Madison times., 1886-06-12
EX-SENATOR FERRY.
The Michigan Politician an Exile
from His Country.

Tho Michigan Politician an Exile
from His Country.
at is not very generally known"
said a Michigan man to reporter for
The NeU York World, "that ex-senator
Thomas w. Ferry is an exile from his
state and country. He dare not return
until the matters pending against him
are either outlawed or settled. There
is an indictment against him for for
gerry"
.Up TO the time OF his defeat for re-
election few years ago he passed as
very rich man."
"Yes, but that was far from the
truth. Ten or fifteen years ago he was
worth considerable money. He had an
interest with his brother in some Mich
igan pine lands, and together they op-
Grated an extensive lumber yard in
Chicago. say together, but Thomas
never had anything to do with the man
agement of the business. They made
considerable money for time, and as
usual their fortune was greatly over
estimated by the outside public. Re-
verses came, however, and in addi-
ton to this the senator got to
leading a very wild life in Wash
ington. He spent more than his salary
in dissipation. and became involved in
several disgraceful scandals. You re-
member how he was horsewhipped in
his rooms at the National hotel by an
irate young lady and her father. Poor
Ferry crept under the bed and howled
for mercy, but his assailants only
stopped when they were completely
exhausted. The story told ut the time
was to the effect that Ferry had insult
ed the young lady in some way, and
that was the method chosen to avenge
it. Ferry never made any complaint,
but the father of the young lady re-
ceived a note from the senator a couple
of days after the attack. He opened it,
expecting to find at least . challenge.
but instead he found an annual pass
for himself and family over the Penn
sylvania railroad. Queer way of de-
manding satisfaction, wasn't it?
several years before it did but for the
fact that he held a seat in the United
States senate. and f nc had been re-
elected l presume his affairs would
have been hushcd up somehow; but
when he became 4 common citizen,
with no patronage at his disposal. then
all of his creditors jumped on him. 1t
was learned that he had Dcen engaged
in a number of very questionable trans
actions, among which WAS the charge
of trying TO initiate another man sig
nature. Ferry made desperate effort
to get back to the senate, and the ma
chine discipline organized by Zach
Chandler in Michigan held his forces
in line down 10 the eighty-first ballot
Then a break came, and the present
Senator Palmer was the result. Ferry
fled ut once to Europe. and had scarcely
got out of the country before warrants
were issued for his arrest on several diff
ferent counts. This was three years ago
He has never returned, and he may die
in exile. The ex-senator's brother,
however, is devoted to Tom, and he has
been trying TO build up the fortunes OF
the family. He is by far the better
man of the two, and has considerable
business ability and push. l am told
that he has been very fortunate in some
silvermine investments and may become
rich again. In that case l suppose all
the claims against Thomas where a
criminal prosecution could be brought
will be settled up and the exile will find
it safe to return. But he never can
again be factor in Michigan politics.
OF late years he has become q victim
of the morphine habit, which has al
most completely undermined his intel
lect"
Where is he living?"
IL believe he has passed most Of his
exile in Italy. but he has been roaming
all over Europe. A great effort was
made to persuade President Arthur to
give Ferry the Russian mission just af-
ter the death of Minister Hunt, but Mr..
Arthur concluded that it was not best
to appoint man who could not visit
his own country to present his applica-
ton. Senator Conger made the effort,
| believe, out of Charity.
''lt's little bit singular that man
who served eighteen years in the sen.
ate-six years as president pro tenn
pore of that body, acting vice president,
and acting president for day. on the
Sunday intervening between Gen.
Grants retirement and Presiden,
Hayes inauguration-should find him
self an exile from his own country and
fugitive from justice. 1t illustrates
the ups and downs of politics with q
vengeance"