St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-04

~ - divided between
5C@ Judge Hilton and
NoTI~7 twelve heirs of the
C1 0 unburied Irish
- mans widow. and
~ all that remains to
keep his memory green is the
bare recollection of his rich
es. The settlement by arbitration
of the fight over his wealth prevents
any further exposure of the disgraeefui
manner in which the grand estate
which he created has been
sacrificed by those who owe
| to him everything they have. The
most remarkable exposition i'll all this
scandalous showing is the incredible
manner in which Judge Hilton has
fattened upon the possessions of his
benefactor. A novelist who would give
the bare facts of this matter as the crea-
ton of his imagination would be adj
judged guilty of ridiculous eXaggera-
ton.
Who is Judge Hilton, and how did he
get his clutches upon one of the erandest
fortunes which individual and honest
eXertion ever created?
These are pertinent queries just how.
Henry Hilton is siXty-eight years of
age. He is naturally politician in the
crafty sense of that ter N. He got his
title OF judge thirty-eight years ago
when he sat upon the bench of the New
York common pleas. At the time of
the Tweed regime he was a recognized
member of that notorious coterie. and,
when the brains of that ring, Peter B.
Sweeney, became the president of the
Park commission Henry Hilton was
made its secretary. When the eX-
posure of the Tweed gang was made
no breath of scandal was permitted
to cloud the reputation of Henry Hill
tan, for he at that time had become in
trenehed against public attack by hay
ing gained the friendship, confidence
and support Of the ail-powerful A. L.
Stewart. His acquaintance with the
millionaire began through Hilton's wife
being Stewards cousin, and in time the
judge managed to make himself so use
full in social way to the dry goods mer-
chant that the latter found him indis-
pensible. A. L. Stewart was not a man
of words nor of grace of manner, and
was absolutely lacking in those qualities
which would enable him to give proper
reception to his guests on ceremonial
occasions. This deficiency Judge Hill
ton supplied, and at all social gatherings
he stood by his patrons side and quietly
coached him. They travelled through
Europe together, and, in fact, when
Stewart played the host Henry Hilton
actually sat at the head of the table,
and spoke and acted in the rich mans
ance gave the judge controlling influ-
ence over the modern Cresus which
could have been gained in no other way.
The fact that Stewart depended upon
Hilton for aid in everything outside of
his regular business affairs was never
better demonstrated than when the dry
goods man was nominated for secretary
of the Treasurer by President Grant. The
latter's first nomination for the preSi-
dency was undoubtedly brought about by
A. Z. Stewart, whose reward was to be
the custodianship of Uncle Sans
finances, and when the gift was pre-
scented to him he instantly selected
Henry Hilton as his assistante
Charles Sumner, however. as will b.
remembered, discovered an old law by
which any importer was disqualified for
the position of secretary of the treas
ury or that of collector of port. When
this revelation was made, at Hilton's
suggestion, Mr.. Stewart, when he
found that it was impossible to have a
qualifying act passed in his favor. de-
cided to put his business in the hands
of trustees. Gen. Grant, however, felt
that he had done sufficient to
show his gratitude, and accord
ingly withdrew the name of the ambi-
tlOuS IrlShman. Stewards bitterness on
account of this was most intense, aud to
the dav of his death he never forgave
the warrior president. 1t is generally
understood that Grant believed that
Judge Hilton did all in his power to
make more frigid the GOODNESS between
himself and Mr.. Stewart, and for that
reason, when Hilton called upon the dy-
Ing soldier in the Mount McGregor cot
tage, he was denied admission to the
sick mans chamber.
Hilton's main force is audaeity.
By that he has won and by that he
has succeeded in diverting a large por-
ton of the golden current of Stewards
wealth into his pockets. This phase of
his character can be illustrated by
trivial incident which happened when
he was still holding down the common
pleas bench. On Christmas day, be.
fore he had become secretary of the
park commission, he took his family for
a drive through Central park.
When he reached the upper
end, and desired to turn the
horses about, he found it most conven-
lent to drive across q piece of newly
graveled ground, on which stood a
warning sign commanding every one to
keep Off" A park guard who wit |
tention to the placard, and as result |
OF the wordy wrangIe which ensued,
the policeman, who kept his temper the
best,informed Mr.. Hilton that he would
be Obliged to escort him to the park po-
lice station. But the judge, without re-
vealing his identity, said that |
he preferred a quicker DISPOSE |
ton of the matter, and would |
therefore go to the nearest district !
h. -
could be heard. When the place was |
reached it was learned that its judicial |
magnate had gone out in search of a |
drink, and as it was holiday he was
not expected to return for a long time. !
Thereupon Judge Hilton himself |
mounted the bench. opened court and |
called upon the policeman to make his |
complaint. The officers eyes buIged in |
amazement, and he tremblingly in |
Quired for an explanation. The
judge haughtily revealed his iden- |
tity, and stated that by virtue |
of his position as a common pleas wear |
er of the imaginary ermine, he had the |
right TO sit in any district court. The |
policeman said that he couldn't exactly /
see how he could make a complaint to |
the curt against the court, and there |
upon the court in its judicial capacity |
announced that in the absence of any |
evidence against it in its personal ca |
paeity, 1T would in its judicial capacity |
dismiss the complaint made against it |
personally. Whereupon the policeman |
cried out, this will not do, ''and thereup- |
on the court terseiy declared eff you in !
terrupt me again will lock you up.'' |
But Judge Hilton's audacity did not |
end there. Next day he wrote letter |
to Andrew III. Green, commissioner of |
parks, demanding the removal of the |
offending policeman, to which Mr.. |
Green responded in an expression of |
surprise at what he termed the Judges |
impudence, thereby creating an es-
arrangement which has lasted to this |