Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-03-24

rCorrespendence of The pIsoaaAr-
~ yo.x Masai 90. 1868.

NEvg YORK LEI Eks
rcarr..nonaence OF the DEsocsAs.
Nrw Yosk, Massa 20. 1868.
ana, msny Ats and starts, spring has
,..l,v com. to stay with the good Knicter
beckera There is green grass in the
marks. and tho mud has dried mp 10 tho
principal thoroughfares. and we are
happy people. The above mentioned are OF
tie leading topics also trade, impeach-
ment, and so down through the catalogue.
We have suffered less from the effects Of
the spring frcshsts than our cousins Of the
West, but even here the travelling public
has been greatly inconrsniancsd. The
Hudson River and the Erie Railroad were
the most seriously damaged Of oil the roads
cenissing here.
The press Of the city have recently pub
lishsd . synopsis Of the testimony present
ed to Gov. Fsnson in suppers Of the sppli-
cation for the pardon Of Ed. B. Kstchum.
who has been in The State Prison for about
I've ysars on sentence Of forgery. His
vast operations in Wall street will Be we'll
remembered. Aspiring TO rule the street,
and falling 10 this, and becoming involved,
he forged checks - an almost unprecedsnt-
Cd extent. The testimony 10 very interest
ing, not only on account Of previous char
acter Of Ketchum, and the magnitude Of
his operations, but also as showing the pos
siblc effects upon the mad whirlpocls OF
stock speculations. Many OF our prominent
citizens testify to the belief that his specu-
lations had caused species Of insanity
that no was, in fact, a monomania. The
Tribune says: "lIAving given much At
tsntion to the case Of Nj. Kstchum, we
firmly believe him innossnt-that is, one
whs, under temporary hAllucination or
phrsnzy, produced by the atmosphere Of
Wall street, committed acts Of which he had
no proper consciousness, and for which he
was morally responsible" Mr.. J. Pierpont
Nssgsn tsstfiss that large stock spscula-
lions Of the kind and amount he was led
into brings on very great excitement Of
tho brain, and people ars often Wild and ir.
regular in their judgment and actions. =
They do not know what TO say or do. This
would be mush more the ease with euch =
young man % Kstchum was, aud led me to
believe that he vas not in his right mind at
the time DO committed the crime Of which
he stands now convicted. DR.. J. Stnrgcs
confirms that he has no idsa that il ever en-
tered bis mind to defraud any one" Whom
the effort WAS first made to procure the par
don Of Kstchum, it WAS looked upon with
disfavsr. the idea largely prevailing that his
wealth and former social standing might %.
cure for him what less prominent citizen
would hope for in vain, but now there 10 .
great rsvuIson of feeling 10 his favsr, and il
is thought he has good prospect Of recsiv-
ing pardon.
| speaking Of nything at oil in the specu.
lation way, Of course brings US to tho Erie
case. This case 10 profound and Of pro-
founder interest, notwithstanding its hope.
lessness and not understandable features, II
is one of tho biggest battles Of the giants Of
these days, and gossiped over By even those
who know nothing concerning stocks. Mil
lions are involved, and every body talks
about it, The tight has even been carried
TO the Legislature. The Erie Directors, in
Guiding Mr.. Drew, still remain in Jersey
City. Quite an excitement exists, crowned
by y rumored attempt to kidnap and bring
him to the city-all Tor $4,000.
The police now guard the headquarters
Of the Directors. On Friday the Directors
hold meeting and passed resolutions cut.
ting down their tariff on iregh, and as
sengers. The war has assumed q new
phase in the position ofthe railroad work
ingmsn, who by scores petition Mr.. Drew e
hold firm, and propose to hold mass meet
ing Of workingmen to endorse his action
There 10, of course, much in this struggle
between the Drew and Vanderbilt parties
which 10 any thing but pain to the ordinary
people, who know but little Of the intries
ciss Of stock iobbing but the belief is rap
idly being strengt hsnsd that the success o
tho Vanderbilters means monopoly, which
can hardly fail Of being injurious to the In
terests OF the public, and consequently tn,
Drew people are gaining a valuable mora
support.
After the lapse Of years the romanti,
1
revived in sufficiently racy way to appca
to the sppetites Of all people, and this in
cludss nearly every body, we reckon. Some
body had lied most outrsgeously about those
parties in the National Intelligenccr, repre-
septing that John, having married for tn,
rocks Of Mr.. Booker, and not securing them
had at last ll-treated his Mary. the latter
going to the utter bed Of pennllessness and
even worse The Sun having reproduced
this story, the proprietor was sued for $50,
900 damages by Mr.. Dean. The case va,
decided as it should be-for the defendant
but it has had the good for the plaintiff
and his wife Of correcting the popular i'm
preston that this has been most unhappy
marriage and had led them 70 dreadful depths
OF degradation. There has been many worse
marriages than thsirs evidently.
The sunny weather which has been
with us Of late has largely tempt
cd the people to Central Park grounds
We get prouder and prouder Of it every
day and boast more Of its wonderful
beauties and more particularly that our sis
ter city of Brooklyn 10 getting to boast Of
her Prospect Park, which the people Of that
tame goodly city have actually made them
selves believe 10 destined to far sutshine
the Central Aforesaid. The same wonderful,
rise in the value Of real estate adjoining
their park has taken place % with ". All
property near either park has the perfect
sky rocket motion, and will soon Be entire.
y beyond che reach Of anything like ordin.
ary people.
| The Common Council has passed over the
Mayors veto the resolution to publish To-,
900 copies Of the Corporation Manual OIL
1853. This eWindIe will cost the city abeu,
e75 900. The city hall people are the mos'
corrupt body in The world ard grow more
rotten every day.
The dramatic world has perhaps more
than ito usual hustle. 4 Eve act drama en-
titled Light q Last" the work Of Col
Thomas Fitsgssald, of Philadelphia, wal
played At the New York Theatre on Monday
last for the tirst time in THE city. Il 10 o.
the ssutinsas - school, and more strongly