Tales from the Morgue: Madam Tillie Howard

04/21/2010

By Nancy Johnson
For the Headlight

One of the most memorable madams in the Southwest was El Paso's Tillie Howard who was in business for years and nearly gained respectability. She kept a well-ordered house and showed tender concerned for her girls' welfare at a time when sympathy was unheard of in the sporting house business.

Tillie had laughing eyes, according to one little boy. They sparkled with intelligence and wit. Her figure was well proportioned, and she had a low, husky voice and delightful throaty laugh. She was 23-years-old in 1892 when she paid $2,200 for a house on Utah Street and opened for business. She was extremely good at business and soon was famous all over West Texas. Hers was THE house to visit.

Young Texas Ranger, Alonzo Oden, transferred to Ysleta in 1893 and noted in his diary that he went to El Paso, bought a new pair of boots then paid called on Tillie Howard.

"I've been anxious to visit Tillie. She's the talk of the border. Jim said he'd introduce me, so we went down there. It's a regular saloon and sort of hotel and dance hall combined, but Tillie makes the place different. She is tall, and I imagine she doesn't need those artificial bosoms the ladies are using now; hers look natural enough. She has the bluest eyes, whitest skin and blackest hair, and is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.

"She is glad to talk about everything interesting except Tillie. She took me all over her establishment and introduced me to all her girls. She is proud of the fact that the girls are refined. She allows no loud talk, no vulgarity, and the girls are not allowed to get drunk. They are paid straight salary. Tillie thinks this is more protection for the girls, and she thinks it keeps them honest. On commission they are sometimes inclined to cheat."

Tillie made the papers when one of her girls died at work. The funeral was so elaborate, it was covered by the El Paso Times; other papers throughout the West copied the article. Nothing was too good for Tillie's girls.

"The body of the unfortunate young woman "Vernice Valentine," who died at the house of Miss Tillie Howard, is laid out in Powell's undertaking rooms. The corpse is attired in white satin-silk, occupies an elegant coffin ornamented with beautiful wreaths of flowers placed there by sympathizing friends. The lid bears her true name, but it is cautiously kept away from public view. The hands of the deceased hold a bunch of white flowers, from the center of which a white dove in natural position and opened wings is ready to fly heavenward. Every effort has been made to hear from her friends in Eagle Lake, Wisconsin. Undertaker Powell has concluded to keep the body no longer, and it will be buried at 5 o'clock this evening in Evergreen Cemetery, Rector Cabell Martin of the Episcopal Church, conducting the funeral services."

The house made the papers again in 1894 after a shooting death when a customer appropriately named Bass Outlaw died. A short muscular man, he was popular and well thought of when sober, but his drinking led to a long history of brawls, killings, and lost jobs with various law enforcement agencies. Fast and deadly with a gun, he was famous in an area of fast guns. He had recently been named Deputy U.S. Marshal

Bass was drinking in Tillie's saloon then visited one of her girls. He felt somewhat better until he met two other Marshals in the parlor, told them his problems and got mad all over again, ignoring their advice to go home and sleep it off. He wandered in the direction of the bathroom where a gunshot was heard moments later.

Tillie ran into the yard sounding SOS, on a police whistle with Bass on her heels. Ranger Joe McKittrick, across the street, followed the sound and discovered Bass wrestling the whistle from Tillie.

Bass saw the Ranger and shouted "Do you want some too?" He fired his gun, hitting McKittrick in the head. His second bullet struck the body before it hit the ground. He turned and fired point blank at one of the Marshals, missing his head but blinding the man with powder burns. However, reflexes had been triggered. The Marshal's shot landed near Bass's heart and he died four hours later.

Tillie and the diamond mines