Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-02-09

Of . Cholera Stricken Lawyer
Over q Poverty Stricken East
Q Tennesseean. sIEe-rsrer1
Whether 1t IL True or Not,

The Albany correspondent OF the SYRIA
cuse9 Herald relates the following story
told him, by Attorney General Ward:
"Soon after graduating at a law school in
the central part OF this State Twas giveu a
large claim 70 collect from wealthy plan
ter living in Tennessee. 1t was before the
day, of r. railroads. and the swiftest
way to get there was by sea.
+ vent to New York, sailed down
the coast, landed at Charleston 8. C and
travelled across the State of Tennessee.
They were having the cholera South tn It
It at Columbia two weeks. I didn't have
much money with me at starting, and this
sickness about used it up. | was so weak
when Iagain started on my journey IL,
Tennessee that c uld hardly walk. At
last reached Greeneville; my money IS
all gone, and [ presume looked like a
tramp. lremember it was quiet Sun
day evening when entered the place and
the church bells were ringing. wanted
to 60 to church, but my shoes were so
worn out that was ashamed to go upon
the ground floor. So L crept into the
gallery OF one Of them and sat among
some of the prettiest girls l ever saw in
my life. Told Andy Johnson about it
years afterwards and he said th.t indeed
they did have a lot; of pretty girls in
Greeneville at that time Next morning
started for my destination, thirty miles
up the mountain. had to foot it every
inch Of the way. When I got there I
found that my man had died, and that his
will was disputed. So I skirmished
around and discovered that one of the
men who was contesting the will was
rich, and lived some four or FIVE miles cut
Of town. He was one OF your Southern
barons, had several negroes, scores of
horses, and some bloodhounds.F l tried
threa tening him; he sat the dogs on me.
I killed one with a billet Of wood al d
escaped to the town. Well, there was,
| without acent;a poor wretch, with no
person Of property in the North who cared
about me to whom could send for as
sistance. made my way back to
Greeneville somehow, and resolved upon
q bold stroke. went into the first law
yer Office came to and said: My name
| is Ward; I c me from New York State tic
collect claim; the man has died and the
will is disputed would like 20 sell you
this claim for $50. 1 want the money tC
get back TO New York The lawyer W q
kind-faced man. remember he asked
me why didn't send for money to New
York, and owned up that there was NJ
one there that I .uld remember VIII,
would send it 10 me. He titally said
Jewell, / will go out and see frien(
about this He brought his friend bacl
with him, and they agreed to lend me $50
signed paper and they gave me tn
money. Then 1 put my hand deep il
my trowsers pocket and hauld out gold
watch. said: 'Gentlemsn, l want you Il
take this watch and keep it as sort o
security for what 1 owe you. The frs
money earn promise you it will b,
sent TO repay you. They wouldnt TAX
the watch at first, but L forced them to.
got home, and when l had scraped to
gether SIS I sent it to them. They tool
; out their principal and interest, and sen
me the watch and the money that wa
over. And so apparently my connection
with this Greeneyille man ended. .4---s.l
"rwenty~ years passed, and I was
member of Congress from this State. /
} was the time Reconstruction, and, as
radical Republican, was member of tn
Il reconstruction committee. had specia
charge of the reconstruction OF Tennessee
Il One day there was lot of Tennesseean
I before me in relation to the aft irs f tn
j Estate --Hnraee Maynard, w. L. B
Stokes, Roderick r. Butler and others
That evening, at home, in CHANGING owe
1 the papers, / saw that johnson had nomi
1 mated q man named Milligan for judge o
the Court of Claims. . 1t was time whe
Congress was having its fierce war W t
Johnson-so fierce that the Senate woul
confirm none Of his nominations, no ma,
ter how good they might be. ! though
col this man N illigan would have no chanc
and then turned to my wife and 8 id: ID
| you remember man n med Milligani
She replied that she did not well, sal
l., is there any circumstance of my life i
which have been connected with ma
II OF that names' The following morning.
Il at the committee room, turned to MAJ
Il nard and said: : no is this man Mill
sfgan that. hnson has, nominated for iude
Of the Court of Claims?' He replied: I
he 10 Ew5er living at .Greepeville Tenr
-ae Ioneof Johnson's ehums' WAS Milliga
So Union man during the war;? I thu
q further inquired. Yes' said Magyar
and such ansseutspoken one that Il
sfrsbels stripped him of all of his propert
Il Heis 40 poor IS o. church mouse rs he
.. rood lawyer? I then asked. : One Of t
H. BEST i'm East Tennessee says Maynar
70 sTheD, said {, rspping the table with n
g. FIST. by, Godausiry he shall be confirmed
4heyM were all amazed and inquired VIII