The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-11-20
WHOLE NUMBER SO7.
Ha.pine's Prison Lifs of Davis


cit is asserted that the book en-
titled Prison Life of Jefferson Davis.
and purpOrting to be the work of
DR.. Craven, was written in nine days
by the late General Charles G. Hal
Ipine.''
The shove paragraph is going the
rounds of the press as an item Of
strange news.
The book, our readers viii remem-
Der, came out shortly after the re-
lease of Mr.. Davis on bail from his
imprisonment ct Fortress Monroe.
1t was the sensation Of the day and
excited deep interest for the famous
prisoner, whose story OF life it as
sumed to give While it stirred the
hearts of the Southern people, OK
whose lost cause he was the official
head, it awakened the curiosity, re-
moved the prejud;ces and enlisted
the sympathies of Northern men in
behalf of one fallen from high estate,
weary, feeble captive, who yet chal-
lenged admiration FROM the equani-
nifty Of his bearing and the accom-
| plishments of his mind.
Our readers viii be astonished to
learn that the statement is true, and
that this popular book upon which so
much OF feeling, of Indignation, pity,
Interest has been expended, is work
of imaginatiOn-a novel woven upon
slender threads OF fsct.
Soon after the admission Of Mr..
Davis TO bail, Craven, the surgeon of
the post, went to New York, where
he met his quondam messmate of the
same staff, General Halpine. This
literary friend congratulated him
forthwith on this opportunity be had
TO immortalize himself in print and
at the same time make money by
book Oh JEFF. Davis. The idea SEEM
cd new to Mr. Craven and he said it
was impractieabie. Halpine asked
him where his notes were. He re-
piled that he had none and could not
do it. Them said Halpine, ''give
me the materials YOU have and 1 will
write in your name, and we viii share
the proiits." This was agreed to.
Craven furnished three letters of
Mrs Davis TO him and some notes
written on the margin OF New York
Herald by Mr.. Davis, touching the
points he desired Reverdy johnson
10 make in defending him for treason.
This was all the authentic matter
At the request of General Halpine,
Craven also made out list of the
officers of the post and their days for
going on duty, and other little details
1f the post and garrison and OF Mr..
Davis. ,-
Halpine then called to see several
in New York, and
other General Dick Taylor.
He pumped them as to MIR. Davis,
iSfssrssfs, atso3 II rttfrt. 60 Ie''1Itg
Iations and feelings toward them,
&c.
A Philadelphia publishing house
now advertised that it was soon to
put forth life of Davis and Halpine
saw the importance OF anticipating
this publication by his book. 1t was
arranged in New York to get it out
He agreed to furnish
his publisher forty pages Of foolscap
daily. And he sat down
to write and wrote forty pages daily
for nine days, when the book was
web of his fertile
brain and accomplished mind.
The book was of great service to
Mr.. Davis and General Halpine's
share of the profits was $1,000 last
March, when he communicated to us
The above facts from his own graphic
and eloquent lips.
This is one of the curiosities OF
literature, and illustrates the talents
Of The man who could so plausibly
out of whole cloth the
'Prison Life of Jefferson Davis,'
with his private views and opinions
men and things.