Gilpin observer., 1899-12-07

ing tnat death was due to criminal
operation. At that time eight news
papers were issued on Sunday morn
ing in Peoria-four English and four
German. They ordered full accounts
OF the proceedings at Dublin, and Peo-
ria was torn : wide open" Sunday
morning when the people read the
papers. Among the first to read the
papers. evidently, were Dr. Belle How
ard and her husband, for she boarded
O'Clock train out of Peoria that
morning. and her husband was seen to
accompany her to the train. The
Peoria officials arrived home from
Indiana the same morning, and the
states attorney heightened the excite
ment by causing the arrest of Fred
Patee. Other arrests followed, and the
city was kept in turmoil for several
weeks over the developments. Those
arrested were subsequently released on
bond, and it was not long before How
ard disappeared. Howard spent some
time in Jail, however. before securing
bond. The Howards' whereabouts, 1t
was popularity supposed, were known
to very few of their intimate friends
in Peoria, but these denied all knowl-
edge of this character. Even their at
torney, Isaac C. Edwards. one OF the
best-known criminal lawyers in Illi-
nois. who had signed a heavy bond
for Howard's release, and also for
Patee's, declared his ignorance of their
location
Then 1t became known that influ
ences strong enough in local circles
almost to move heaven and earth"
were being brought to bear on the
authorities to stop the rafting of fam
lily skeletons which, it was feared,
would be effected by further proceed
ings. The sheriff and his force were
said to be singularly inactive, but the
coroner and the states attorney never
relaxed their efforts. In fact, the lat
ter engaged Pinkerton detectives at
his own expense to hunt down the
fugitives. Meanwhile, the sheriff's
term expired. and John Kimsey, a
deputy in the office, and in sympathy
with the states attorney, was elected.
He at once began a vigorous search.
and his efforts were crowned with sue
cess last summer, when he received
word from an officer at Tacoma,
Wash, that Mrs. Belle Howard and
her husband were in hiding near that
city. kilograms were exchanged, with
the result that the Howards were cap
tured and taken back to Peoria, where
the woman remained in custody until
her trial and conviction. She is still
in jail. pending the decision of the
court upon a motion for new trial.
Not the least sensational feature OF
the case was the arrest of DR.. o. B.
Will, who treated Miss Binkley at the
hospital, and Of the hospital matron,
as accessories after the fact. DIR. VIII
readily admitted that Miss Binkley.
had died as the result of criminal
operation. but he had not considered
1t IS duty to act in the premises.
These cases were dismissed. however.
both being fully exonerated.
The case gave rise to no end OF
gossip. and there are still rumors OF
a thorough investigation. in which a
number of reputable physicians names
were used. The press gave columns
daily to the developments. and the
whole business grew so obnoxious that
popular sentiment underwent almost
complete revolution, and the prose-
cutting attorney was pleaded with to
drop the investigation for the sake OF
society. Members OF some of the most
prominent society people in the city
we're summoned before the grand jury,
but upon examination they disproved
any connection with Mrs. Howard's
establishment. and nothing came OF
this except bitter feelings, which are
still cherished toward those who
caused their appearance before the
jury. However. the states attorney
could not be swerved from his deter
minatlon to convict at least the prin-
cina Ia in tho crime and he finally III.