The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-20
sELEUCUs GARFIELDE.
A Congressman Who Became a Gambler,
and Died in Obscurity.
washInet0n correspondoneo Sew YorI SUM.

Washington Correspondence New York Sun.
Ten years ago Seleucus Garfelde left Con-
gress and became a professional gambler;
last night he died in little room over
cigar shop. The story of Gar6elde is that of
a man who surrendered absolutely to the
temptations of Washington. He was born
sixty-one years ago in Vermont, went to
Kentucky when he was boy, was graduated
from Augusta College in that State, and
began his active life as lawyer. When he
was thirty years old he was a member of the
Kentucky Legislature, and a year later he
was commissioned to codify the laws of the
State. In 1860 he was receiver of public
moneys for Washington Territory, and in
1869 after serving three years as Surveyor
general, he came to Congress as delegate. He
was here for four years and when his con-
gressional career was over he was a moral
wreck. He had lost his ambition, and was as
dissolute a gambler as lived in the District of
Columbia. Cards had come to be the passion of
his life.
II is said that he left Kentucky and wan
dered off into Washington Territory, because
he saw his doom if he remained among the
genial poker players of his adopted State. He
fought against what ne feared would become
his ruling passion, even to the extent of Civ
ing up what promised to be an exceptional
ly bright future, but his surroundings in
Washington finally overcame him complete
~. His fellow congressman ruined him, and
he lived for the rest OF his days on the vices
of public men. No life in Washington was
lower than his. The men and women who
were his companions were of the very lowest
stratum. For years the man who had once
promised to be one of tine ceverest public
men OF Kentucky had not a single intimate
associate who did not belong to the danger
Gus element of society. He was always, how
ever, a leader among the people with whom
he lived.
few weeks ago a little all-night oyster
saloon on the border of the worst quarter OF
Washington was full of loudly dressed men.
Most of these were drinking and talking
freely. They were gamblers out of employ
ment The police had raided all the estab-
lishments OF the city few evenings before,
and there was nothing for these men to do
but to drink all night. Garhelde was with
them but he did not drink much, and he
talked less The presence of two detectives
did not keep him silent, for there seemed to
be perfect amity between the officers and the
gamblers. His companions treated him
with respectful Difference, because as one of
them put it, he had the call on the boys in
learning" and he had been actually mem
Der of Congress. Moreover, he was still
lawyer, and he was looked to for advice in
the troubles with the police.
This conversation was overheard by be-
lated man who had stopped in for some
oysters.
A little man in green overcoat and
Derby hat sald
Whats this duffer West mean?"
Garfiel6e pulled his long black beard and
answered: HE probably wants money"
"Why don't he have it, then?' was the
next question: put with the injured air of
man whose interests had been trihed with.
Didn't the boys whack up 81 900 for Com
missioner Morgan when he had the police?'
"Yes and Morgan wouldn't take the tin,"
said a third gam bier, who had very pointed
shoes and who smoked cigarettes
''Well gentlemen" said Garfelde, draw
ing himself up to his full six feet of height
and starting to go, ''nothing's been neglected
to keep the police off, and this raid won't
hurt much in the end if West gets the police
department under him at last"
When ne had gone mddle-aged gambler,
who had not said anything before, growled
out through the smoker
"What are you fellows givn, the old man?
You let him work his racket with the per-
lice alone, will yez? He's got sense, he has,
and he'll turn trumps yet"
The rejected offer of $1000 to Major Nor
gan may explain why Commissioners Ed
munds and Lydecker declined to give Mr..
West authority over the police.
Gariielde died alone, except that the woman
whom he married year and a half ago
stayed with him till the end He had no
friends, and he left behind him only the
record of man whom vice had dragged from
a good public position down to be gambler
nd IN ont