The Indianapolis journal., 1886-02-21

O.d Stories Recalled by his Speech on the
Fitz John Porter Bill.
special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-One of the characters
in the House is General Wolford of Kentucky.
When he is at homo he wears an old flannel shirt
and pants strapped about his waist. When he
and put on 'biled" shirt and black clothes At
first he was adverse to this but some friends
bought him black suit and he has worn 1t ever
since, and this is his second term. But he would
not dare to 60 home dressed as he is now for his
constituents would think he had become effem-
mate. Several good stories are told of his first
campaign when he took the stump against Gen.
Fry His speech on the Fitz John Porter case
last week revives them. When he was first
nominated by the Democrats for Congress- Gen.
Fry asked him to unite with him and make sew
eral speeches together. Wolford accepted the
invitation. The first meeting was enough for
General Fry. General Wolford commanded the
First Kentucky Cavalry in the Union army, and
the regiment was known as the "critter backs"
He had several of his men on the platform with
him when he made his speech. He opened most
brilliantly, but suddenly startled General Fry
by asking the assemblage if they knew what the
Unionsts had done with General Lee after he
surrendered at Appomattox why. gentlemen,
will you believe it. when he was out walking
under an apple-tree, near the very house where
he surrendered they grabbed him-yes, the very
men who had granted him a.parole, seized him;
and sirs, they not only did that, but they hung
General Lee to the very apple tree under which
he was walking. Hung him dead."
General Fry at first was so surprised he could
not speak; but, jumping to his feet he said:
General Wolford, you know that is not
General Lee WAS never hung
But, SIR" exclaimed General Woford, II
was there; | know it is so. Wasn't it, John2"
and he turned to one of his 'crtterbacks y The
man nodded his head. as did others who sat near
him. General Fry sank back in his chair, over
come.
This is not ALL" said General Wolford turn
ing to the crowd in front of him; 1.-The Union
men locked jeff Davis up in Fortress Monroe,
and one beautiful moonlight night, when the
tide was low, they took him out and tied him to
stake on the beach. The sea came in and
gradually the waves swept over him and he was
drowned, and they stood and heard his cries.
This was too much for General Fry. Again he
protested and said that jeff Davis alive STILL
and seeing that his opponent intended to keep
the thing up General Fry withdrew and Gen.
eral Wolford was elected by q rousing majority.
Another story is told Of General Wolford.
when he was trying case in his
nays uskv Hs client in ASsr Sa sssn ssuny charged
with poisoning some one The chemist for the
State had testified to finding arsenic in the
stomach of the deceased. and then General VOL
ford took the witness in hand.
ibid You find any flies wings in the stomach9"
asked the General
mo, sir, for did not look for any; found
arsenic answered the chemist
Gould you swear that there were no flies
wings in the stomacha" Wolford asked.
mo, sir, because did not look for them"
"How do You know they were not there's"
'sI don't aay they were not"
"Thats funny; you say you found arsenic, but
no hy wings Yet you are not certain as to there
not being there" said Wolford.
The witness in vain tried TO explain; the law.
yer had twisted the witness up, and so he ad,
dressed the jury: "Gsntlemer; demand the