holland
| for some time, as there we're no extradi-
| ton treaty In effect between these coun-
| tries and the United States at that time
He went to the countries of North Afri-
| can and remained for some months at
| Tunsi, Algiers and Morocco. From AZ
RIGA he went to South America and final
| ly drifted toward the isthmus, through
| Mexico and lower California. He grad
| ually grew holder, though always re-
| naming near the line, and frequently
| crossed over into the United States. Nor
| ris never lost sight of him, and when
| IIouck became more fearless Norris went
| to Southern California determined to
capture him. Houck. was surrounded by
! friends, for he was good mixer" and