New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-30
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.
GOSSIP AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
A MEMORIAL TABLET TO GENERAL ARTuUR-wAIL
OF KENTUCKY DEMOCRAT.

WASHINGTON, Nov % -Chief Justice Waite was
seventy years old to-day. Having been on the
Supreme Court bench continuously since 1874 he be-
comes eligible now for retirement upon pension OF
$4,000 year. But hardly think that the Chief
Justice has any thought az ye, of throwing on his
silken gown and retiring life Of ease and comfort
There few public men of the present day as well
preserved he. Indeed TO judge by bis looks you
would scarcely think that you had before you man
much more than well advanced in the fities perhaps
His mind is o. active and his intellect vigorous as
in the days when be fame and fCriune as counsel
for the Government before the Geneva Tribunal The
traces of his sickness which overlook him two years
ago have nearly oA, and to-day he appears fully
IA capable of hard work any of his associates on
the bench As a matter OF fact some OF the hardest
work of the Sup Court falls upon the shoulders of
Chief Justice. The number OF important decisions
written by him in the OF the year fully equals
that OF the younger members Of the court the term
young can be applied TO member OF 30 august
and veneral lie tribunal the Supreme Court OF the
United States. Justice Waite lives here in nne
house on Est where his wife and daughter entertain
frequently in the of the season and where the
Chief Justice enter, after having discharged
the arduous labors Of his Office, with great deal of
enjoyment upon the gayeties Of social lite.
Three other Justices of the Supreme Court besides
the Chief Justice Justices Miller, Field and Brad ey are
now eligible for retirement with full pay they are
past seventy years of age and have held seats upon
the Supreme Court bench for than ten years
Each of these enjoys excellent health, though Justice
Bradley looks rather delicate and Is often mentioned
as the first JUS ice iiTey resign. Neither has ever
expressed desire. however. TO leave the bench
Justice Woods. the other hand. Is suffering from
complication of ailments at tue root OF which are pull
moualv troubles which compel him now TO seek relief
in a miIder climate He is al rresent IN New-Orieans
and h!s friends that he will not be able 10 parrc
pate in the proceedings Of the court at The present
If in iced, he Is ever able 10 resume them al all
lie is yet eligible for retirement and not beng
rich or at least wetO do like most OF bis colleagues
IL Is believed that will endeavor to retaD his office
as long there the slightest chance OF his regning
bis health Al present. therefore, the prospect 40
frequently alluded to. tina, President Cleveland will
have an opDO tunty OF appointing four or even i've
JUST the Supreme Court seems with one excep-
ton TO he tar from realization.
The resp lnsbilitie' OF Benedict so lately Assnma
BIZ General Arson 6. McCooS the genial Secretary OF
tue Senate seems to rest lightly 81 on his shoulders
lie has arrived here for the winter checked plump
and a. easily .iven 70 biushng ever. Mr. and Mr..
McCook have taken the house occupied last year by
spriggs- Spriggs OF Uuca,' and Goon -and-nnish-
the-tcke-S prggs,n who, las will have no more use
tor tine houses in Washington. owing to che peiver
sion and preiud of ill-reguated constituency
VIII oh didn't want any more OF poor SpT;sgs III Con-
gress.
hear that there is movement on foot 10 place
silver tab ct to the memory of the late President
Arthur at the base of the memorial window ID 81.
memorial his wife. St Johns Church Is the Church
which General Arthur attended while President II
il situated the north side of Lafayette Square and
its Dodest be from tSe windows o. the
White House across the park 1t has always boon
considered vi the most fashionable places OF wor
ship n the city.
fell in with a Kentuckian to-day and the conversa-
ton turning political affairs he said to - What
2 complete and scandaOus failure this Administration
has already made. Coming into power on the
strength OF a campaign wased against the personal IN
o Elaine.
