Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-02
FATHER DRIVEN
TO CRIME CAREER
BY LOSS OF SON

SALT LAKE CITY.-Shock, due to
the death of his first-born son is
given by friends here as the cause
which changed Jefferson Howell, So
cial lion and wealthy mining mag
nate, into an outlaw and robber SO
daring as to win the name of
"The Lone Wolf"
Howeu's amazing career of crime
extended over fifteen years, and net
ted him hundreds of, thousands i'll
bank, train and mine robberies.)
After each crime he would return
home, disguise" himself as a rich
and jovial mining expert, and make
his visit round of pleasure fol-
his friends, wife and children.
Now his trail has come to an end.
In the California mountains, a pur-
suer's shot shattered his, leg, after he
had taken $4,000 in cash from the
Trinity County bank in WeavervilIe.
Howell was captured. His record is
admitted and his downfall complete.
And it all started, say his sorrow
ing friends, when his boy died fif-
teen years ago.
Up to that time Howell had been
really a mining expert and was Oh
the highroad to fortune. He was Il
college graduate. His friends were
prominent, and the handsome dwell
ing on I street, where dweIt his
beautiful wife, was center of fash
ion.
Then-the boy was taken. Howells
mind seemed shattered.
Friends recall that he kept the
body in the house an entire week
before permitting burial. After the
funara. he disappeared for two days,
and they found him in the cemetery,
wild and dishevelled, sitting by the
new-made grave.
For two years he neglected his
business. His family, according to
friends, lived entirely on his saw
ings. The rich, respected ''Dr. Jekyll'
had begun to develop a second self,
the evil-doing "Mr. Hyde"
Crime Journeys"
Howell left home on long journeys
through the west.
Mining interests was the reason
given for his absence from home.
Mrs. Howell noted beauty of I'M
usual type, dark-eyed with a greal
mass of auburn hairs declared to
have been absolutely ignorant of her
husbands crimes.
On each trip, some big steamship
at Seattle or San Francisco would ba
robbed of gold bullion; old miners, ia
the act of 1inging their dust" over
saloon bars, would be lined up ana
cleaned by a laughing bandit who
left no trace of identity; rural banks,
throughout the huge west, would be
held up in broad daylight and robbed
Of their, cash.
The sums taken in these crimes
were always large, and no man was
ever killed. The fame Of 1.-THE Lone
Wolf" rang through the western
country.
1t never occurred to anyone TO
suspect the mining expert.
Partner "Split"
At last Howell made a mistake.
He took a partner. Together they
robbed an Oregon miner of bullion
worth S5,406. The partner, De Witt,
was captured iH California;; brok'
Jail, but was retaken in Salt Lake.
De Witt talked" He implicated
Howell. The whole city was amazed.
Interest centered on Mrs. Howell.
She suffered a.nervous breakdown. a
few friends remained faithful, more
were estranged.
She put herself into touch with
the police authorities, her attitud.
toward whom excited much comment
Absolutely refusing to give any ev'
dence to incriminate her husband
she made efforts toward his reform.
and played the part of hostage fof
his liberty.
1t was useless. Now both Jefferson
Howell and "The Lone Wolf" are
through"
5 \ circumstances over which l had
no control drove me to this" Howell
wrote his wife, "but I have always
been able to hold my own self-re-
spect. I have been honest and loyal
to my friends and I have been clean
and true in my daily life.
eff I have stepped over the
bounds of society in this one respect
it is too late now for regrets"