The times., 1900-12-26
TO leave PRISON WALLS
Henry w. HOwgate TO Be Released
on Saturday.
Romantic Career of the Former Gov
er2mcnt Official - Escaped While
BafEed Detectives for Years His
Final Capture and Conviction.

i1euIy w nov gaze, once u
Government official in this city, whose ro-
mantle career as a fugitive from justice
made him one of the most talked of men
in the country, will be released from the
Albany penitentiary Saturday. He will by
that time have completed the sentence i'm
posed on him for the misrepresentation of
Government funds twenty years ago. when
connected with the Signal Corps His po-
sition in the social and official life OF
Washington, his escape from the officers
of the law, and his disappearance, which
baffied the most expert detectives of the
day, make his case remarkable in the an
mails Of embezziements committed at the
National Capital.
There is added interest from the ex-
sreme age of Howgate, who. at the time
he leaves the prison walls, will be in the
neighborhood of seventy years of age. AL
ways man Of culture and refinement, a
scholar in every sense of the word, his
downfall may be attributed more to de-
sire to possess the elegant luxuries of life
than to any other motive.
A movement was started a few weeks
ago to have Howgate liberated in time to
spend Christmas with his daughter here in
the city. but the recommendation of the
Attorney General was followed and the
aged prisoner was compelled to complete
his term. He has many friends in this
city, who were greatly disappointed on ac-
count of the decision. Many of Howgate's
old acquaintances have kind words for him,
END they condone his crime on account OF
the loyable character of the man himself.
Many stories have been written about
Howgate's life in Washington twenty
years ago, his defalcation, detection. ar
rest, escape, and his final capture and
conviction SO many years after he had
successfully eluded the detectives In
1876 he was a lieutenant in the United
States Signal Corps. He was stationed in
Washington, where he lived with his
wife. He was an able officer and ros-
sessed marked executive ability. This led
TO rapid promotion, and he wac appointed
dissursing and property officer Of the
Signal Corps. The principal duty of this
position was the payment of all debts
contracted in the Signal Corps service.
and all told the disbursements footed up
total of about $4,000 month. The
annual appropriation made by Congress
was always placed to the credit of the
disbursing officer subject to his personal
check without the supervision of anyone
Part of it was deposited with the Treas
urer of the United States in Washington
and part with the Assistant Treasurer in
New York.
Misrepresentation of funds, and the temp
tation proved too much for Howgate. He
began to use the money for private pur-
poses. He had oxtravagant tastes and
when he found that money wrs constantly
ct his disposal he at last took advantage
of his opportunities. He bought two
beautiful houses, one at 6l7 Thirteenth
X Street northwest. Both were hand !,
somely furnished
Howgate took deep interest in science
End his work IVES partly in the line Of
the work that is row carried on by the |
Weather Bureau. It was during this time |
that he started 10 ft out an Arctic expe- |
dition. which was later abandoned.
The fall amount that he is supposed to |
have ernhezzied was never definitely as |
certained, but ii is said to have amounted |
to several hundred thousand dollars. One |
favorite method was TO have the recip- |
tents of money for private accounts sign /
vouchers attached 10 Government bill i
heads The bills would afterward be /
filed in for varying amounts for services /
supposed to have been re- dered the Gov |
ernmenf. In this manner the accounts !
always balanced.
The extravagaEt manner In which How J
gate lived attracted general attention, but !
no suspicion of his honesty was enter |
tanned till after his resignation from The |
service in 1880 His accounts balanced,
but there arose doubts as TO their accu-
raey An examination was made and How
gate was arrested and sent TO Jail in 1881 |
He was indicted on several charges of |
forgery.
1t was in April, 1882. that he escaped,
and for twelve years he kept clear of the
always outstretched arm of the law. He !
had for several months been in prison
when one day he made applica ton to the
Judge before whom he was to be tried that /
he should be allowed to go to his home |
and examine some papers there TO secure |
evidence to be used in his defence. This |
request was granted and pnder charge of !
a United States deputy ma shall Howgate /
went to his house in Thirteenth Street
He examined the papers and as he was |
about TO depart from the house to return |
to the Jail he asked the deputy marshal |
to allow him TO bathe saying that there |
were few facilities at the Jail and he /
needed bath badly. The deputy acqui- |
esced and conducted Howgate to the bath |
room. Here he took the bath, changed |
his garments, and then, while his guard |
was lulled into a feeling of security, he |
departed from the house by back door, |
entered waiting carriage, and was rap |
idly driven from the city. The deputy |
waited patiently for his prisoner for :
while and than eE astcuudac 70 fn1 tuaf
he had escaUeu
A thorough search vas NJ c1ce na5e
The des riptioE g. tba .-sltire WT= sent
aH over the counts5. merge reward w
oHsrcd for bis aaF-lls, 1lt % no