The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-14
Odds and Ends Of
Washington News
Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
40 Iail,

Washington, July 13.
TIE FINAL settlement of the Holt
will case which has been pending
| 1 before the courts of the District of
Columbia since the summer of 1894
! recalls a story told at the expense of
| William Greene Sterret. better known as
| "Bill' Sterret, at the time of Judge Holt's
death "Bilr' Sterret is a newspaper
| man and nephew of the late Judge Ad
| vocate General Holt, over whose estate
| there was so much wrangling. At the
| time of Judge Holt's death Bill was
| the Washington correspondent of the
| Dallas-Galveston News. The night the
Judge breathed his last "Bill' was en-
gagged in game of poker at the old
| Press club of Washington. In those days
| it was customary for the friends of q
| man who was known to have been en-
gagged in u game of draw" the night
before to inquire: How much did you
lose last night?" "Bil" remained in the
game until very late hour, and knew
nothing about the death of his dlstin
cuished relative until he went home
along about the break of day, when he
was notified by his family. After eat
ing his breakfast "Bill' naturally called
at the residence of his deceased uncle,
! condoled with the other relatives, and
then came down town. When he reached
the club a fellow newspaper man, who
had heard of "Bill' being in the poker
game the night before, said:
We'll, Bill, how much did you lose last
nght?'
oh about $s and an uncle" replied
Sterret.
His friends twitted "Bill" good deal
about his remark, which he afterward
denied most strenuously. "Bill's' share
of Judge HOlts estate amounted to about
$40 900. About five years ago he removed
with his family to Dallas, Texas, where
he built himself a house according to
his own ideas, and Is now living in that
city. He is one of the best known news
paper writer's in the country.
"Private" John Allen. who represented
a Mississippi district in congress for sew
eral years, but who was left at home two
years ago by his constituents who
thought he was not serious enough to he
Il successful legislator was in Washing
ton few weeks ago on business con-
nected with the St. Louis exposition.
While in congress John Allen was known
as '"rhe wit of the house, During his
last visit to Washington he was dining
with some friends at a down town hotel.
The hour was late and the conversation
dragged. private" Allen began yawn-
ing. Finally he stretched out both arms
and with long yawn said
"Well, gentlemen, l must got to my
hotei ana go 20 neu' LOT nave some
hard work TO DO IN the morning
Knowing Mr. Aliens aversion to work
of any kind one of the party said:
why, John, what work have you to
do IN Inc morning
on, drawled the Mississippian, get
UP.
John Alien got the tile or Private
during his first campaign for congress.
Ills opponent had had the title OF Gen
eral bestowed upon MN by the Con-
federate government during the Civil
war. During the canvass Allen and his
rival met In Joint debate. Upon one oc-
casion the General spoke hrst, lie told
his hearers how he had sat in his tent
many nights during the struggle be-
tween the north and south planning his