Howe

HOWE, WILLIAM F. (July 7, i828-Sept. i,

1902), lawyer, was born in Boston, Mass. Ac-
cording to his own statement his father was the
Rev. Samuel Howe, an Episcopal minister. When
yet an infant, William was taken to England by
his parents and received his education at King's
College, London. On leaving college he studied
medicine for a time, acquiring a knowledge of
its theory and practice which in later years was
of inestimable value, but subsequently he entered
a London solicitor's office. In 1858 he returned
to the United States, settled in New York City,
and was admitted to the bar there in 1859. Com-
mencing practice in the police courts, he quickly
attracted public attention by his vivid personality
and in a short time he acquired an extensive
clientele, drawn principally from the criminal
element. On the outbreak of the Civil War he
appeared in a number of habeas corpus applica-
tions having for their objects the discharge from
the army of men who alleged immunity or had
enlisted while under the influence of liquor, there-
by earning for himself the sobriquet of "Habeas
Corpus Howe." In 1869 he took into partner-
ship Abraham Henry Hummel [#.t/.] and for the
next thirty years the firm of Howe & Hummel
was notorious not only in New York City but
throughout the country. Their office, at Center
and Leonard Streets near the Tombs, displaying
on its exterior a gigantic sign bearing the name
of the firm in imposing letters which were il-
luminated at night, became a haven of refuge
for every category of offender against the law*
Howe, himself, specialized in the defense of per-
sons accused of homicide and rarely undertook
any other class of case. His success was phe-
nomenal. Though his office was "a veritable
cesspool of perjury" (Wellman, post, p. 116),
there is no proof that he ever had personally any
part in the fabrication of testimony, and some of
his most astonishing verdicts were gained in the
face of uncontradicted evidence of guilt. Per-
haps the most extraordinary of all his triumphs
was in the trial of Unger, where he procured a
verdict of manslaughter though the facts dis-
closed cold-blooded murder attended by circum-
stances of particular atrocity.

Howe's methods were unique. At the outset of
a trial he attracted attention by his striking ap-
pearance, invariably wearing gaudy clothing, and
brightly colored ties, accompanied by a dazzling
display of personal trinkets and a watch of ab-
normal proportions. Having thus aroused the
curiosity and interest of the jury he thenceforth
dominated the scene by his consummate acting,
calling into play every device known to dramatic
art Complete familiarity with technicalities of

Howe

the law, wide knowledge of human nature, unu-
sual powers of cross-examination, and an expert
knowledge of medical jurisprudence, compen-
sated for his lack of oratorical ability, and his
homely unadorned addresses invariably brought
the jury into closer sympathy with his cause than
polished eloquence could have done. His au-
dacity knew no bounds, as was demonstrated by
his successful invocation of epilepsy as a defense
in the cases of Blakely and Chambers, both of
whom had been proved beyond question guilty of
murder. During some twenty-five years he was
retained in practically every murder trial in New
York City, but his irregular mode of life gradu-
ally undermined his strong constitution, and his
last years were spent in semi-retirement at his
home in the Bronx, N. Y. "He certainly left an
imprint upon the records of the criminal courts
of this city, which no one has ever equalled. He
was sui generis. There will never be another
'Bill' Howe" (Wellman, post, p. 108). In 1882
he was associated with Daniel G, Rollins in a
codification of the criminal law which was sub-
sequently embodied by the legislature in the
Penal Code, and in 1888, in collaboration with
Hummel, he published In Danger; or, Life in
New York, incorporating references to many of
his more outstanding cases. Arthur Train's novel,
The Confessions of Artemas Quibble (1911), is
based largely on Howe's career. Apart from the
law his only interest was in the stage, and for
many years he was standing counsel to the mem-
bers of the theatrical profession, both legitimate
and variety.

[Theron G. Strong1, Landmarks of a Lawyer's Life-
time (1914), gives, from personal acquaintance, a vivid
sketch of Howe's strong and weak points, doing justice
to the consummate advocate while painting in strong
colors his less appealing characteristics. Francis L.
Wellman, Gentlemen of the Jury (1924)* also narrates
intimate details of his career, some of which must be
treated with caution. See obituary notices in the JV. Y.
Times, N. Y. Tribune, Sun (N. Y.), and N. Y. Herald,
Septs, 1902.] H.W.H.K.

HOWE, WILLIAM HENRY (Nov. 22,1846-
Mar. 16,1929), landscape and cattle painter, was
born at Ravenna, Ohio, the son of Elisha B. and
Celestia (Russell) Howe, and a descendant of
one of the embattled farmers who took part in
the fight at Lexington in 1775- He was edu-
cated in the public schools of Ravenna. At the
age of eighteen he enlisted in the Union army
and was detailed for special duty at the Johnson
Island military prison. At the dose of the Civil
War he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., engaging
there in mercantile activities, thence to St. Louis,
where he worked in a drygoods store. On June
26, 1876, he was married to Julia May dark of
St. Louis. It was not until he was nearly forty

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