The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-04
DR., J, v, CLAWSON
Arrested at Arkansas City by
Trigg and Sutton.
SEVEN YEARS A FUGITIVE
Pathetic Scene of DEPARTURE
How He Lived in Dread.

DR.. George B. Howard. VINO. under the
assumed name of J. B. Cla.wson, has resi-
ded for seven years N Arkansas City, was
arrested yesterday morning by Deputy
United States Marshal Fred Trigg and put
in the Sedgwick county jail. The arrest
created a profound sensation in Arkansas
City. where the accused was a successful
eye and ear specialist, and whose life was
above the least suspicion Of crime. But
during the seven years ne has resided there
under an assumed name, he was a fUgi-
tive from justice.
Deputy United States Marshal Fred
Trigg had been working on the case for
some time, but DR.. Clawson had such a
good reputation and so many friends, the
officer could hardly believe It could be
G. B. Howard, the escaped convict, and
ne worked very shrewdly and cautiously
in the matter. Tuesday Mr.. Trigg became
50 firmly convinced that he was shadowing
the right man that he teIegra pied for
Detective Harry Sutton Of this city TO go
down and help ain cinch the deal. He
turned al Of the evidence and photographs
tective laid his eyes on DR.. Clawson he
told Mr.. Trigg he had the right man The
arrest soon followed
Dr. Clawson's right name IS C. B. How
ard. He was once a successful pension at
torney in Mound City. IL, but had taken
advantage Of his clients. In October Of
1891 he was convicted at Cairo IL, on ten
different counts Of charging illegal pen
son fees On nine Of these counts he was
sentenCed-ons year each In the Illinois
penltentary-and on one count he was
sentenced to two years. He was also con-
victed OF demanding the government by
forging pension voucher and was SEN
tencel for term Of three years for that
He was'tsken 10 the panitentiary at Ches-
ter, III, and remained there a few months,
when he became or claimed to be insane,
and was taken to the Federal insane asy-
-l,im az Washington, D. c, and placed IN
: the Anacosta hospital, q branch OF that
institution He remained there until Sept
ember Of 1892, when. It is said, he brToed
one Of the guards to let him escape. The
escape created a big sensation al the time,
anl the Washington papers printed col
umns about the case. After leaving the
q sylum, Howard went 10 his home az
Mound City, I'll. 70 see his wife and little
child. Under the secret protection Of his
home, he remand there threee day plan
ming for his future, after which he made
his way direct TO Arkansas City, where ne
has remained ever since. At the time OF
his arrival there people were just getting
ready for the strip opening and II was the
intention Of Howard to locate in some new
strip town, where he thought ne would
be more safe from detection. Here he
assumed the name Of Clawson, which was
the maiden name Of mis- wife. When he
first landed in Arkansas City he claimed to
be a lumberman, AM his name and bust
ness was 50 printed in the city director OF
that date.
LAID OUT A TOWN IN THE STRIP.
At the opening Of the strip ne and a man
named Parker, a man of considerable
wealth, became partners and organized the
Parker Towns.te company, and laid of
the town OF Parker, where Howard still
owns several lots. The townsite enter
prise. however. was a failure. After this
he and Parker formed a partnership for
the manufacture Of new eye salye, the
recipe for which Howard owned, having
surreptitiously secured It at Washing
ton while he was incarcerated in the gov
eminent hospital in that city. They manu-
featured The eye salve very largely and
sold a great deal Of it DR.. CIawson, as he
was then known, was shrewd enough TO
secure a large government contract and
furnished the eye saIve TO the soldiers and
Indians.
Up 10 four years ago Howard was
heavy dr.nker. and outside OF two little
offenses which he committed when tntoxi-
Gated this was his only fault. During
some Of his drinking spells he is said 10
have stolen an overcoat, but the cases
were dismissed. he having settled them
after SOLDERING up. Four years ago Dec.
e ne reformed and has lived a respectable
life ever since He became an eye and
ear specialist IN connection with the manu-
1acture OF MS eye salve and was doing
q splendid business in his profession HIS
VIE and child had Joined him from Illi-
nos and they were living very happily and
setting a COOL start in life.
HOW He WAS FOUND
The fact Jhat Howard evaded the fed
eral oflica-s FOR seven years Is evidence
that he Is a very shrewd man. HIS dis
covery after 50 long A tine came about IN
this way: About the first Of March. last.
a letter was sent from Illinois % c. 2.
Howard. Washington. n. c, in care Of thu
E,h5it House TX remained there several
days and then the writer OF the letter
wrote the clerk Of the Ec1tt House 70 for
ward the letter 70 Arkansas City. Kan.
The clerk remembered the name % How