Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-10
LOCAL NEWS.
suit Against General Grant.

"
FRESIBEST-AND DOESN'T GET IT.
III the Circuit Court CHER Justice Cartier
yesterday the case of Thomas Bigglns against
Ulysses :. Grant. (eN-PreSident OF the United
Statesl-action for false Imprisonment in cauS-
ing his tBi@Gins) arrest, commitment TO the
Insane ASyl lum, and subsequent transportation
TO Europe, for which he claims $1,000 dam
ages-waS continued after our report closed
Messrs. \. X. Browne, John II. Mcconnell and
X. III. GodSborough, counsel for the plaintiff
and MeSSrS A. 5. Worthington and A. {. Heald
for defendant.
John L. Sargent testified that he was detec-
tive officer from 1872 TO 1879: recollects in March
1874. Detective McElfresh told him that the
President had been followed and ANNOYED by a
man whom he thought was insane. on Satur-
day, the 2lst of March, saw MIR. Drury, an aJtor-
hey. who said that the man who followed the
President was BigginS.
Mr. Goldsborough objected to this testimony
as Irrelevant and heaTSay.
The Chief JuStice.-I can see its pertinence
very well; that this man had dOgged the PreSi-
dent from day to day with claim for $1,000.
Take an exception.
had a just claim for $1,000, but the President
repeatedly stood in his way. Witness and Me-
ElfIesh carried BIggins TO police headquarters
and called in DR.. Nagruder and DR.. Elliot TO ex-
anime higgins. They pronounced him insane
He said that Gen. Grant bothered him very
much; came to see him through a keyhoe
witness and McElfreSh took BigginS 10 the
asylum. telling him that he was going to a no.
tel to stay until he ana McElfreSh could collect
his clam; that there had been nephew OF
President ThferS. who had been in the ASYLUM
and they had collected a claim for him while he
was there, and Biggins pulled out fifty cents
and handed il TO them, saying. That's good
take a drink with this laughter
DR.. Eliot testified to examining BgginS az
headquarters and hearing him say That the
President came into his room through key
hole or crack.
DR.. Magruder and Dr. McKim gave similar
testimony.
DIR. Chase. physician at the asylum. testified
that when higgins arrived at the insane asylum
he seemed quite rational. but next day. March
% higgins explained that Father White and
Father McNally had circulated the report that
his brother was born before his time, and aS
this had injured his business. Father White
promised To do all he could TO atone for il. and
agreed TO pay him $4,000 and Father McNally
$1,000; that they had paid Gen. Grant for him
$4,000. but that Grant had kept him out OF il
for some time, and in consideration OF the an
nOyance this had caused him Grant agreed TO
pay him $1,000 cut OF his salary, making s17O0O
III all. higgins said TO witness, The President
comes al night and casts a shadow and wants
TO take the place of wife to me- When asked
why the President called him out, he said be-
cause the President was fond OF him and wanted
to see him as much as possible. on the list OF
June he said that Grant had been there in spirit
and had offered TO settle with him at S,O.Oo0
November No, 20 he was still unimproved. but lert
the aSylum accompanied by an attendant in
order that he might embark at New York for
ireland, under arrangements that had been
nade oy Blg9lnS friends and the President. as
the PRESIDENT OF danger. Witness does not
KNOW what concern the President had III these
arrangements except from general report, and
he understood that his mother and other rela-
t1ves suggested his going to Europe The hal
luclnatlon with regard TO the President coaing
TO nm IN spirit continued until Blggins left
witness thinks that it would have been danger
Gus 10 allow BigginS to be ar large.
SECOND DAY
This morning among the interested specta-
tors was L. 5. Grant, jT. The defendant OF
fe1ed testimony as follows:
Salnuel I. Drury. member OF the bar. teS-
ulled that on The day OF BigginS arrest the Off
GERS came to his house and consulted with him
as 10 arreStlng Blgg1nS stating that they had
determined On 1t. lie advised the officers that
one would be sufficient TO make the arrest AT
ms suggestion carriage was procured, and
witness went with them to the house and in
formed Biggins that he had arranged with Gen.
Grant Tor the payment OF the money. and Rir-
gins liked himself up and went to the carriage,
When Re was driven TO police headquarters
ABOUT SIX years ago he had some business with
Blgglns, ana after 1t was transacted Biggins
pushed $40 bill toward him and said he had
more important buSineSS-a claim against the
PTesident-but he did not indicate the nature
OF 1t, except the sum OF $1,000. higgins in
sisted On his going to the President, saying
that all he had to do was to 60 there
and the President would tell him what to do
FINALLY witness went to the Presidents House
sent In his card as attorney for Thomas Btggins
ana was admitted. The President said he did
not know the man. [The Court.-And then you
felt cheapl. He reflected and asked if Biggins
was nut a large man witness then advised
BgglnS to keep away from the Presidents
House. About three days before the arrest
blgglnS came TO his Office, called him out, and
SAID ne had ''seen him." and witness asked
Who? when BigginS replied 1.-The President"
He further said that the President had been
coming to his house. interfering with his bust
ness; coming there in spirit. He further said
that he had spoken 10 the President about the !
matter, and he turLed very white.
Col. Robert ChriSty, a member OF the bar, has |
known plaintiff since his confinement i'm the |
government Insane Asylum, acted as an at 4
tOrney at the suggestion OF his nephew and his |
mother. The result OF the negotiations was
that he was discharged condtionally Before /
he accepted the employment he had an inter-
view with BigginS and he conVersed with ordi-
nary intelligence; never spoke TO him about
the President. Mr.. higgins friends concurred
in by DR.. Nichols, thought with him that sea
voyage would Go him good and he believed |
that II had done bin good. He referred 10 n |
letter from Dr. Nichols addressed TO him as to |
the last movements OF higgins before hts de-
parture, in which DIR. y. urges that his friends !
ADVISE BigglnS 10 remain abroad about one |
year.
Brooke Il. Mackall jr., testified that he called
on higgins several times at the asylum; went |
over there and informed him of the arrange
ments. He said the President owed him money |
for some private or c0nndentiaI business; that
the President had often visited him in spirit |
Cross exaInined:-bgginS agreed that a visit TO
Ireland wculd do him good
Thomas higgins iecalled:-Does not rem an-
Der that he told DIR. Elliot. Mr.. Sargent Dr. Ma
gfucer, OF DR.. McKim. that Gen. Grant came 10 |
him 10 spirit, or through keyilo.e Knows Or |
cnaSe; does Lot remember telling h.In anything