The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-09-27
THE DEED OF THE COTTAGE.


The New York World has performed
a useinl service i'm the cause OF truth by
procuring from the county records of
Cane Nav county the exact text OF the
deed conveying the giit cottage to Mrs.
Harrison.
The instrument is dated on June b,
1890. For the consideration Of 81, in
the lawful money of the United States,
William Mexican, OF Philadelphia. and
his wife, Hannah, convey to Caroline
Scott Harrison, wife of Benjamin Har-
rison, of the city of Indianapolis, state
of Indiana, the land and structure con-
stitutinp the elemOsynary establish
meut now famous IA the Tree summer
home of the Harrison family. The deed
was filed with the county clerk on June
49, inst thirteen days after its execution.
Another deed, filed one day earlier
than the date of the gilt deed, records
the transfer OF this same property TO
Mir. Mexican for $S,0 900 by Anson IL.
Hamilton, the Cape May Point social
promoter and real estate speculator.
Mr.. Mexican, through whose hands
the property passed on its way to the
presidents family, is trusted emplOye
Of MIR. George Washington Chlds; and
} it was ut his instance that Mr.. Childs
and Mir. Drexel subscribed to the fund
for the purchase of the cottage, know
ing that their contribution was for a
charitable purpose, but not knowing ,aa
there is reason 10 believe, that the
president OF the United States was to be
the beneficiary.
The dates from ,he Cape May county
records complete the history OF
= transaction that humliates every Amer
ican citizen; and they serve to demollsi
= the dishonest plea lately put forward II
10 defense of the president, namely, ina
. he perceived from the first the i'm
% proprety of accepting the cottage aS
i gift and intended to pay cash tor 1t a
~ soon as he had given it a trial.
Is The proof that this version OF th'
10 affair is a tardy aiterthOught, an un
i worthy subteriuge designed to reliev
81 the president of the odium that has bee
D. piled on him since we called attent0
TO the scandalous character OF I'D
transaction, becomes rs clear as noon
dav when the dates are considered.
The news about the gift was publ
property soon after the ceremony
presentation. The president wa
- warned on June IL by the Sun that h
: had taken upon his shoulders u sea us
5 which might have consequences out
= all proportion TO the size oil the gu
N and be was then advised 10 give uac
ID the cottage to the mysterious doDol
without delay. II he had had the W
to see the value of the Suns advice
40 that time, or if il had been true, as
now alleged, that from the first
entertained no other intention than
100 pay cash Tor the cottage, providing z
proved satisfactory, the gilt deed
June 5 would never haye gone {
:25 record. II would have been torn up
once or locked up in some sale Al
secret place as u family souvenir, lea
''"' ing the property legally in the posse
sion OF Mr.. Mexican until such time
The president had satisfied himself
''"' the desirability of the investment,wh
he would have taken new deed fro
.,o Mr.. Mexican, stating the fact that
had paid $l0, 900 for the property. L
original gilt deed would never Ina
,.l5 been filed Tor record. for the hling OF
AN. under such circumstances amounted
putting on public record lie, a
discreditable to the president and st
'ne' viceable to hIm in no conceivable W
lnts except upon the supposition that
gage intended by and by TO dodge part
A"" his taxes in New Jersey.
i.. And vet a whole week after the Su
- warning TO President Harrison, d
after the press of the country
taken up the subject and presented
'ung in the light OF national scandal,
gift deed was filed with the con
clerk by Mr.. Mexican at the perso
request of Mrs. Harrison, just
days before the expiration OF the fit
days period allowed for the protect
ut. of the grantee by the laws OF n
Jersey.
This is conclusive as to General j
ris0n's intentions in the matter.
perceived the inprOpriciy Of the
ness only after it had been dri
through his thick senSibilitics by p
II, talk and naked rebukc from all part
the country and by the Ominous silt
OF his most indulgelt friends. Then
ridiculous story about his orig
attitude toward the syndicate oil
interested and seliishly interested b
factors was concocted .as Il last res
The injudiciOus attempt to clear [
eral Benjamin Harrison and
ignOminious failure leave him
worse position by far than if the Sill
truth had been told and the mis-
mahfulIy acknowledged.
vi Greed and gift grabbing are dep
there BILE things in president of the VI
States, but they become all
rasses respectable by comparison with
later aspects OF General Harri
extraordinary behavior.