, 1892-02-06
A STRANGE STORY.
Warden Marsh of the Laramie
Penitentiary Has a History.
A Democrat Who Has Manipulated
Republican Conventions.
How Senator Carey Helped a Ne
braskan TO Office as Coming
From Wyoming.
Correspondence Omaha World. Herald

the time he first settled in Beatrice until
he left there, less than two years ago, the
name of Jim Marsh" was as well known
to the politicians of the state as to the
people who lived adjacent to Marsh's
Gage county stock farm.
Marsh made his money in stock, and
spent a good deal of it in politics. For
himself he had no political aspirations,
but whenever he gazed upon the rotund
form OF a political pot-pie the Gage
county stock dealer was invariably over
come by a disposition to stick a finger
In it.
Marsh attended every political conven-
ton without regard to party, and while he
was a Democrat-from habit, as he him.
sell expressed it. his influence was fire.
quently exerted and his fine Italian hand
was often visible 10 the results of Repub-
lican conventions. Marsh did not beneve
that politics was the science OF govern
ment,' but gave as his definition, Poll
tics is the nature of staying by your
friends and the art of furnishing your en-
emiesa'
Among the politicians of Nebraska it
came to be a standing joke on Marsh's
arrival at a convention city to sound the
warning: Hands on your pocketbooks.
Jim Marsh is in town"
The reputation from which originated
this bit OF alleged humor was based on
the observation that whenever Marsh went
cunning for anything he generally cap
tured 1t. He would sit around hotel
corridors displaying TO the stranger just
about as much energy as a bump on a log.
aud seemingly utterly Indifferent to the
events at hand. But men who had known
Jim Marsh to come and see and conquer,
in his coming so frequently in Nebraska
politics never caught sight OF the quiet
man IN the corridor but they we're won't
to ask of one another, what will he do
with il?"
This much is necessary only for the
understanding ofthe younger residents OF
Nebraska, When the older citizens and
politicians read the statement: Jim
natural if thsy inquire What has he
taken?'
There is a story c~linging to political
history that several years ago Charley
Magoon of Lincoln had occasion to wire
certain information to two different gem
tlemen. One of these was Gen. l.. w.
Colby. But either Magoon or the opera
tor made an error. and Colby was greatly
puzzled at receiving the message intended
Co. thn ANho- -n.N, -, E11t~-r
LINCOLN, Neb, Sent, l5.-TGeneral
j.. w. Colby, Beatrice, Neb. Jim
Marsh is here. MACON.
Colby labored long to solve the puzzle,
and, failing completely, did what he
thought was his plain duty in the prem
ises. 1t was Magoon's turn to be puzzled
when he scratched his head over the fol-
lowing telegram:
BEATRICE, Neb., Sept. l5.-[Charles
Il Magoon, Linooln, Neb, Mail the
state house down. COLBY.
Jim Marsh has been in Washington two
weeks. and while the capitol is all there.
vet the police are keeping a close guard
over the dome. Marsh is now a resident
of Laramie, Wyo, where he has a IF
teen years lease on the penitentiary.
Every report has 1t that he is making
money, and as history has a habit of re-
p%eating. every report" is probably cor
rect. Marsh had gathere 1 in everything
in sight around Wyoming, but he decided
to come to Washington to secure the con-
tract for keeping Uncle Sans prisoners
from Colorado. Of course, he secured it.
A stranger might have thought that
Marsh was a horny banded constituent Of
Congressman Peagreen from the Way
back district, as the ex-Nebraskan dragged
himself into the house before the noon
hour and crossed his legs in a comfortable
seat in the lobby. But there we're many
who knew that this silent man was none
other than Jim Marsh and he was no
sooner seated in the lobby than a crowd
OF Western men clapped their hands on
their p~ocketbooks and surrounded him.
1t was here that Frank Hall of Beatrice
found Marsh. A few years ago Hall was
appointed as one of the capitol police,
whose duty it is to guard the great capitol
building. He obtained the place through
Senator Paddock's influence and was an
efficient officer. But there has been a
growing impression among the Republi-
cans of other-states that Nebraska had
too many places, and Hall had been
selected as a lamb for the slaughter. The
ak had fallen. aud Allen naturally felt
blue as jobless and heartless he approached
the crowd where Jim Marsh sat.
What makes you look so blue, Al
len?" inquired Marsh.
I'm not blue" insisted Hall. But
when the two were alone he confessed
that he was out of a job.
That's nothing to look blue about"
declared Marsh. why don't You get
another? There's plenty lying loose
around here"
Cant be DONE" said Hall deiectedly.
What is there | could get?"
"Jim's a stranger around this build
Ing"' said Marsh, ''but we'll make a tour
OF the darned old structure. You show
me q Job that amt nailed down and
III get it for you"
Hall knew Jim Marsh in Beatrice, and
it was but natural that he should be in
spired by confidence with this proposal.
The W made a tour of the building, and
Hall being Thoroughly familiar with the