The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-06
mir. W. A. CROFFUT'S LETTER
4'Buttercupping" Two Characters in
New York Sensational Trials.
"reminiscences Of George Wilkes Beecher
and Plymouth Church-Rev. Butler and
the ColOnel-PersOnal Notes.
sneoial correspondence indianapolis Journal,

Swlndler Tom DAVIS by the Texan, Holland, nils
the air just now, to the exclusion of such triaes
as the selection Of a Governor.
went to the courtroom yesterday to get
glimpse of Holland and the ether toughs con-
nected with the case, at the primary examlna-
ton. The prisoner seemed perfectly cool as ne
told his story. His face was ashen white and
was decorated with stylish mustache lie
smiled as he spoke He had an urban look, and
4 could detect nothing of the ranchero or the
cowboy in the neat, brown English cutaway, the
diamond collar button punctuating the most
spotess of collars with corners doubled down,
the silk tie drawn through a bucklering of gold,
OR the coffee wood cane with large knob of mala-
lchite. whose cool, green surface he now and
then touched to his lips. Mr.. Evarts sat q little
distance off, thin as knife and eagerly atten-
tive A man I took for 'rhe" Davis sat at the
table With the counsel-a nsrrd-looking customer
with very pronounced and aggressive mus
tache and wicked eye. He looked in a hostile
manner at the prisoner, as if meditating al
attack on the spot
'Fifty thousand dollars" said Holland, "and
he received on March 1, $57, 000-the $1,000 be-
ing profits"
This seemed to refer to some other trausac-
tion. before Davis arrived on the scene-perhaps
a sawdust game
walked up nearer to him, where | could trace
the lineaments of his villainous physognomy,
which, as he went on, was wreathed in sinister
smile Now and then he cast a scornful glance
at "The" Davis, as if saying, you're no conse-
ouence I would kill you as I would mash
grasshopper"
He seemed to be reading out of some large
book of accounts. NOV. 8, he went on, "$7, 900
profit in thirty days, ST. 100. JAN Is, $50, 600
profit, $4,000 on Feb 10. April 3d. $40, 900;
paid for it on May II, $24,OOO-proft, $4,000.
May Is. received. $40 900; principal was paid on
June 9, with IS, 900 interest"
''Was Gen. Grants name usedl" inquired the
lawyer.
leaned over the rail in some agitation, and
asked the clerk who this was on the stand.
THAT" he asked cheerily; why, don't you
know bim9 That's Ferdinand Wardm
Further inquiry revealed that the man had
mistaken for ''the" Davis was Pennsylvania
congressman. 1t happened that I had never
seen Grants Napoleonic partner before.
/ rushed out and sought the other court where
Justice German sat, but when got there it had
adjourned, and Holland and Davis had gone
back to the Tombs. So I have not seen them.
1t is not at all probable that Holland will be
hanged. unless, indeed, as now appears possible,
it be proved that he went to Davis's Office 10
steal the money, and not to buy it,
GEORGE WILKES DYING.
At his handsome and costly home on Sixty
first street, George Wilkes lies on his deathbed.
For the last ten years he has passed pretty
thoroughly out of the public eye, but twenty
years ago he was very conspicuous figure. Ten
years before that he went into sporting matters,
and in 1860 he took John Heenan to England and
fought him to a draw with Tom Sayers. He
owned the Spirit of the Times, and made it the
leading sporting paper of America.
Wilkes was always above his trade He had
political aspirations that were never gratifed,
and wanted to be the editor of great daily. He
reported fights encouraged fights, arranged gifts,
backed fighters bat he never fought, though
he was handy with the gloves. He was dainty
and gentlemanly, and he wouldn't have soiled
his hands with row of that sort. His speech
was not that of the men he consorted with; it
was grammatical, elegant free from slang and
profanity-even somewhat bookish.
In 1862 Wilkes largely increased his reputa-
ton by savage and prolonged attack on Nc
Clellan as q commander. He went to Washing
ton and the peninsula, and stayed there for
months His letters were copied everywhere,
and republished in every form
He once came into the Tribune office in Wash
ington and prepared one of those tremendous
desk-a tall, handsome man, withe full eyes,
dark mustache and English side whiskers and
wavy hair His face was slightly pockmarked"
His clothing was as neat as could be, and one
might feel sure that his coat was carefully hung
up on frame when it was taken off. l never
heard him use any expletive worse than than the
innocuous ''d-n," and that was aimed at Little
Mac. 1t was we'll understood that Wilkes's
terrible arraignment had much to do with
Mcclellan being superseded
The two men have lived in the same city ever
since, and, meeting often at clubs and dinners,
believe learned at last to speak to each other
civilly. but only for FORMS sake. 1.-THE worst of
it is, said General Mcclellan, recently, Wilkes
was for some time guest of mine and left nay
headquarters to make his attack" This Wilkes
denied, affirming that he had received no favors
personally from Mcclellan, but only such facili-
ties as it was common to extend to all CORE
spondents with the army. If my distinguished
classical friend, Marcus Cicero Stanley, had not
disrobed him of his mortal coil, l suppose he
could tell enough about George Wilkes to make
seven octave volumes. And even John Cham
berlain, who claims by his exposures" in 1872
to have put quietus on Wilkes. could if he
would, narrative unfold. called this morning
at the Carleton Club to find MIR. Chamberlain,
but he was away at Saratoga
Wilkes is sixty five years old. He has had
two strokes of apoplexy. Since the Spirit of the
Times passed into the hands of e. A. Buck it's
character has entirely changed. 1t is no longer
the suggers' own. 1t says very little about the
ring. 1t reports horse races and breeding tennis
and other quiet games, and is fine property.
It's former owner has not been to the Office III
five years, is detected and melancholy shuts
himself in the house and declines to see even
his old friends Sic transit.
THE BEEcHER GRIP.
Yesterday called on the best known member
Of Mr. Beechers's church and asked if there was
any truth in the story that he was to be dig
missed.
'Now want this set right" he said, ''and if
you will not use my name, will tell you how it
is. Dismiss Mr.. Beecherl-why no, of course
not; the only question is whether he will dismiss
us. While there are two or three who revolt
against his ways and are always making row,