Superior Court Judge Shaw ruled in favor of the defendants and so they were able to resume their positions as the "legal and duly-authorized officers" of the library.
[7] Howard was one of the attorneys representing city librarian Tessa L. Kelso, who had sued a Methodist minister, J. W. Campbell, for slander after he had called her out in a prayer from his pulpit on August 19, 1894, for having purchased a number of assertedly obscene French-language books, including Le Cadet by Jean Richepin.
Lord, vouchsafe thy saving grace to the librarian of the Los Angeles city library, and cleanse her of all sin and make her a woman worthy of her office.
"[11] On August 6, 1896, Howard left his house at 1043 South Hill Street, "telling his family that he was going on a business trip to San Bernardino and the desert.
A body was found on Mount Wilson the next month, raising an expectation that it was Howard's, but that identification was ruled out by Los Angeles County Coroner George W.