The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-04-30
Odd Characters at Washington.

A character who up to few months
ago was daily visitor to the Capitol,
says the Washington San, was Colonel
Maurice Pinchover. This man has a
grievance. He seems to be haunted with
the phantom of Colonel Tom Scott. the
railroad king. He declares that Colonel
Scott years ago robbed him in railroad
transaction, stole his money and reduced
him to penury. He carries with him
usually tin case about two feet long and
six inches in diameter, in which is
drawing of some land. One day last
summer, when the House was engaged in
an exciting political debate, Pinchover
came to the Capitol with woolen shirt
saturated with blood, and which he de-
clared was the shirt worn by him when
he was assaulted by Tom Scott on the
plains of Colorado. Pinchover also has
a claim. All that he has ever succeeded
in explaining is that it is a for million
dollars, and is connected with mine of
some kind, which Scott robbed him of.
At times he is dangerous. Journal Clerk
Smith on one occasion filled the tin case
he carries with mucilage. When Pinch
over discovered it he became ungovern-
able, and would have done Smith bodily
injury had he not fed incontinently out
of range.
Another persistent claimant who comes
to Congress every year is John q. Nc
Connell. His claim is for SIT ,260, and
has made its appearance in every Con-
gress for years. It has for basis the
alleged fact that the claimant rendered
service to the United States in recruiting
three hundred men in Maryland for q
Massachusetts regiment. Last summer
General Bragg, Chairman of the War
Claims Committee, in reporting adverse
ly upon it. said: '"This claim has been
rejected at the War Department and the
Treasury Department when all the par
ties who knew of the transaction were
living, and the vouchers. now alleged to
have been lost, were in existence. 1t has
since been rejected by the Committee on
War Claims, and now presents itself to
this Committee, having only one merit
is time this raid on the Treasury should
cease. The Committee report adversely"
The LATEST Doc SToRY.-The sweet
est and most original study for a dog
story is given to the voracious exchange
scissors of the American press by the
Reading Times and Dispatch. The own
ers of the faithful hound are man and
wife, each sixty years of age. He was
born deaf and dumb, and she became
deaf when about six years old. He con-
verses in the sign language, and she is
able to hold extended talks with few
intimates by watching closely the move
ment of their lips. She also, somehow,
manages to answer callers inquiries.
They have pet dog that is an essential
element in their domestic lives. AS
neither of the old people can hear, the
dog becomes by it's superior instinct a
means of communication. When the
door bell rings it will go up to its mis-
tress and pull her dress, then run before
her toward the door. The dog has
learned to know the time of the arrival
of the milkman who serves them, and
can actually distinguish the sound of the
milkman's 8 bell. The dog will sit in the
attitude of attention, head up and ears
thrown forward, as soon as it catches the
first sound of the bell, and will wait till
the milkman has driven up in front of
the door before itmoves. At the ringing
of the bell or gong, it will go to her, and
by signs or by pulling her dress an
nounce the milkman's arrival. She fully
understands its movements, and, pre-
ceded by the dog, Will go to the milk
wagon. obtain the days supply, hold a
brief conversation with the man. and re-
turn to her domestic duties. New York
Tribune.