The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-15
coNGREssMEN cAJoLEp.
Objectcr Holman Overcome by Mrs. James
Brown Potter's destinations.

Brown Potter's Vaccinations.
Washington Correspondence Pittsburg Dispatch
All the polite and a fair portion Of the impc-
lite world have heard of Mrs. Brown Potter
doubt very much, however, 1t they have heard
the most interesting circumstances of her visit
to this city, from which she carried away about
$40 600 of doodle" drawn from the public Treas
ury. Mrs Brown Potter came to Washington
as the bright particular star combination Of
brain and beauty of New York and dazzIsd the
social circles of Washington with her beauty and
COMPOUNDED them with her brains. The mere
mention of her name will recall the sensation OF
''Ostler Joe,' and her brief but brilliant career
in the Capital City. She came here on an osten-
sibly charitable mission and the instrument OF
our truly good society for extracting money
from the pocket-books of the ultra fashionable
public by private and public exhibitions Of her
charms of mind and person.
This was the public and heard ner. I
am Just let into a pretty secret which shows that
the beautous Mrs. Potter was even smarter than
her warmest admirers supposed. It is true Mrs
Potter came TO Washington with charitable in
tent, but is it not written somewhere that
Charity begins at home" 1t did begin at
home in the lovely lady's case. as l will show.
For many years private claim WAS pending be-
fore Congress in which Ida A. Richardson. Caro-
line A. Urquhart and Cora A. Slocomb. as
heirs at-law of Cora A. Slocomb, deceased, and
Ida A. Richardson and Caroline Urquhart were
the beneficiaries. Caroline A. Urouhart is Mrs.
Brown Potter's mother The claim Of the first
three heirs at-law wanted $l2, ia 40, Ida A.
Richardson wanted $20,479, and Caroline A.
Urquhart was in for SIS, 467 IL. Total for the
family, $38, 600 55.
The facts of the cases wore these: In 1862,
when Ben Butler took possession of New Or
leans the claimants. Mrs. Cora a.. Slocomb and
her two daughters, Miss Ida A. Slocomb lnow
Mrs. richardson and Mrs. Caroline A. Urqa-
hart (nee Slocombl were residents of that city.
and large owners of real and personal property.
IA did good many other New Orleans families.
whose sympathies were with the confederate
cause, Mrs. Cora A. Slocomb petitioned to 60
beyond the Union and within the confedernto
lines. The daughters went along, but there is
no evidence in the case as to whether they cot
permission or not The permission was obtained
from General Butler, on the pretext that Mrs.
Sloc0mb wanted to retire for the summer to
their country residence, somewhere il the Caro-
lnas. Before going out of New Orleans they
obtained a pledge. from General Butler, that
their property should be protected i'll their alb
sence.
The summer trip lasted three years, the claim
ants not returning till the war was over Where
they were all this time lie not stated but they
evidently preferred their confederate surround
ings to General Buffers company or the federal
territory. What seems a little singular is that
they were not compelled to take the oath of al
legiance required of people in New Orleans, and
Butler himself, in recent letter. says they were
the SOLITARY exception" He never explained
why. Afterward, in 1863, when Banks had as
was issued from Washington to seize all the
abandoned property in that city, and the proper
t. of the claimant was conhscated with the rest.
Among other property were four stores, and
these were destroyed by fire and the insurance
was paid into the public treasury. as well az
rents, dividends on certain stocks, etc. The
property remaining was restored under the gen.
eral order of President johnson, so the claim OF
Mrs. Slocum ct al was for rent, insurance Gel
lected and dividends.
The claim was good and Just If the claimants
could prove loyalty They never did prove 10y
atty. In fact, they not only abandoned their
home and property to live within the confederate
lines, but at the close of the war obtained q par
don. Loyalty was not usually pardoned. Yet
this claim was paid, and Mr.. Holman himself
the champion in the House. and Senator
Hale in the Senate. But it was not paid until
Mrs Brown Potter came down here and lobbied
it through She had secured the assignment Of
all the other interests to herself after the others
had given up all hopes of the passage of the bill,
and made stake of her destinations. Who
would have thought that the dry old Holman,
the great objector, could be 80 moved with fair
lady's smiles But it was so.
In the light of these facts the Record of that
date makes rich reading AS for me- shall al
ways remember the singular earnestuess of the
Great Director and the look of profound aston
ishment that swept the reporters gallery when
he certified to the honesty of this singular claim.
AS for the House, members said to themselves.
"Well, it must be all right Even Holman Ia
for it.n And SO the bill slipped through How
Mrs. Brown Potter must smile as she is spending
that SAC. 900 abroad this summer when she thinks
of Holman, and Hale. and the American Con-
gress, and "'Ostler Joe" and the blarsted Ameri.
can idiots generality