Show BOWOATE a1 V f A paragraph is going the rounds of the press to the effect that the wife of the absconder Captain Howgate is earning 150 a day packing seeds in the Agricultural Department at Washington Washing-ton The course of the government 111 the case of Howgate has been as mysterious mys-terious as it is scandalous Two or i three years ago it discovered that the Captain who was a jolly fellow exceedingly popular in official circles was a defaulter to government to the tent of about 50000 much of which money he had expended in maintaining a luxurious establishment for a woman whom he did not hold out as his wife The defalcation was not discovered dis-covered until the thief had time to get out of the way Since then he has been seen in various parts of the country many times in the vicinity of Washington where fortnonths he regularly reg-ularly transacted business yet the government officers have not thought it worth while to arrest him or to even I show decent diligence in searching for mm There has perhaps been no week since he fled in which the law might not readily have laid Jts clutches on I him and his conviction and punishment punish-ment were certain were he once brought before the court The other day it was announced from the capital that an effort ef-fort was being made to compromise with Howgate who was to return some of the money stolen and thus purchase pur-chase forgiveness All along there has been an impression that the corv can I tain was nt wanted because his cap ture and prosecution would make matters mat-ters very uncomfortable for some of his fast official associates and companions compan-ions in crime The official apathy shown in the case strengthens this impression im-pression and the proposition to com prom We on his terms confirms it It Will do President Clevelands administration adminis-tration no good to follow jn the footsteps foot-steps affair of its predecessors in the Howgate f |