The evening times., 1899-11-25

In the death of Policeman John T. Howe
at his home. 421 Eighth Street southeast.
yesterday Afternoon. the Police Department
lost one of its oldest and most honorable
and efficient men. The record Of the de-
ceased shows him to have been a man of
unusual merit and one who had an inter-
esting career. He was a man of remaraa>
bic activity, and, though corpulent. prided
himself on his agility. Thirty-one years Of
continuous service are credited to him, and
during that term it is said he was never in
capacitated for duty until Tuesday morning
last when be suffered the stroke Of paraly-
sis which resulted in his death yesterday.
Howe was stricken while on duty at the
new Tiber Greek sewer near the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad station. He was at once
removed TO his home and medical aid sum-
moned. Everything possible was done for
the patient, but despite that he never ral-
ried and died without regaining conscious
ness. A widow and five children, the
youngest of whom is a son nineteen years
of age, survive him.
Arrangements for the funeral were COM
pleted last night. II will take place from
the Howe home at $50 O'Clock Monday
afternoon. The interment will be at Con-
5EeSSlUEdl cemetery n uetdli vi poiICe-
men, which will be announced later, will
attend. Howe was member of the Police
Relief Fund. which entities his widow to
snug sum, and in addition she will receive
a pension. Major Sylvester today issued
an order calling for a meeting Of the PEN
sion board to fix the amount.
John T. Howe. at the time OF his death.
was fifty-eight years and six months old.
having been born on May 10. 1S4l, in this
nit 80.
a blacksmith. and worked at that trade TN
til he was about eighteen years old. He
then enlisted in the Marine Corps and
served as field musician until the close
of the war Of the rebellion, when he was
honorably discharged. In 1868 he made
application for a position on the police
force. and on April % of that year received
an appointment under Lieutenant Tate,
then in charge of the Fifth precinct. or
what is now known as the First precinct.
He performed active precinct duty until
about fifteen years ago. when, because Of
his corpulency, he was detailed for post
duty. He was for years detailed at the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station and
recently was detailed for duty at the Tiber
Creek sewer.
While serving under Lieutenant Tate.
Howe had several thrilling experiences,
chief among which was that with the
Charles Stewart, colored. attempted to vote
the Democratic ticket and was mobDed by
crowd of about 1000 colored voters. He
was compelled TO flee from the polls at
Grimes Alley, in Thirteenth Street, between
X and L Streets and took refuge in a
house in Twelfth Street, between and N
Streets. The rioters surrounded the house |
and became so threatening that Major A. !
C. Richards, then Superintendent of Po- |
11ai tn
tive. He detailed Sergeant Vernon. now at |
Headquarters, in charge of squad OF |
thirty men, among whom was Howe. The |
squad attacked the mob and pitched bat |
lie ensued. during which two colored men !
were killed and five seriously wounded. |
Others of the rioters suffered severely ct |
the hands of the police. who, in turn. were |
roughly handled. Howe was badly beaten |
but fought yaliantly in the discharge of his |
duty. The result of the attack on the rio !
ters was that the cclored man, Stewart, |
was conducted by the police to the polls, |
where he voted. Immediately afterward /
he was spirited away to avoid further |
trouble. When the fact of his disappear
ance became Known to the voters a second
riot followed. during which an attempt was
made to kill Major Richards. Howe and |
Polly" Hawkins. another policeman, went |
to the rescue OF their chief and Hawkins |
fired a bullet through the head of the as
sailant.
During his term of service Howe was
brought before the trial board on seven
occasions charged either with neglect of
duty or conduct unbecoming an officer and
a gentleman. On six of the occasions the
charges were dismissed and on two occas-
ions the officer was commended for the |
faithful discharge of his duty. Only on
one occasion was a charge against Howe
proven and then the nature of the offence
was so slight that a fine of but S. was i'm
posed.
In 1871 Howe was accused by two pris-
oners whom he had under arrest with mall
treating them. The evidence adduced at
the trial showed that the officer faithfully
discharged his duty in the face OF seri- |
Gus condition OF affairs. He was COM
mcnded for his action and the charge
against him was dismissed. Again in 1872
!