Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-12
a Charity Repaid.
Attorney General Ward. Of New York, Tells of a
Striking Instance

attorney General Ward. sf New York, Tells of
Striking Instance
Soon after graduating az a law school In the
central part OF this state ! WAS given a large
claim TO collect from wealthy planter living
In tennessee IT was before the day OF rail-
roads and the sWlfteSt way 10 get there was by
sea. Went 10 New York. sailed down the coast,
landed al Charleston, 5. c., and Travelled across
the state toward Tennessee They were having
the cholera south that year. ] caught it, and
was laid up with II at Columbia for Two weeks.
didn't have much money with me at starting,
and this sickness about used itup. Twas SO weak
when again started Oh my Journey to Tonnes
see that could hardly walk. AT last reached
Greenville, my money was all gone. and pre-
sumo locked like tramp. remember Ii was
aquiet Sunday evening when entered the place,
and the church bells were ringing. | wanted
to go TO church, but my shoes were so worn out
that was ashamed to go upon the ground
floor so crept into the gallery OF one OF the
chnrches, and sat among some OF the prettieSt
girls ever saw in my lie. told Andy john
Indeed they Old have a lot OF pretty girls In
Greenyiile at that time. The next morning
staIted for my destination thirty miles up in
the mountains | had TO loot IL every inch of
the way. When ] got there found that my
man had died and that his VIII was disputed
SO skirmished around and discovered that one
OF the men Who was contrasting the will was
rich ana lived some four or live miles out OF the
town. BE was one of your southern barons,
had several hundred negroes, scores OF horses,
and some bloCd-houndS. ] tried threatening
him; re set the dogs on Inc. killed one with a
billet or wood and escaped TO the town. Wei.
there was without cent, poor wretch, with
no person Of property In the north VINO cared
about me 10 whom could send for assist
ance. j made my way back to GreenvtlIe
somehow, ard resolved upon bold stroke. |
went into the first lawyers Office came 10 and
said: MY name Is Ward; came from New
York state 10 collect claim; the man has
died and Ms WI Is disputed; would like 10
sen S9p paa a 20 e Se9 S M h van, hs
kind-iaced man. | remember he asked me ynv
] didh't seDd for mCney 10 Naw York ana
OWNED up that mere vas no one there | could
remember WHO would send il to ne He finally
said. Well will 20 out and See a friend about
this H. brought mis- frlend back wifh MIN
and they agreed to lend me $50 | signed a rs
per. and they gave me ihe money, Tnea plt
my bands deep IN mi trousers 10 rketS anG
hauled cut god waicn. / 5iti 90 .iiile5nen
want yoG 70 tab ta.s va. II aid keep II as :
sort OF security for what o%e yop. II, AS
money earn promise yoH It. Viii ~ s,1' to
you 10 repay yCu." They wouldn't taln tn
watch al iusJ, but fort-d thein to. | 20.
home AID when scFapcI together $40 SET {
TO tnem. They took out taer principal anI in.
Ter 81, anu Sent me The w''c1 aud the money
thai was over. And 50 apparent M c3nuec.
'ioh Win this GreeI'Ville nam ended
Twenty years passed. aud was member or
Congress from th, -'afe. IT. was the time OF
RECONSTRUCTION and as radical republican |
Was b member OF the reconstruction commit
lee. had special charge OF the reconstruction
OF tie state OF Tennessee. one day there was
d lot u Tennesseeans before me In relation la
the affairs OF the state-Horace MAYNARD W
L. i. Stokes, Roderick X. Butler and others
IEdt evening at home, In glancing over the
papers, saw that johnson had nominated a
man named Milligan for judge of the court OF
claims. 1t was at a time when Congress was
having its fierce war with Johnson; 80 fierce
that the Senate would confirm none of his
nomiL atlons. no matter how good they might
De. ! thought this man Milligan would have
no cDaBce. and then turned TO my Wife and
said: ''Do you remember a man named Mill
gan?" She replied that she did not. "Weil."
sald !, ',is there any circumstance OF my life in
when nave oeen connected with man OF that
naInt: She answered, II don't remember
such man" The following morning at the
committee room, turned to Maynard and said:
s Nv no no. Is THIS man Milllgan that John
cans" He replied: "Oh. he is a lawyer living
al GTeensllie, Tenn; one OF Johnson's chuns. ;
was Milllgan Union man during the war;"
such all outspoEen one that the rebs stripped
linn OF all his property. He is as poor as a
e etrde mouse Is he good LAWYER" tnep
table with my fist, by God sir. he shall De-
co, iirm ls They We're all amazed ana in.
CURED what earthly lniere5, had In MIlliyaD.
0ldnI tel them; but went over TO Conkilng
I'D The SeLate and told him the entire story I
nave r t9id YOU OF how this man M.lIigan nelped
went about the Senate getting votes for Mil
ligan, pestered Maynard night ana day TO yet
his consent, and The end or 1t was Milligan Was
pJHb lOi ana thanked
me- OlEe news or the confirmation got down to
Tennessee, and Mill'gan started for Wash.
ligton. lie came from the railroad train
directly 10 the Capitol. still wearing his
buster RoderIck X. Butler brought me out 70
hm ard introduced us Milgan was then be.
tween 81 and -, and had a wife many years
younger. He said TO Inc: MI Ward wh Al fs If
that caused you to Interest yourself in n
strangers fortunes" | WAS looking forward 10
an Oh age OF misfortune and poverty. THIS an
pointment is Ike mama from heaven for ma -
replied: do you remember lending $50 over
~ years ago TO poor cnoIera- strickeo wretcjl
OF La" yer that had come down TO Tennessee
~ collect claim and spent ali nls mOney?'
sllllgdn said. Il 40" | said. well that vas
J. Wen. II sou would beiieye me. We an
hah or! Ing spell over The way wings turueJ
out. ~