The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-22

A CINCINNATI Cohio) correspondent
sends 10 The Record" valuable chap
Ter OF history now published FOR the first
time:
Judge Tevis Greathouse. distinguished
lawyer and jurist Of Illinois. and Tor zua-
ny years principal attorney for the IiE-
nois Central Railway company. was cen
temporary with Abraham Lincoln ~ the
Ssngsnon district. and often his opposing
counsel in the trial OF important eases.
In lSs-. Judge Greathouse then resid-
ihS AZ Nandaiia. was arrested by nI-
ted States marshal. charged with leader
ship IN a disioyai ca bal known - Sons
~ Liberty" and BY order of the depssrE-
ment OF justice. he was sent 10 Washing
ton under guard There ne was lsft in
charge OF a deputy marshal who. upon
his promise 10 meet all expenses with a
liberal hand, took him 70 a good boarding
house. Next day he asked 20 be accom-
panied TO the White House. telling the
offieer that ne ard the president had been
warm personal friends AL their lives.
Hello. Tevis." exclaimed the president;
glad 70 see You What are yoU doing
here? Business in the supreme court.
ehe''
NO. Abe replied the judge. i an
here because your sieuths have brought
me on criminal charge, They accuse
me OF membership in The Sons Of LIB
erIy."
All. that is the trouble. Is il? Well.
/ really do want 10 find out something
about these Sons. and you can give lie
the facts. perhaps Mr.. Officer. l viii re-
leve you OF your charge Til you are sent
fer. and take this prisoner over iRSo ny
custody. ! viii be responsible for him
The marshal withdrew and the Two
friends discussed old times for awhile. -
length the Judge inquired:
What do you want 10 ask me abous
the Sons OF Liberty
There Will be time enough Tor that
before your visit is ended said Lincoln
Now you are my guest. and il is my
duty 70 make your stay as pleasant as
possible"
Greenhouse was given a cues, cham,
Der and told 10 occupy MS time according
20 his own desire. al the White House or
anywhere about the city Of Washington.
hen he awoke in ms room on Jhc MORN
ing Of the fourth day OF his visit BE found
The president sitting beside his BED with
trouble on MS counteaauce. After Gus
tomary greetings. he said;
''Tevis. ] have looked into the charge
against you and found out all I want 10
know about the Sons OF Liberty. Most OF
those among them whom remember are
good people. but they are ms,ed by ideas
which you and / ought . oppose. and
which. If generally fayorel. would ln my
opinion impern our government. ] am AZ
work as industriously as p0sstbla 20 cCun-
teract such notions and 70 replace them
by sentiments OF common patriotism. and
in this effort / need yOu- hello in that
part Of Illinois for whose prosperity you
and ! have toiled together in times past.
l do not wish 10 limit your visit. whicn
/ am much enjoying, bat here = a rail-
way ticket that Will take you home when
you are ready Ia go. and when YOU Eet
there 1 want you 10 tell my old friends
that I am doing my duty 10 the best OF
my ability. ard hope they VIII always
Go theirs as true-hearted Americans.
do not ask you for promise OF any kind
You have seen our efforts and can appre-
ciate our needs. and / feet the strongest
confidence in your judgment and honesty
of purpose"
In concluding this narrative, Judge
Greathouse said:
Both the president and myself were
in tears before he had finished speak
ing. and it was impossible for me TO reply
verbally I started for home IN the even
ing Of that day. and upon arriving there
/ called an extra meeting of the Sons and
related my experience and repeated the
presidents words verbatim. Then / re-
signed my official connection with the
organization. Only one meeting was held
afterward. and from that time the order
was practically dead in southern Illi-
nois