The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07


up to perfect frenzy Tho soldier had
no money, but Mr.. Dorshsimer volun-
teered to defend him; he allowed the public
clamor to go unchecked, but quietly collected
his evidence and proved the following facts;
The soldier had entered a saloon near the
depot and ordered lunch and glass Of ale.
In paving for it he exhibited some money,
and the saloon keeper, an ex-convict, grabbed
il: his pals then thrust the soldier into the
street and raised the cry Of stop thief" The
disabled man fought them few minutes and
turned to flight; running into a blind alley,
he found himself shut in, and, drawing re
volver. fired on the gang. A policeman who
had Just come up was struck and instantly
killed The trial Is still remembered in
Buffalo as one Of thrilling interest. AS Mr..
Dorsheimer brought out the facts public
opinion changed. and after powerful speech
for the defense the jury acquitted the prisoner
without leaving their seats.
The drama of his life now shifts again with
surprising suddeuness, and he appears as the
historian OF Fremont in Missouri-in articles
in The Atlantic Monthly for January and
February, 1852 He had volunteered early,
and was made an aide-de-camp on Fremonts
staff with the rank Of major. He rode
through the campaign against Price, and his
history OF it is full Of interest Soon after
the war he entered politics, in which he had
a singularly varied career. His father, Philip
Dorsheimer, a native Of Hesse Darmstadt,
was a Wing, but the son early became an
enthusiastic student of Jetfersons works and
a Democrat When the slavery question be-
came prominent, in lS5j-56, like so many
thousand anti slavery Germans, he Joined
the Republican party, acting with 1t ardently
till after the war, then, still acting with Il
large element of liberal Germans, he sup
ported what was called the Cancellation
policy" In 1867 President Johnson ap-
poipted Mr.. Dorsheimer United States dis
trict attorney for the northern district OF
New York, an office he filled with marked
ability for the four years term. In 1877 he
took very active and prominent part In
etYectiug the cooperation of tue liberal Re-
publican and Democratic parties and in 1874
was nominated for lieutenant governor OF
New York on the ticket with Samuel j.
Tilden.
His majority over Gen John c. Robinson
the Republican candidate, was 81 4SS; and II
was for some time . matter OF surprise that
his majority was larger than that OF Mr.
Tilden. The explanation was that few Ger
man Republicans here and there scratched
10 the extent OF voting for tho popular
Dorsheimer but it was not pleasant sub
isct with Mr., Tilden. When Mr.. DorsheimeI
once said to him in a jocular way, "Yol
know got the biggest majority" Governor
Tilden quickly replied with as much truth a.
wit; YES, you got the 1900 yourself aud
lent YOU the $4,000" The lieutenant gov
ernor of New York has much more to de-
than that officer in most states, as he ID ex
otticio member of various public boards; ant
Governor Dorsheimer filed all these places
az we'll as that Of president OF the senate
with such ability as to win the esteem OF al
parties. His speech on the opening OF tn
senate was highly praised.
In 1875 Governor Dorsheimer was dele
gate to the St Louis convention, aud tina
wear he was again elected lieutenant gov
ernor, Lucius A. Robinson being chosel
| governor. In 1879, however, there was
| had break, and Governor Dorsheimer wit
| Tammany Hall refused to support Goveruo
| Robinson for reelection. Since that date h
has been identified with various publ
measures, and no was member OF the CON
mission intrusted with the great work
making Niagara Falls park free to the pull
lie When Grover Cleveland became pres
dent he appointed Governor Dorsheime
| United States district attorney for the soutf
ern district Of New York: but in the follow
ing August he resigned to become the pre-
prietor and nominal editor of The New ior
Star His wife, daughter of the aged DIR.
| ,Ntn ,,Ha al him his Onl
child, "A daughter, died at the age of