The Evening critic., 1883-03-15
RREWSTER'S BRIBERY.
His Connection with the Attempted
Steal of the Presque Isle Marine
Hospital-He was Dismissed from


Steal of the Presque Isle Marine
HOspital-He was Dismissed from
Omcc In Disgrace on Account of 1t.
United States Senator Van wyck, of Nebraska,
on the I'd instant, scathingly rebuked the man
agement of the AFFAIRS of the Department of
Justice by Benjamin Harris Brewster, the
Attorney. General, particularly In the Star
Route trials. The language must have been
vigorous, for, according TO the report in the
Congressional Record OF the proceedings, 1t
nearly brought on an engagement be.
tween the Nebraska Senator and Sena-
coming to the defense OF the head OF the
Department Of Justice in manner that
seemed to make personal encounter between
the two Senators imminent Then, too, Sena.
tor Logan took q hand in the debate and
characterized the remarks OF the Nebraska
Senator in arraigning Hon. Benjamin Harris
Official capacity as "unusual and unpre.
cedented." The Pittsburg Commercial G0setts
OF the 9TH inst. Joins Cameron and Logan In
criticiZing and denouncing the bold Nebraska
Senator for the attack on Attorney General
Brewster, calling IT outrageously unjust,
and making IT appear that the immaculate
Let us see whether there are no acts In the
official life of Attorney General Benjamin
Harris Brewster which would
Justify the Charge of CrOokedness
against him or not. Probably the history of
the Marine Hospital and Preeque Isle will aid
us In this inquiry and furnish facts that will
decide the question of the purity or crooked
ness of Brewster's onicial iife In matter OF
Importance pertaining to this locality at least.
BY reference to the executive documents In
Pennsylvania in 1870, during the administra-
tion of Governor Geary, 1t Will be found that
this same Benjamin Harris Brewster, then At
torney- General for this State, was
Summarily Dismissed
by the Governor for the part he took In the at
tempt by the Marine Hospital Company of
Erie to rob the State OF Presque Isle, a body of
land containing 2,40O acres, forming the har-
Dor OF Erie, and valued at more than $1,000,-
600. The history OF that gigantic scheme OF rob-
the state, for 1t cost the Commonwealth $780,
600 10 recover back from the capacious
NAV OF this corporation the island;
was in the possession of the hospital
company cedar trees were cut down by the
thousand, by which means the members OF
the company laid in large supplies OF cedar
posts, much to the danger OF the existence of
the Island, the natural protector of the best
harbor on the lakes. Even the cranberries
growing on the island, which before and since
have been free to the gatherers on and after
certain day, had to be paid for by the people
who gathered them.
The cedlng of the Garrison Grounds and
Presque Isle to the hospital company was
done in a most surreptitious manner, which
amounted TO no more or less than
A Steal.
Morrow d. Lowry, the State Senator, was the
brains OF the company, and he found Attor-
ney General Brewster a willing tool to aid
him In the scheme. IL was through the active
| and energetic efforts OF s. d. Benson, then In
| tho United States Secret Service, G. W. Cotton
and others, that the great wrong was discov-
| cred and Governor Geary apprised OF 1t. The
| Indignation OF the Governor kne no bounds,
| and he Immediately demanded the resigna-
| tion OF Attorney-deneral Benjamin Harris
| Brewster. The latter not only refused to COM
ply with the Governors imperative demand,
| but unblushingly and impudently undertook
| TO justify the part he took In the transaction.
| The Governor, however, as pure a man in the
executive chair as the State ever had, per.
| emptorily
Dismissed the FaithIess Adviser
and appointed in his place, for Immediate ac-
| ceptance, f. Carroll Brewster, under whom,
| together with the instrumentality of Wilson
| Laird, who had been retained as special coun-
sci for the commonwealth In the matter, the
Garrison Grounds and water lots re-trans.
ferred to the State.
Thus It will be seen that the attack OF Sen
| ator Van Wyck upon Attorney General Brow
ster is by no means directed against man
| with an immaculate public record The
| Senator implied In his attack upon the Attor
ney-General that the latter over his own sig1
manual, permitted the plundering OF the
United States Treasury by extravagant law
yers fees and numerous unnecessary incident
ais iL the prosecution Of the starRoute con
| epirators.
II It needs any further corroboration OF the
estimate put upon the Attorney General by
| the Nebraska Senator, In addition TO Brow
| ster's Identity with the Marine Hospital affair
| we might mention the ConneautviIles Bank
| robbery, in the subsequent trial OF which tn,
| Attorney-General took a prominent part bu
ofthis more anon.-ETte Pa Grdphic.