Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-08-27
A Wicked Bee in His Bonnet


Eugene @. Austin, residing near
Attica, New York, is young man
pleasing appearance, but weak>minded
and very vain. His peculiarities have
long afforded much amusement to the
thoughtless. In 1880 he was seized
with the idea that his talents had at
tracted the attention of the. leaders of
the Republican party, and his mania
was humored by fun-loving people, who
lead him to believe that he was entitled
to an important foreign mission. The
young mans father is Charles Austin, a
wealthy farmer with whom the son
lives. The father is nearly 80 years old,
and he is firmly convinced of his sons
political genius and influence.
After the election Garfield, in 1880,
young Austin went to Mentor to con-
suit with the President elect in relation
to the foreign mission. The father de-
frayed all the expenses of the trip.
The failure to receive the appointments
was charged, by both father and son to
the treachery of trusted friends. A year
before old Mr. Austin assured his son
that with little effort he could secure the
nomination Of assemblyman from Wy
oming County, and furnished him
with money to carry on his canvass.
The young man travelled about the
country with four-in-hand coach max
ing speeches, paying for demonatra-
tions, and spending money like water.
This freak cost the old farmer several
thousand dollars. After the failure to
obtain the foreign mission young Aus
tin and his father became disgusted
with what they called treachery and in
gratitude of the party, and waited for
time to set things right. In 1883 q
man and woman, strangers, appeared
at the Austin farm. They said they
were man and wife, and had come from
Canada as ambassadors from Lord Hal
ford, who had been attracted by the
fame and genius of young Austin, and
who desired to have him become the hus-
band of his only daughter, the rich and
beautiful Lady Anne. Old Mr.. Austin
furnished funds to these two strangers
to return to Canada and arrange for the
marriage, and subsequently sent them
hundreds of dollars, which they said
was necessary in the preliminary for
maGties Of the proposed wedding.
Friends finally interfered to prevent
further bleeding of the Austins by the
swindlers.
When the Republican convention
met this year, young Austin expected
the second place on the ticket, and his
father endeavored to induce q large
number Of men to 80 to Chicago to look
after his sons boom. He said that Gen.
Logan especially desired his son on the
ticket. When Logan was given second
place young Austin denounced him a.
traitor, and declared that be would
now go to Chicago and take the vice.
presid dency nomination from the Demo
Gratis, and sweep New York away from
Blaine. Old Mr.. Austin was making ali
arrangements for sending q train-load
Of his sons supporters" to Chicago, and
to lay out q large sum in decorations,
banners, ETC., when another SON
Elbridge Austin, who has long in vain
protested against the actions Of hil
father and brother, obtained the ap.
pointment of. commissioners to examine
into the sanity Of the two, and the cour,
stopped further proceedings in The
Chicago matter. The investigation il
now being made.