Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-19

| writer in baltimore furnishes the follow
| ing sketch Of Eugene Higgins, recently ap-
pointed TO an important position in Secretary
Mannipgs department:
! Twenty YEARS OF CkooKEDsEss.
Hig9in. was one Of the Maryland men who
crossed the lines in 1861 into the Southern
Confederacy, but, instead of placing himself
in persouaI danger on the battlefield, he
secured cafe position az deputy under Win
der. the provost marshal of Richmond, whose
| cruelty 20 the Union prisoners is a matter OF
history. Other Confederates say that he had
| a substantial paying interest in the gambling
hou.es that we're numerous in the rebel capt.
tai He got on the inside Of democratic
ring poIitics on his return to Baltimore after
the war. and was elected to the CITY council
and the legislature, aad became in 1881 CLERK
| Of the State central committee under Mr..
Germans patronage
When the loan of 81 800, 900 for pave
ments in Baltimore was put through the city
council, Higgins turned up as most active
LOBBYIST in its behalf, and his zeal was ex-
planned when it was found that by some mug.
permuggery a provision requiring the use OF
the camp process had been inserted in the
bill and that, because Of his usefulness in pre-
yaiIinp with councilmen, he had been
given an interest in the patent. How much
thi. arrangement cost the taxpayers Of Bal
timore has never been computed, but it was
an enormously fat job for the tax-eaters. 1t
caused a great scandal and much contention
among the contractors, and as an outcome OF
quarrel between Higgins and one of them.
John Hangh, Higgins was soundly thrashed
upon Halliday street by Hsugh.
INTERESTED IN VIcIoUs SHOW.
The situation was made still warmer for
Higgins little later on. In January. 1854,
william Atkinson sued him in the Baltimore
CITY Circuit Court for the recovery OF $50
alleged to have been lost at faro in Higgins
place on December II, 1888, and S2lO lost in
the same way on December 90 The suit was
entered off May 81, 1884, Higgins having
compromised them by paying the cost, and
satisfying the demands of Atkinson. Such
settlement amounts To confession OF the
charge, and this pleasing episode in the Hig-
gins chronicle should receive the careful con-
sideration of Secretary Manning.
Another of the current connections of Sen
atDr Germans protege is with a disreputable
concert saloon on Baltimore street, known as
the French Froliques" He has some sort
of interest with its nominal proprietor, and
his influence in the courts and at police head
quarters is generally believed to have saved
him from being rsided or prosecuted. This
sink hole of Il 9TH does not permit of descrip
ton, and it has always been a mystery to de-
cent citizens why for years it has been per-
United to exist upon the principal thorough
fare of the city and almost within the shadows
of the City Hall and the office of the police
authorities
This mans exploits in the dark and dubious
ways of polite. would make book. He has
been leader of the city lobby at Annapolis
during the sessions OF the legislature since
1880, and his rooms have always been open
and his wines flowing for guests who could
be turned to any use.
A C0RRUPrER OF ELECTIONS.
Higgins has PLAYED a conspicuous part in
corrupting elections here and elsewhere. In
1876, and again in $780, he had charge of the
Baltimore repeaters and ruff ans who went to
the October election in Indiana, registered at
the new Dennison House, in Indianapolis,
and conducted their operations from that
poigt. When Gorman was running for the
State Senate, in Howard County, in 1879. he
took his gang there, where they elected Cor
man by driving the negroes from the polls
with drawn revolvers His trip in 1876 to
Indiana had tragic termination for Samuel
Sands Mills, one of his companions. Mills
was at that time chief clerk in the Office of
the City Comptroller of Baltimore. Associa-
ton with Higgins ruined him His affairs
became involved, charges of peculation in
Office were made against him, and he died in
disgrace
A story is told of an achievement that illus
trates the character of Higgins. In 1875 he
was the democratic judge at one of the polls
in the Ninth Ward of the city. He opened
the polls AM told the republican Judge to
take charge, as he was going out for couple
of hours. He went out and sent his friends
with bottles of whiskey to ask the republican
Judge to take a drink. The latter drank too
much, and when Higgins came back was will
ling, Al Higgins suggestions, to take a short
nap. Then Higgins took charge of the poll
book, and when the republican Judge woke up
at o'clock, every name on the poll book was
voted on with a big democratic majority
The republican judge did not dare say any
thing, and Higgins made up the returns.
New York (,OSsin