The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-28
GRANT AND OCHILTREE
STORY ONCE TOLD BY THE TEXAN TO
REPRESENTATIVES, lands.
How the President Was Induced to
Overlook Dereliction of Duty-A
Conveniently Named Horse.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The death of
Col. Thomas p. Ochiltree naturally revives
many stories regarding his striking per-
sonality, and one OF the best OF them Is
related by Representative Lands, of In
diana, who has been here for several days.
"A year ago." said Mr.. Lands, II went
to New York to attend a dinner given by
the Grand Memorial Association, and Tom
Ochiltree was there. At the dinner he told
me of an incident that happened during
his official career under Grant. During the
war Ochiltree was in the Confederate army.
but he afterward became a Republican.
During President Grants administration
he appointed Ochiltree to be marshal for
the State of Texas. When it came time
to either reappoint Ochiltree or name some
one else the people Of Texas discovered
that Ochiltree was TO be again selected. A
delegation of Republicans came on to
Washington TO object to his reappointment.
They urged the President TO name someone
else. One of the chief objections urged
to Ochiltree was that he did not attend
to his duties properly. The delegation ex-
planned that instead of remaining in Texas
and conducting the office as he should
Ochiltree left matters In charge or deputies
and spent his time in the North. 1t was
pointed out that he spent too much time
following the races and the delegation said
to the President that even at that time
Ochiltree was in the North somewhere de-
voting his time to racing amusements.
President Grant heard the delegation
through without indicating what he would
do. Some time later Mr.. Ochiltree, on his
way back to Texas, stopped in Washington
to pay his respects to the President Mr..
Grant frankly told him of the visitation OF
the Texas delegation and of the charges
that had been made regarding his spend
ing too much time following race horses.
Ochiltree listened to what Grant had to
say. MIR. president" he said when Grant
had finished. these people from Texas
they mean to be fair. But the trouble is
they are mistaken about this case. They
are confused about it. They have horse
Bonner of the New York Ledger named
a horse, Tom Ochiltree.' and he has been
making the circuit: He has been follow
made mistake about this whole matter
it's the horse. Tom Ochiltree.' they are
talking about
president Grant listened to Ochiltree's
said he. at the close, what you say is per-
fectly satisfactory to me and j am sure
it will be to those who object to you in
Texas I'll tell them about it and l am
sure they will accept it. but in order to
make ii especially binding. I'll tell them
you said IL yourself
E. d. Crumpacker, of the Indiana con-
gressional delegation, arrived here tonight.
He is the second member to be on the
ground, and the others are expected daily
now.
Representative Lands's Thanksgiving
evening was made brighter by the arrival
of his little son John from Staunton, Va,
where he is attending school On Saturday
| Mr.. Lands and the boy will attend the
| football game between the army and navy
| at Philadelphia.