Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-21
.D|SP|EAS[D At DEWEY
The Admiral's Friends Are Sur
prised and Panied at His
Recent Actions.
Giving Away Of the Peoples Gift
Regretted and by Some
Resented
Dewey Makes No Explanation and
All Sorts Of Gossip is
Going.

with it's contents, this being the house |
which was presented to the admiral by
the people of the United States. Though |
was about to make this transfer was in
week ago, it was under
stood during the last few days that the
project had been abandoned. Some of
the friends of the admiral We're quite
confident nothing more would be heard |
of the matter. They We're wrong, for, |
as stated in yesterdays dispatches. the
transfers were offered for record.
Two papers figure in the transaction
and they are now on file in the office
of the recorder of deeds. The first is a
deed in trust by which George Dewey |
ct ux transfers to John w. Crawford,
the consideration being 81, the west
twenty seven feet of lot so and part of
lot 81. square 1853, in Lathrop's sub
division: also the chattels at 1747 Rhode
Island avenue, in trust to convey to
Mildred Mclean Dewey.
The second paper is a deed by which
John w. Crawford, as trustee, conveys
to Mildred Mclean Dewey, the consid-
Grafton being $40, the west twenty
seven feet of lot so and part of lot 81 in
Lathrop's subdivision of square 159;
also the chattels at 1747 ERODE Island
avenue. The transfer was conducted
through the District Title Insurance
Company
No explanations of the reasons actu-
ating the admiral in taking this extra
ordinary step are given. All efforts TO
secure an explanation from him are I'M
successful. He denies himself to call
ers and to his most Intimate friends,
so far as can be learned, refuses TO
talk of the matter.
Naturally all sorts of rumors are
afloat as to debts and other more ser
ious complications but for all this gos-
sip no one is able TO point to a single
foundation of fact. 1t was even report
ID that a firm of lawyers here had in
structions from their client a woman,
70 bring suit against the admiral of the 1
navy but the lawyers In question
stoutiy deny that they know anything
whatever of the existence of such
sutton
No one is able to close his eyes to the
fact that there is here very general
disapproval of the transfer. Unless Adj
miral Dewey chooses TO come forward
with some adequate explanation Of his
lmotive he must expect to be made the
victim of all sorts of gossip. He is Sc
verely criticised upon the ground that
good taste dictated the house given him
by the people in grateful acknowledge
inent of his services to the country
should have been kept In his own name
as long as he lived. Subscribers 10 the
fund are already writing indignant let
ters TO the local papers pointing out
that they gave their money to buy
| house for Mr.. Dewey, not for Mrs.
| Dewey, who is already a rich woman.
lone or two of the largest subscribers to
the fund have ben heard from, and they
| are quite bitter in their comments.
| II is not only the hasty transfer of the
| Dewey home which is irritating people,
but the seeming disregard OF the delca-
ciss of the situation. For instance, the
| house was purchased from James f..
/ Fitch of this city. When this gentleman
carried the admiral and the members
] If the committee OF purchasers to view
the property Admiral Dewey expressed
the desire that the furniture then in the
mansion should be left. Mr.. Fitch
| agreed to this. Last Friday Mrs. Dewey
packed the whole lot to the auction
4 rooms TO be sold. When this came TO
the ears of MIR Fitch he was thorough
iy indignant.
4 He Immediately penned Admiral
Dewey q note which had the effect Of
recalling him TO common sense. In this
note Mr.. Fitch curtly Informed the adj
miral that he would become the pur-
chaser a It private sale of the whole loi
Il of furniture at any price agreeable t.
the admiral He reminded him that he
was very reluctant to part with these
goods, and only consented at the adj
mirals personal suggestion. This fun
niture had special sentimental value
, for him, as it had been selected by his
dead wife to ornament their home, ant
under no circumstances, except that i
should continue in her old home. would
he have parted with it. Besides this
at the time he thought nothing too goot
for Admiral Dewey. The furniture wa
{ withdrawn from public sale.
All of the admiral's friends and ad
! mirers in this city greatly regret tn
:. transfer, but some of them conten.
that there must be some good explana
. ton for it and that it is only fair an
, just TO wait until Admiral Dewey j
!. ready to speak A few even go so ia
+ as to say that the house was give
I Dewey, that 1t was absolutely his, an
lIldl lie IIod ISil W hiSPc'S VI ~ "a
il HE saw fit, by sale. will or transfer. Blu
: the vast majpority of the people /
: Washington are amazed and panied a
T. the news
! SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOIL
: A prominent Ct. A. r. man said:
a do not wish to criticise the admiral to
r severely, but this is the first time sue
: a gift of the people has been diverte
e from it's proper course. A grateful pee
= lple presented Gen. Grant the handsom
e house on street after the fall of Gel
It Lee and his victory uniting this grea
20 people. He was afterward elected pres
re ident, and of course, for the time beini
d had no use for the home given him b
W few of the people, because all of thel
n had elected him to occupy another.
"'rhe same committee of the Gran
!, Army which had presented him ii
= street house called on him at tt
. white house and asked him II he d.
: sired to keep the house in his name, {
would he sell 1t back to the Grar
I'd Army. who desired to present 1t to Ge
20 Sherman. President Grant endorse
lie this idea and sold the house for vel
J. lpaltry sum. 1t was then transferred