The Washington times., 1902-03-17
HORACE HOVAN WAS A
FAMOUS BANK SNEAK
Was Known in Police Circles
as Little Horace.
A CRIMINAL EARLY IN LIFE
Expert Cabbage and Apple Thief in
Richmond-Rumor Has 1t That He
Died in an English Prison.

A famous bank sneak. once a pal OF
Billy Porter, the latter known as king of
burglars. was Horace Hovan. better known
as Little Horace" Rumor has it that
Hovan died a year or more ago in Eng
land. although the local police have heard
nothing from him for a long time. Twenty
years ago this celebrated thief was in
this city. His business was mcst novel;
fer local police circles were then stirred
by a sensation as big as any snake up
brought about by the enemies OF Tam
many HALL
The old detectives. as headquarters men
were known, prior to the early eighties,
were under suspicion. and Little Hor-
ace" then q convict at the Eastern PEN
itentiary, Philadelphia, was pardoned on
condition that he would testify against
the local sleuths. charged with va -ious
misdemeanors.
officers from Charleston, S. c., also
wanted Hovan about that time. hut he
was brought here, according to a previous
understanding. and was put on tie witness
stand. while several of the old detectives
were being tried. The testimony given
the trial court. and the detectives we're
finally acquitted of the charges against
them.
Reported to Have Died in Prison.
In some manner although Charleston
officers were in Washington. waiting for
Hovan. the latter escaped from them.
Shortly afterward he went to England, and
there he Joined Billy Porter, who was
then chief of the skillful, desperate gang.
engaged in operating all over the United
Kingdom. and on the Continent. Hovan
was at last captured, some twelve years
ago. in England. and was tried and con
victed at Birmingham. He was sent to
an English prison for a long term. 1t is
Shortly afterward he went TO England, and
The life story of Little Horace" reads
like a romance. being closely connected
with the daring exploits OF half dozen
celebrated criminals. Hovan was born
On Seventeenth Street, near Asbury
Chapel Richmond. Va. When quite
young he evinced a disposition to help
himself to what belonged to others. At
the age of thirteen he was considered the
most expert cabbage and apple thief in
Richmond This was about the beginning
of the civil war.
AS the war progressed Little Horace"
although young, made war on society. He
was arrested several times, and sent to
Jail more than once for petit larceny.
Two or three burglaries committed in
Richmond in 1s6S-67 were attributed to
him. but he was never convicted.
Went to the Metropolis
In the fall OF 1867. Hovan left Rich
mond and went to New York. There he
Joined a gang led by Walter Sheridan, an
Irish crook of great celebrity. Within
few years, under such leadership. Hovan
became a very clever sneakthief His
main scheme was to enter banks, engage
or have his pals engage the attention of
the officers, and then stealthily enter the
vaults and make off with his booty. Ho-
van has even been known to boldly help
himself to thousands Of dollars from the
counters of a bank while the officers
were looking the other way.
Stole Thousands in Bonds.
The biggest job Hovan ever worked
was the robbery of hundreds of thousands
of dollars worth of bonds. With Kate
Doherty. woman he often visited. Ho-
van, having turned this big trick, was ar
rested in Pittsburg, Pa The bonds were
given up by friends of the prisoners. and
they escaped prosecution. This was in
1872
Detective Sergeant Wren, of Richmond
remembers Hovan for many years back,
and the photograph of the latter is to be
found in the rogues gallery Of the Vir-
ginia city. 1t is also in the picture gal
leries of dozen other towns.
Was Handsome Man.
Hoyan was a handsome man, small,
well-shaped and fair. with bright ewes
and manly carriage. Shortly after the
war he married an estimable Richmond
lady. Mainly on this account, Hovan Wis
tied his home city until 1875. but so
far as known, he has not been there
since. Some years ago his wife died and
her remains and those of her child are
buried in Richmond cemetery.
Hardly less clever in his particular line
was Press" Hovan. brother of the famous
bank sneak Press" Hovan was ceIe-
brated as a house burglar. He left Rich
mond in 1869, and several years later
got into trouble in Brooklyn, n. Y.
where he shot two detectives Neither
of the sleuths died. Hovan was arrested,
and sent to prison for long term. Since
his release. twenty years ago. he has
been lest to the police of the country.
1t is supposed he is now dead.