the latter succeed he would surround hi nsef swth
iObbers ana interruptions speculator- it Is now
in the first years of its existence envelOped ID
more scandal affecting the honesty and integrity OF ito
prominent instruments and represen atives than ever
known before. more unsavOry mess, indeed,on
can hardly conceive Of"
lam reminded by it," continued tie Kentuckian
of a circumstance that occurred my State III MY
town. indeed. Some years ago, an old gentleman or
excellent social standing, who had lost everything
by the war found himself after peace restored
obliged make exertion the support OF his family
lie had talent tor private business venture and for
that matter money TO oegin with. 80 u NED hs at
tention TO pubic Office. He was personally very pop
ular and with several handsome and accomplished
daug hters 10 his house had cal on The young gentle
men of the community which eds must tell in rally
ing voters election day. he made the race Tor
ailor-an office with liberal fees attached 10 II IN
kentucky and wac electcd by arge majority. There
was soue opposition based upon the charge that be
was suited to the place and ought not TO be gwen
il solely grounds of sympathy. The old gentleman
having tins at he polls, set 10 Work az OOu
az he was installed Office to prove that the pOilt
against him had not been veil taken lie selected Or
his assistant, burly fellow, OF undoubted grit
familiar with turkeys duties and who might safely
he eft in charge OF the prison. Matters proceeded
swimmingy tor while. One evening the TAILOR and
his family were absent at the house OF friend dining
leaving the turnkey at home. There wa- a delivery
the Jail and three desperate characters secured their
freedom Ii did not appear that there had been any
careessness the eli her OF the Jaor or the turn
KEY and it was known that one OF the prisoners who
escaped was experienced cracksman who had fonnd
his way through the malls OF number of prisons, but
,E.las haon The f4fln
and the affair became the controlling cry IN the Dext
campaign when the old gentleman offered himself for
reelection.
His opponent this time was a yonng man, whom
may call Smith. vigorous. pncky, and an alert
fellow, with many friends His canvass proceeded In
this sort of presentation OF the question Don't re-
peat the mistakes of putting of an old man in an office
TOR whose duties he is wholly unit Give the place to
a young man whose presence there Will count tor
something and will be guarantee that there sbal be
no jail DELIVERIES TINS appeal carried the day
and Smith b-came the jailor. He made great show
OF reform selected new turnkey, and gave out that
now, seOunfreis who might be Gagged there would be
ga lely held and delivered Tor trial smith had come
into the county seat from small village where the
opportunities for pleasure were limited. HIS passion
was draw poker ard being officer of the law now,
with snug income. he soon found his way INTO the
town game and advancing from 80 cent limit, which
had prev. lied among his village cronies 10 one OF BIO
and 20 and sometimes with the birdie taken entirely
of he plugged INTO the dissipation with most re"k
z-st he played pretty well, and soon develoed
the knack OF landing the biggest OF the jack pots One
night while he playing IN big luck. and all obln
io1s to everything else in a with the curtains
drawn and the doors locked. mile. at least away
from the sll, every prisoner under lock and KEY
cept twC. effected their escape. Fifteen in a. got
way and the two that remained were ased and inhrm
darkies who loved the jail because II Afforded them
food and shelter and could hardly have been driven
out BY the jaOr hlmsei through an open door. The
delivery waS discovered until daylight and even
~ that ,ar Smith himself had returned home. An
hour later, when the Jail was surrounded by curious
people eager tor particulars Smith appeared on the
The alIor'- house was immediately in front OF
hau he zrfa avrTfh
ing TO any OF the hundred cues lions fired al him. He
bad taken the whole situation at a lance and only
desired now to hide b msef from the faces OF the
peone. wife met him in Mysteries at the door.
and this completed the OF all his wretchedness
She recovered herself TO prepare at his request cup
Of strong coffee which he drank IN silence, and then
taking his little laughter in his kissed her. and
went up stairs his bedroom. Turning the kew in
the ocS, he advanced TO the mantle | and a stray