Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-11-08
A singular and Improbab,e story.

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rable impeachment trial, in which he
was defendant, toward the close of his
term of office as President of the United
States. The late Cornelius Wendell,
who was familiar with the incidents OF
that trial and an actor in some of the
most important of them, and used to
say that Mr.. Johnson's acquittal was
attributable, not as many supposed, to
the ability and eloquence Of the distin-
guished counsel employed by him, but
to the use of money. We never under
stood that Mr.. johnson himself furnish
ed any part of the sum paid; although
the parties who advanced it unquestion-
ably counted upon personal advantages
to themselves 10 result from his appre-
citation and gratitude after the trial
should be over Mr. Wendell's story
was as follows
The idea of saving Mr.. johnson had
been almost wholly relinquished by his
friends; his conviction seemed rore-
gone conclusion. and was almost uni
versally spoken of as certain, when one
Sunday, while Mr.. Wendell was sitting
in Oh of the public rooms at Browns
Hotel-since changed to the Metropoli-
tan-he was accosted by an acquaint-
ance, who asked: "Wendell, do you
want to bet hundred thousand dollars
that Johnson will be convicted; because
if YOU DO | will take the bet.
Mr.. Wendell said he at once compre-
hended what the proposition meant, and
after little further conversation re-
quested little time in which to make
up his mind, and appointed late hour
in the same day for another meeting
with the party who had made it.
81 flew round, continued Mr.. Wen
dell, ''and after seeing several persons,
found that | could raise 100000; so
when this man came back again | said
to him, will bet you 100000.
II don't want to bet $6O,O00," was
the instantaneous reply, 81 offered to
bet you 100000; if YOU do not wish to
take that, we will let the matter drop.
will bet that or nothing; no smaller
sum"
Wendell now perceived that the man
was unquestionably in earnest, and that
if he took the bet the result would be
one of two things-Johnson would be
acquitted, or he would win a hundred
thousand dollars. He requested fur
ther time, which was accorded, with
the understanding, however, that the
next interview the money was to be put
up or the negotiations were to be at an
end
Mr.. Wendell knew where and to
whom to 90 to raise money for such q
purpose; no man i'll the country knew
better; and although such sudden de-
mand for so large sum taxed his ener-
gies severely, he succeeded in getting
the amount together within the time
limited. The terms of the bet were full
ly complied with and the money was
put up.
President Johnson, as we all know
to be historical fact, was acquitted;
but very few persons in the country have
hitherto understood how it was done.
Mr.. Wendell said that some OF the
money went to quarters which would
have been among the last to be suspect
ed, whereas certain Senators against
whom suspicion was most rife never
touched dollar Of the money. MIR.
Wendell also said that they had several
more votes secured to be given in favor
Of acquittal in case they should be re,
CURED to accomplish that result; but If
not needed to acquit, then to be CASTOR
conviction.
One of the most curious things about
the whole transaction was the manner
in which the money was paid over after
the acquittal had taken place. 1t was
not handed directly over from one OF
the parties to the other, but was lost by
one to the other in play at cards.-N
Y. Sun.