THE HOWARD CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1454, 14 January 1886, Page 3

THE HOWARD CASE.

The followiag extracts from a Wairarapa paper gives node details concerning the toings of Howard while in that district: — When ho disappeared from Christchurch hionarae was. Howard, and he had light brotp hair, beard, whiskers, and moustache. Oo reaching Masterton in October he had undergone a transformation, for hii hair » a 8 black, and he wore a black moustache About the middle of the month he < a ]i e d at Duncan and Son’s store and bought some tools, stating that he. was going up to Cameron’s station. He paid there what jj e got, but was very oarefu’ that the amount should uot exceed £l, stating that ho had to be very economical, as he had an aged mother and invalid wife to maintain. Some weeks later John Watt-for that was the name ho assumed—reappeared in Masterton, and obtained employment from Mr Alexander on the additions to the Presbyterian. Church. He boarded with Mr B. Hatch, but subsequently went to a boarding'bouae in Chapel stress During (this

time lie became very comraunnatife, and the following dialogue occurred between him andhis mates : How did you lose your thumb I Well, you see, I can do a gnat many things besides working as a carpenter. 1 was denning a donkey engine, ami the steam being put on suddenly, my thumb was caught between the pinions. You don’t know much about the country/ Ho, I’m rather a stranger; this in confidence. I’ve run away from one of Iht Henderson’s ehips. I was second officer, but the captain and 1 quarrelled, tnd I bolted when we got to Wellington. Then you’re travelled a good bit 1 I should think I have. lean speak Danish like s native, and I learned Spanish when I was in America. I used to buy and sdl cattle there and I made money hand over fist, till I got £3OO together, and then, what do yon think, I lost every cent speculating on the oil mines. Fredencksou here can speak your tongue ihen ? Ah ! but J don’t know German. Ob, not German but Danish ? I’rcderiokson tried to get up a conversation in Danish, but failed, as Yes! and No) about constituted Watt’s acquaintance with the dialect. During the fortnight he was working on the Presbyterian Church, Howard, alias Watt, attended the services, patronised the Salvation Army, and, professing to be a single man, made love to one of :he daughters of the congregation. By December 7th he had run up a score of 17k with Duncan and Son. On that day he called at John Graham’s emporium, and asked for a serge coat, stating that, having an “aged mother and an invalid sister ” to maintain, he could not run a suit, unless He got “tick,” and he did not like going into debt. His suaev and candid manner recommended iiself so much to the unsuspecting storekeeper that he volunteered to give him credit, and “Watt” bought a suit and other goods amounting to £4 19s, remarking that it he did not pay for the lot by the end of the month he was not to press him, as he had to send £3 to his “aged mother and invalid sister ” in the Old Country. On the same day he borrowed 10s from Mr Allan Anderson, a workman, on the understanding that he would go out to Opaki on the following day to erect some gate*. He,did not turn up at the Opaki, however, and about this time he disappeared from Masterton. On or about December 15th Mr Graham received a Jitter from Wellington from Watt, stating that he and a mate had taken a small contract to build a three-roomed cottage, and that he would not get his money till the job was finished, when he would remit what he owed. A similar note was sent to Messrs and Son. It will be remembered that "just about this time—on December 16th—the human hand was found on the Sumner Beach, and it is juat possible that Watt may have placed it there. The activity of the Christchurch police is visible In the latest piece of news about the Howard case, which is that Detective O’Connor has been despatched to Masterton to inquire into Howard’s doings there. It will be remembered that though Howard was arrested at Petone, he had been previously working in Masterton.