The Evening critic., 1883-04-18
WHY BREWSTER WAS BOUNCED.
A Brief History Of Brewster's Dis.
grace and the Degradation Cover
nor Geary Imposed on Him.

ERIE, Pa, April 16.-The bill now before the
Legislature approprlating $4,000 TO repair tho
Marine Hospital building, at this place, calls
TO mind several incidents connected with tho
establishment Of this institution that arc not
little interesting. The hospital was incor-
porated by actof Assembly March %, 1867,
and It's object was to provide medical and
surgical aid and nursing, with proper moral
instruction, for the sick and disabled. Tho
hospital never accomplished much of It's
building Is in a fearful state OF decay aud
the grounds are running Wild with rank
grass and weeds. The first board OF managers
was composed OF reputable men whose
good purposes cannot be doubted, but the
popular impression here is that with some
others OF It's prime movers the object was
private gain from the beginning. The corpora
tion received from the State the old garrison
or fort property on the blum and the shore be-
low, Just east OF the city, and then skipping
the city front as built up at that time, all the
water lots lying along the harbor from the
Pittsburg dock to Massasauga Point at the
head OF the bay. These water lots carried with
them the harbor privilege for stretch OF
about two miles, 30 that the grant comprised
all the water property along the shore side Of
the harbor, except that lying Immediately In
front Of tho city. The hospital subsequently
received money appropriations to the amount
of $4,000.
bill was railroaded through the Leslsla.
ture In 1869 by Senator Morrow u. Lowery,
granting TO the hospital all the peninsula, at
the entrancet to the harbor, containing 2,O2i
acree, and when Governor Geary became
aware OF this fact, he was very indignant at
Attorney General Benjamin II. Brewster, now
Attorney.General of tho United States, because
the latter had secured the Governors sigma
ture 10 the patent by misrepresentation. A
stormy interview took place between Geary
and Brewster, and ended by the former ask
ing Brewster to resign. He declared he
I would not resign, and defed the Gov
ernor TO remove him. Without hesitating
a moment Geary went TO the door of the
office, locked 1t and put the key In his pocket.
There was revolver lying on tho table. The
Governor laid paper on the other side of the
table, dipped pen in tho Ink, and stepping
back n pace said TO Brewster: 'Now, sir, you
will sit down at that table and write your
resignation before let you out OF this room.'
Brewster looked at the door, at the revolver,
at the watchful face OF tho Governor, and sat
down at the table. He wrote his resignation
rapidly, signed 1t and was allowed to
walk out. To make his resignation as pain
full to him as possible Governor Geary
Immediately sat down and wrote a telegram
10 +. Carroll Brewster, Benjamin's half
brother, whom he hated, appointing him At
torney.General IN his stead. Tho property so
surreptitlously procured was surrendered 10
the State and $4,000 was appropriated In
1871 to the hospital. This money, II is said
was consumed paying old debts. tits the inten'
tion to present the property TO the United
States Government for the establishment of O
soldiers home and the bill new before tho
Legislature asks for an appropriation TO put
| II in some sort Of shape TO give away.