The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-05
MARY d. M'BRIDE.
A Scandal In Which Secretary Lamar May
Possibly BE Involved.

Scandal In Which Secretary Lamar May
Possibly BE Involved.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, July 4.-The fire which oc-
Cured here yesterday in the house of the some
what notorious Mary j. Mcbride promises TO
lead to some very interesting disclosures which
may involve the Secretary of the Interior, Mr.
Lamar, in scandal which it will be difficult for
him to explain away. It seems that this Mary
J. Mcbride has served term in the penitentiary
in Mississippi, and has figured in a
criminal case in Texas She was ap-
pointed to a position in the Treasury De
partment some years ago, and when Rosecrans
assumed charge of the Registers Office she was
employed in that bureau. Facts were brought
to his knowledge which showed that the woman
was utterly unfit to be associated with respect
able clerks When the facts were presented to
his notice by the Womans Industrial League of
this city, Mr.. Rosecrans at once dismissed her.
Then Secretary Lamar showed his hand. Dur
ing the absence Of Switzlsr. chief of the Bureau
of Statistics, this woman was sent over to his
office, where she was employed under the direc
tion of some one higher in authority than
Mr. Switzler seems to be. When he
returned he insisted that she must go, but he
found out that Mr.. Lamar was very much inter
ested, and that gentleman at once began to use
all his persuasive powers to keep the woman in
her place for at least short time. A very
voluminous correspondence passed between Sec
retary Lamar and Mr. Switzler and the Cabinet
officer was so taken up with the female that he
made several personal appeals in her behalf to
the chief of the Bureau of Statistics. That Off
Ger, however, refused to keep her, and she was
means known only to himself got her into the
Pension Office, in spite of the civil-service rules
where, during the last four or FIVE weeks, she
has been on the rolls at the rate of ST. 200 year
Recently the House passed bill providing
that three women should be employed in the La
Dor Bureau for the purpose of gathering statistics
relating to female labor in the United States. II
was understood by members who voted and
worked for the bill that one OF
the ladies to be so employed should
be Mrs. Charlotte Smith. who is the
chairman of the Woman's Industrial League
This Mrs Smith is wellknown character in
Washington. She is almost monomaniac on
the subject of the elevation of her sex, and has
this noble work. She has been frequently ma
ligned and traduced because of her so-called
eccentricities but she has the better element
with her. Much to the surprise of every one, it
was learned, a day two ago, that
the Secretary had decided that Mrs.
Smith should not have of these pieces,
but in place of her he ordered the appointment
of this Mary J. Mcbride. Now. Mary is held in
default of So 900 bail TO answer to the charge of
arson. The evidence on her examination in the
police court this morning seems to be almost con-
vincing of her guilt Her furniture was mort
gagged to dealers for all 1t was worth. and in
eured for twice its value It begins TO look as if
the Secretary's pet was in a fair way to lose her
position, owing to a more pressing engagementin
one of the penitentiaries President Cleveland
is rather unfortunate in his Cabinet
Secretary Manning is too i'll to attend to his
business; Attorney general Garland has just
come out Of an investigation badly smirched, and
now Secretary Lamar is mixed up in a very bad
scandal which it may be difficult for him to ex-
plain away if called upon to do so. A great deal