The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-21
1HE LrGHr or 0rHuR D1ys.
nIisfortuncs of Brother-in.Inw WHO once
Ran the Government for Four Months.

Ran the Government for Four Months.
WAsuINGroN, April 2O.-Gcn. Fred. A.
Dent called Jerry by his brother officers " the
regular army, brOther-in- law Of President or Mt,
will long be remembered for his antics In the
White House while performing the duties of
High Custodian Of the Card Ba,kct. Jerry az
his many friends will be happy TO hear. t. In
FL rda, nourishinp like magnolia tree. nd Just
ms hght-hcarted and nmble-tongucd as ever
An old friend, who has just returned from 81.
Augustine, where he spent the winter, gives me
an amusing account of Jerry, ana the anu. emcnt
he afforded him during his stay. On one occa-
sion Jerry entertained him until midnight with
an account Of how he, and he alone, without
even the aid Of Babcock, ran tho Government
Of the United States for more than four months.
with the weather "a hot as Tophet. Grant was
away, BabcocS was away, only one member Of
the Cabinet was in Washington, and Jerry had
not bit Of confidence In that solitary represeu-
tatye OF the Administration. At times " looked
Us II things would 20 to the devil generally; but
he managed TO keen them straight, and carried
the Government safely through. Newspaper
men were his worst enemies, and gave him n
deal oi trouble. adding to rather than diminish
on another evening he gave my friend very
free and outspoken opinion OF Babcock. 1t Ia
very well known that both Judge aud Gen. Dent
were always jealous OF Dabcocks influence over
Grant; IL there Is any money 20 be made
IL
to the WHITE House. some years ago, Babcock.
and not my brother, will make IT," Jerry says
y 'bcock is cold FLOODED, calculating. cenary.
lie told my friend that II he ever met him to
watch his cold gray eyes. He would then under
stand what he meant. lie knew seven years ago
that Babcock would make lots OF money. His
mind was bent that way. lie began long ago
feeling out In various directi lns. many of them
dark and mysterious, to ind where the most
money was to be raked. And he had raked II.
And yet, although he knew Dabcocks weakness
for money. and his ambition to hold different
nlfl m ma roma R
and power. he was not prepared To believe him
wicked man as recent events had shown.
lie was charitable enough to believe that the
man had been corrupted by bis surroundings.
He said he was very anxious to see how BaO-
cock would come out Of this crooked businoss.
Whether he came out straight OF not, he should
leave the army and sot Up for broker or banker
on another occasion Jerry enlightened my
friend with an account Of how hc was taken In
aud done for and ruined financially by Washing
ton snarps. Horny II. Cooke, and Huntington.
aud old Doctor kidwell, made him believe that
II man had money to invest there was nothing
In the world Ike Seneca sandstone stock. They
had figured the tang down l" certainty. Jerry
matter. They told him stories such Nun
chAusen would have blushed at aud which he
aftctward found wore Inventions Of OLD man
kidwell Ihoy captured hin In that way. He
Il Il his interest IN the old Dent homestead, and
put every ooiiar OF u INTO seneca sandstone
shares AMI the only use you could now nut
them to WAS 10 nght the Dire OF morning. Both
be anu surgeon-Genera Barnes paid hard money
for their stock. He could not positively speak
for Gtent but believed his shares were donated.
lie was glad to get out Of W ashinaton. but sorry
that he mad 70 leave II So much In debt lie SAYS
Cooke and Kidwel we're the cause Of all his
money troubles while In Washington. He Is
now saving up something from his pay t. dis
charge his old debts lie had been told that
kidwell aud Cooke had combined with some
one with more money thsn brains, gnd prop d
to sell ont the old concern under the ur-t mort
gage bonds, and then put w new aud indie
pendent Seneca sandstone Ring. lie SAID tao
news Of this scheme made hila feel like going
tight no to Washington ana laying bis sWUrc
ABOUT Oke and kidweiis shoulders.