Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-20
EX-SENATOR FERRY.
The Michigan Politician an Exile from His
Country.

Country.
1t is not very generally known" said
Michigan man to a reporter for The
New 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 forgery"
Up to the time of his defeat for re-
election a 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 con-
siderable money. He had an interest
with his brother in some Michigan pine
lands, and together they operated an ex-
tensive undergrad in Chicago. say
together but Thomas never had anything
to do with the management of the bus
mess. They made considerable money
for time, and as uaual their fortune was
greatly overestimated by the outside
public. Reverses came however and in
addition to this the senator got to leading
a very wild life in Washington. He spent
more than his salary in dissipation and
became involved in several disgraceful
scandals. You remember how he was
hOrsewhipped in his rooms at the National
hotel by an lrate 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 at the time
was to the effect that Ferry had insulted
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 received 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 Pennsylvania railroad. Queer
way of demanding satisfaction wasn't it
"Ferry's exposure would have come
years before it did but for the fact that
he held a seat in the United States senate
and if he had been reelected [ presume
his affairs would be hushed up somehow
but when he became a common citizen,
with no patronage at his disposal then all
of his creditors jumped on him. It was
learned that he had been engaged in a !
number of very questionable transactions,
among which was the charge of trying to |
initiate another mans signature. Ferry
made a desperate effort to get back to the |
senate, and the machine discipline organ
lied by Zach. Chandler in Michigan held |
his forces in line down to the eighty-fr |
ballot. Then a break came and the pres |
ent Senator Palmer was the result Ferry |
fled at once to Europe, and had scarcely |
left the country before warrants were is |
sued out for his arrest on several different |
counts. This was three years ago. He
has never returned and he may die in ex-
lie. The ex-senatOr's brother however is |
devoted to Tom, and he has been trying to |
build up the fortunes of the family. HeI
is by far the better man of the two, and |
has considerable business ability and push |
I have been told that he has been very for
tunate in some silver mine investments |
and may become rich again. In that case |
suppose that all the claims that can be
brought against Thomas where a criminal |
prosecution could be brought will be set |
tied up and the exile will find it safe to re-
turn. But he never can again be factor
in Michigan politics. Of late years he has |
become victim of the morphine habit, |
which has almost undermined his intel
lect.
''Wher9 is he living?"
Il believe he has passed most of his ex-
lie 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 after the death
of Minister Hunt, but Mr.. Arthur conclud-
ed that it was not best to appoint man
who could not visit his own country to
present his application. Senator Conger
made the effort, I believe, out of charity.
cts a little bit singular that man
who served eighteen years in the senate
six years as president pro tempore of
that body, acting vice president for day
on the Sunday intervening between Gen.
Grants retirement and President Hayes,
nauguration-should find himself an ex-
lie from his own country and a fugitive
from justice. It illustrates the ups and
downs of political life.