Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-25
LIKE CAIN AND ABEL
Only a Woman Was at the
Bottom of This Murder.
NOTED INDIANA TRIAL
DICK THOMPSON DEFENDED AND
BROUGHT HIMSELF FAME.
More Recollections Of Former War Sec
rotary Tom Corwin and Other
Old-TimerS.
NOTED INDIANA TRIAL

"One bright morning in October-I think
it was in 1861 had not yet gone over to
my office and the streets were quiet, when
suddenly the headlong pace Of horse,
drawing a vehicle, caused all of US who
were lounging in the reading room of the
Brown House, Terre Haute, Ind, to rush
to the windows and the front DOORS" said
an old Washingtonian. In the buggy were
a man and woman, both young and well
dressed. The womans features were con-
cealed by a thick green veil. Her COM
panion tossed her the reins while he rushed
into the office of the hotel He projected
several short, sharp inquiries. When they
were answered, back to the buggy and wo-
man he went and, lashng the horse with
all his strength, they soon disappeared in
cloud of dust and md a babel of barking
dogs and an excited populace.
The office clerk could tell US nothing,
other than that the couple came from
Greencastle, Ind, that they were going to
their destination and were in a ID of
hurry. Hardly had this much news been
disseminated when the incident was repeat
ed Another furious galiopade; another
painting, foaming horse harnesSed to
buggy. The very same man. as anybody
would swear. accompanied this time not
by the woman of the green veil, but by
man, a big man. about his own size. He
repeated the program, rushed into the office,
asked his questions about the preceding
party, rushed out again, ana the man,
standing up in the vehicle, dashed his poor
horse in a stern chase of the travellers in
advance. 1t was suggestive of an elope-
ment.
The hive of conjecture and conversation
began to buzz. The town by this time was
full of tumult. III news travels apace. The
parties came together in thick wood and
rough road about three o. four miles from
town, just as they were about to cross the
hoe i,ot1 NhA -,,rlyn
brothers, twins, young, healthy. wealthy
and happy. They were pork packers and
in partnership. But here business
more momentous. A woman was at the
bottom of it. She had been under the pro
lection for some time of one brother. and
whether she became unable to discriminate
between the twins, which was almost i'm
possible for anybody to do, or whether the
other made up to the inamorata of his
brother. was never explained. Yet here
was the fact that she had eloped with the
second of the twins.
Brother Killed Brother
1.-The meeting in the woods was full of in
terest. The woman fed, shreking, and be-
fore the pursued could draw his weapon
his brother was upon him and stabbed him
to death. The beautiful autumn leaves of
the forest were that day dabbled by this
most unnatural murder with deeper oye
than nature gave.
Soon the authorities were notified, and
the whole community was in wild commo-
tion. In the course of an hour or two there
was a third arrival at the Brown House,
this time with an audience of at least a
thousand men. women and children.
THE murderer had not yet got over the
considera ton of his wrongs OF course, on
surrendering himself he secured counsel. 1t
had to be the best, and that was Colonel
Dick Thompson-our firm of Thompson d
Scott. How Dick Thompson, almost
Methodist minister-he certainly had been
occasionally local preacher-couid take
such ca Sc puzzled me awhile. But We arc
all sinners, anyhow, and Dick did well to
act as intercessor for even one transgressor
of the law.
1T was the effort of Thompson's life. The
case was desperate for his client. There
were ominous murmurs among the popu-
lace, and threats Of ropes and hanging and
shooting. Thompson was not only ADVISED,
but warned, not to take the case. Tnat de-
cided him. 1t was not the unlimited fee: 1t
was the scent of the battle near. 1t was the
inspiration of a crowded court house and
court yard, which could not hold his audi
tors. 1t was the presence of the brightest
minds the ablest competitors for distnc-
ton on the same field or track which fired
his ambition.
Distinguished Men at Trial.
Judge Law and associate judges occupied
the bench. The prosecution asked for
sistant council, who were named-Griswold,
Usher, Hendricks and VIM. K. Edwards
Harvey Scott rapidly prepared the case
and Dick Thompson sailed in to win. Tom
Corwn, the unequaled the unSurpassa Bile,
and Schuyler Colfax were among the i'm
mense crowd of spectators. These were
COMMUNICATED with seats with the judges.
Dick Thompson clinched his fame as an ad-
vocate. orator end criminal lawyer. He
cleared his client. The town burst into ac-
carnations of Col. Thompson, our Dick
Thompson. and the result to the law firm
was yet wider extended fame and new bust
ness. Dick Thompson found he was not
only losing money by being in Congress, but
also wasting his time. Dick diSencumbered
himself of representing the sixth district of
Indiana and handed it over to Harvey D.
Scott, worthy successor.
Charley Cruft's Career.
Charley Cruft was, like myself only a
limb of the law, along with Newton Booth
and Charley Dewey, when 1 left Indiana to
reside since in Washington. Thompson
came to Washington as Secretary of
the Nevy in Hayes cabinet. and he
told me at the Ebbitt House before he as
sumed his cabinet duties, that Charley
Cruft, the obscure clientess' attorney, raised
a company when the civil war broke out
and performed countless daring deeds and
rank of major general Maj. Gen. Cruft;
1 could scarcely believe 1t. Nobody dreamed
that it was in him. But it's hard to calcu-
late possibilities. Newton Booth, with the
became great governor and United States
senator from California. Thompson emil
grated from Virginia; Booth from Indiana
Cruft found fame on the sacred soil and in
the south generally. 1, like the bad penny
returned home again. Dick Thompson
introduced me to Tom Corwn, and l have
never known or loved a more delightful,
magnetic soul. a more brilliant and alto
gether captivating personality. 1 heard him
tell his funny stories many a time, as
heard Lncolns from his own lips after
ward. 1 saw Tom Corwin give his seat to
another member to preside over the House
of Representatives and, stepping down
from the dais with sometimes his white
sometimes colored pocket handkerchief in
hand proceed to address the chair.
There was rush. The House surround
ed him. The members swarmed like bees
and all the banging of the substitute Speak
er's gavel could not check them.
This was always the way when Tom
Corwin spoke in the House. You couldn't
see him for the crowd closing around him,
but you could hear pin drop. He was
born actor: not only comedian, but a mas
ter. too. Of pathos, even tragedy. The Sc
cret of Tom Corwin's greatness was his
manifest sterling RO06neSo tho auxoofuoao