Article on Dispute between J. B. Howe and J. W. Lingard

     “J. B. Howe, who was recently arrested in this city as he was about to sneak away from an engagement with Mr. Lingard, of the New Bowery, but, through some means, subsequently regained his liberty, arrived in Liverpool on the 18^th of March, and on the following day sent a letter to the London Era, denying that he was indebted to Lingard; saying that he was engaged at eight pounds per week, instead of forty dollars, and that Mr. L. had accepted and performed two of his (Howe’s) dramatic compositions, but had forgot to pay for them. He winds up his epistle with sundry flings at this country, now that he is out of it. [Provides a history of the monetary interactions between Howe and Lingard.] . . .Mr. Howe, without any notice whatever to Mr. Lingard, took all his wardrobe, dressing-case, etc., from the theatre in a sneaking manner, and was starting away on the steamer to Liverpool when he was arrested by Mr. Lingard for the balance due him, and locked up in jail from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday, when he took a oath that he was falsely imprisoned, that he owed Lingard nothing, and that Lingard was greatly in his debt. He was then liberated, when he immediately took cars for Boston, and the next morning sailed for Europe. We have seen a letter written by Howe to Lingard while the former was in jail, wherein he admits that he is in the wrong, and begs him to be lenient and let up on him. He also states that he has been disappointed, and that he is aware that he has proved a dead failure with the Bowery boys. As to his flings as this ‘great country,’ this ‘land of the brave and home of the free,’ as he sarcastically remarks, Mr. Howe should bear in mind that he was always kindly treated here until he deserted his wife some few years ago; she kept her sorrows to herself, and actually died of starvation in a garret in this city! If such man can gain eclat [sic] in England by his inuendoes [sic] against America, we greatly mistake the character of the English people.”