Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-29
OWENS NOW IN JAIL.
Deputy Marshal Found That He
Had Left the Asylum
SURPRISE TO THE OFFICIALS
He Was Brought to Richmond and Com.
mitted Yesterday Evening.
WILL NE TRIED NEXT WEEK.
Released from s,aunton Some Tmo
Ago-Bond May Not lie Forfeited
| crounJs M the Defence-Capt. Wise
Thinks lie VIII Get His client On
WILL nn TRIED NEXT WEEK.
Thinks lie WIN Get His client on.

Howard I. Owens. alias Captain
Ward" was brought to Richmond yester'
day by Deputy Marshal Joseph +.
Glover. OF Alexandria, and committed tn
iai TO await his trial next week on tha
charge of impersonatng an officer OF
the United States.
owens. it will be remembered. mas
queraded in this city some months 80
I'm the uniform Of a captain of infantry,
and obtained money from the officer In
charge of The United states recruiting
station. This indiscreton led to his ar
rest. and his identity WAS discovered. lie
was admitted TO bail. and the bond was
made returuable october I'd.
In the mean time it was alleged that
Owens was insane commission sat In
the case az Warrenton. and he was 50
adiudged. and committed to tho Western
State Hospital. at stanton.
II transpired in the United States Sir-
cult Court room yesterday evening thas
owens had only been in the asylum for
about twenty-four hours. The authorities
OF that institution, it is said. did not boz
lieve he was insane and his fathers ap-
plication for his release was promptly
granted.
A SURPRISE TO COUNSEL.
This fact did not leak out. Districts
Attorney Allan and Hon. George ID. Wise.
counsel for the prisoner, both believed
that owens was still in tho hospital. and
| on tho 22d OF October the District Attor-
new appeared before Judge Waddill and
asked that an order should DO entered
| directing a capias and rule TO issue, to
show cause why the bail bond should not
| be forfeited. This motion was granted.
The officials never dreamed that Owens
/ WAS out OF tho hospital. ana Deputy
Glover was nonplussed when he went to
| Warrenton TO serve the capias. and found
| the prisoner at his home. Mr. Wise was
| notified by the young mans father only
on Monday that owens was out OF tho
asylum, and the attorney wrote at
| once advising that no effort should DO
made to eude the capias, but that Owens
| should come 10 Richmond and stand his
| trial.
MAY BE BAILED AGAIN.
Owens was brought into court last
| night and Mr.. Allan asked that an order
should be entered committing the pris-
| oner to jail TO await his trial, next Mon
| day The motion was granted. Mr..
| Wise gave notice that he would ask that
| the prisoner should be admitted TO ball
| this morning The prisoner remained
| impassve throughout the proceedings. IL
| was evident, however. that beneath
| this calm exterior was an agitated mind.
| He cast furtive glances at every ono in
| the courtroom. and the fact that his
| predicament was painful to him Was evi-
| dent from the persplratlon that rolled
| down his face.
Mr.. Wise believes that he will be able
| to save the bail bond. since the prisoner
is ready 10 be produced at his triad. nex&
| Monday. Although the bond was retsrn-
| able nearly two months ago. the fact that
| the prisoner is on hand to meet any ar
| gument that the money should be for
feited. Had the prisoner remained I'm the
| asylum until after the proceedings against
him in the United States Court. IL In
| t0lerably certain that--whether he Is in
sane or not-he would have escaped pun
| ishment.
| THINKS HE WILL GET OFF
Captain Wise is confident that lie Will
get mis- client off, however. as he claims
that he cannot be convicted under the
| indictment drawn against him. Owens,
he said. approached Lieutenant Colonel
! Hartz and represented himself 10 DO
Captain Ward" but he asked for loan
of some money. and Colonel Hartz lent
the sum asked 20 owens. The statute
| upon which the indictment WAS drawn
| says that II a man shall impersonate an
| officer of the United States and shall OBJ
tain money as such an officer, he shall
! be punished. The offence OF owens does
not come within the purvlew OF this law,
| Captain Wise thinks. and the offence Of
the prisoner is outside the Jurisdiction OF
| the Federal courts and can only be pun
| ished by civil process in the State courts
owens will be brought to trial next
week. IL Is rather doubtful whether the
case will be heard on Monday, as the
Becker case is expected 10 consume two
days, and the charge against Cardoxo
one day. 1t seems more than likely that
owens Will not be tried until Thursday.