Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-10

1868 l was writing at my desk in the house
OF representatives at Washington, when a
card was brought to me by a page. 1t bore
the name of a gentleman named Bullitt, a
resident of my congressional district, with
whom | had long been on friendly terms
and whose hospitality 1 had often enjoyed.
Something told me that he was in trouble
and when | went to him in the ante room
my worst fears were confirmed. His wife
was with him and the faces of both gave
evidence Of the keenest distress. Their ap-
pearanCe showed that they had just come
from a long journey and had been for some
time without sleep or rest. l escorted them
to a committee room, and there Mr.. Bullitt,
with frequent and eager Interruptions from
his wife, made known to me the cause of
their hurried visit to Washington. The
father of Mrs. Bullitt was Henry NJ. Luckett,
an aged Methodist minister who at different
times had been in charge of churches in
Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and other west
ern states. When the war opened he was a
resident of st. Charles. Mo, and the pos
SCISSOR Of a moderate fortune, but sudden
reverses had swept everything away and left
him almost penniless. To a man of his
years-he was then past. 7O-the blow was
a heavy one, and told sadly upon his health
and spirits. The gloomy conviction that he
would become a pauper and die a public
charge took possession of him, and though
combatted by his family and friends, gained
strength and force as time went on.
While thus depressed he paid a visit to
a niece at Memphis, then in possession of
the federal forces under ina of General
Hurlbut. Here he had fallen in with GER
tain shrewd but not prescriptions men,
bers of the federal secret service, who taking
their cue from his constant and often un-
guarded lamentations over his losses, told
him that the southern forces stood in press
ing need of quinine and of PERCUSSION caps
and would pay handsomely for the same:
that it was an easy matter to trade through
the lines and that II he would undertake to
supply these wants he could speedily and
with comparative safety repair his sudden
losses. The poor man had fallen an easy
victim to his tormentOrs, but had been ar
rested with the Contraband articles in his
possession, tried by a military court and
after tomorrow" Mr.. Bullitt concluded,
and we have come to you, knowing you will
help us If you can. We do not know what
else to do, nor, In fact, whether you can do
anything. Before leaving home we got
some papers signed by those who know
Father Luckett and are familiar with his
condition"
So saying he handed me a number Of
written which confirmed his own.
For a moment | was at a loss what to do.
1t was then late in the afternoon and within
fOrty-eight hours the poor old man was TO
die. | knew that to appeal to Secretary
Stanton for a mitigation OF the sentence
would be worse than useless. President
AAAANbAAA was Jul NAAg A'I's VI AhlAANNA
knew him we'll, We had often met in the
courts, and both as lawyer and president he
had always treated me with unfailine
kindness and consideration. Still, l was in
doubt as to the best method Of approaching
him.. The offense committed by the aged
minister was Of the gravest character, and
was persuaded that the president would not
interfere unless manifest and proper reasons
for Clemency were shown him. Henry S
Lane and Thomas A. Hendricks then repre-,
sented Indiana in the senate, and | resolved
to enlist their aid in Mr.. Luckett's behalf.
had studied law in the office Of Colonel Lane.
and We had been warm friends for mauy
years. | therefore fastened to call upon him
at his hotel. When made known nv err
rand, however, he interrupted me with much
warmth, and said that II Mr.. Luckett had
been supplying the rebels with ammunition
and quinine under no circumstance would ne
interfere to save his life. Knowing argument
to be useless, l bade him good evening and al
once sought our Mr.. Hendricks. | had in.
tended TO ask the latter to 20 with Colonel
Lane to the president, but was now forced tr
entreat him to go without his colleague. Mr.
Hendricks listened TO my story, and al its
conclusion promptly affirmed his Willingness
TO accompany me TO the president on our err.
rand OF mercy, II was quickly arranged that
l should call for him the next morning. after
which ! made my way 10 the lodgings of
Colonel William r. Morrison. then a memheI
or the house from Illinois. Though a demo.
crat, | knew that Colonel Morrison was held
IN high regard by the president. He re.
sponded promptly and without the slightest
hesitation TO my appeal.
! 4ns evening was now far advanced, and