Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-26
CRUEL PRACTICAL JOKING.
Playing on the Credu1ity of an Octogena-
rian Farmer and His Well-to-do Son.
Eugene G. Austin is a well-to-do far

Eugene G. Austin is well-to-do far
mer living near Attica, Wyoming
County, writes a correspondent of the
New York Sun. He is a man 40 years
old and man of fine personal appear
ance. While perfectly rational and
capable in every other way, he believes
that his genius as politician has made
him one of the most prominent figures
in the country. His father, wealthy
farmer, so years of age, shares in this
belief, and during the past five years
has spent thousands of dollars in furth-
ering the political advancement Of his
son. This eccentricity of the two men
has been encouraged by thoughtless
persons, who find amusement in the
extravagances into which the singular
mania of the Austins leads them.
In 1879 the elder Austin assured his
son that he could secure the republican
nomination for member of the assem-
bly,. He furnished the money with
which the canvass was to be made.
He bought a tally-ho coach, and en-
gagged brass band of ten pieces. For
weeks the. younger Austin drove this
coach, fotk-in-hand through the coun-
try, the band riding inside. Mock
demonstrations in his behalf were held
in many places, at which he made
speeches. This freak cost several
thousand dollars.
After the election of Garfield the eld-
er Austin urged his son to 90 to Men
tor and present and urge his claim to a
foreign mission. The son did so, the
old gentleman paying all the expenses
of the trip. The failure to obtain the
appointment was charged by both
father and son to the treachery of
trusted friends, and they renowned
allegiance to the republicans.
In 1888 strange man and woman
appeared at the Austin farm. They
said they were man and wife, and had
come from Canada as ambassadors from
Lord Halford, who had been attracted
to the younger Austin by the fame he
had made in political circles in the
States, and who desired him to become
the husband of his only daughter, the
rich and beautiful Lady Anne. Old Mr.
Austin furnished the funds to these two
strangers to return to Canada and ar
range for the marriage, and subsequent
ly sent them hundreds of dollars, which
they said was necessary in the prelimi-
nary formalities of the proposed we'd
ding. These two swindlers were
evidently aided by parties in Attica,
who shared in the money obtained from
the credulous father and son; and when
the story of their operations became
known friends of the Austins interfered
and stopped the game.
When the republican national con-
vention met in Chicago last summer,
letters were sent by practical jokers to
| the younger Austin, signed with the
names of republican leaders, stating
| that the party must have his influence
| once more, and offering him the second
place on the national ticket. Old Mr..
Austin insisted that Eugene must 90 to
himself He gave money to large
number OF persons to pay their ex-
penses to Chicago, where they were to
boom his son. When Logan was nomi-
mated for vice-president the Austins
denounced him as traitor. They de-
clared that there was nothing left for
them to do but for Eugene to take the
second place on the democratic ticket,
| and sweep New York away from
| Blaine. Old Mr.. Austin chartered a
special train of three cars, which he
was to fill with supporters of his son,
and sent them to Chicago to work for
him. He invested largely in banners,
notices and decorations for the train,
and had all his arrangements made for
the starting of the party, when another
son, Elbridge Austin, who had long in
| vain protested against the actions of
his father and brother, asked and OBJ
tanned the interference of the courts,
and the Chicago scheme was stopped
by legal proceedings.
The practical jokers still kept up
their working on the weakness of the
old man and his son, and they received
| assurances that the latter would GER
| talnly be the democratic nominee for
vice-president. When Hendricks was
nominated, old Mr. Austin insisted that
now that he had been betrayed by both
of the parties, they would 90 to work
and defeat them both, and this was to
be done by Eugene becoming an indie
pendent candidate for president which
he did. just before election he received
letter written on the official paper of
the governor, and signed with his name
begging Austin to withdraw from the
canvass in his (Cleveland's) favor, as
that would surely give the democrats
the victory, and in return the new
president would make Austin a mem
Der of his cabinet. Austin withdrew.
Last week he went to Albany and
haunted the executive chamber for two
or three days, endeavoring to secure the
promised appointment. He spent
great deal of money, and was bled
right and left by pretended intimates
of the president-elect. This reached
the ears of his brother, and he went to
Albany and induced him to return
home.
1t is reported that the brother will
now use every means to ascertain who
the men are who have been prompting
Eugene in this and other matters, and
If successful, will test in the courts the
question as to whether they cannot be
held responsible for damages, as his