Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
GALUSHA A. GROW
UPHELD BY FRIEND

solutely false got into the yellow press It
such a big black headline start that truth
could never run it down. I was confused
and filled with great dread. and in this
dazed state went to my trust company,
1 took $61, 600 in bonds from my box which
was all possessed, and asked the president
of the company to give me sixty-one one
thousand dollar bills. He refused, asking
why I wanted SO much money, adding It
would be dangerous for me to return to
my hotel without policeman. The money
was refused and took the bonds and went
to 30 East 21st street. There in the pres
in bonds. telling them I was too old and
| feeble to work, and needed the balance to
keep me my remaining days.
Insisted on All.
''They insisted upon my giving up all. but
finally the young woman I had cared for
all these years interceded for me. and I
was allowed to retain 5000 good bonds and
one 81, 900 bond of railroad that was In
| the hands of a receiver. I handed over
s55, 600 in bonds and left. My mind was SO
confused and dazed that I scarcely knew
where I was. I certainly did not realize
that I was impoverishing myself. The first
clear condition came to my mind as l lay
on my bed in Genwood, forty hours after
ward, when awoke to the fact that nad
given up almost all / possessed to the
blackmailers and the young woman mad
befriended, who had through undue In
fluence, 1 am sure joined with the other
woman and the scheming lawyers TO take
all 1 possessed before my will could dfs,
tribute 1t to my relatives, where l INTENDED
1t should go.
"As he finished his unhappy story he
seemed relieved that he had at last unbur-
dened his breast of the nightmare that hao
been riding upon it during all the days from
February, 1908, to the day OF our interview
the following November.
when he finished 1 was filled with In
dignation and profound pity-pity for what
he had suffered. and Indignation at the
brutal crime. I told Mr.. Grow he had been
blackmailed, and that I woul- go to New
York at once and pursue and PUNISH the
culprits. He told me must not do 1t; that
he was nearing his end, his days were num-
bered and he was too feeble in mind and
body to pass through the courts In oattle,
and that I could not succeed without MS
personal cooperation. He pointed out that
while he was absolutely innocent, more or
less scandal and gossip would arise to
wound him and hurt the feelings of those
who respected his name. Besides, he said,
he knew the young woman would never
have played her part In the conspiracy but
for the baleful influence of her associates,
and prosecution would affect her with the
others. Mr.. Grow said he could not bear to
see the young girl, for whom he had deep
and sincere affection, perhaps sent to prison
upon his sworn testimony.
Was Like the Man.
"And in order to prevent this occurring
even after his death-as he saw I was de-
| termined to prosecute he Immediately after
I left him signed a paper releasing the
young woman from all responsibility in the
crime. 1t was like the man. He had been
her protector, true and loyal for twenty
years. and in spite of her ingratitude. he
shielded her to the end, simply because she
| had come into his life and won his affec-
ton.
Gust why the blackmaH occurred at the
time it did is easy to understand. Mr.. Grow
had been growing feeble rapidly. These peo-
pie had lived on his bounty for years. His
death would cut off the revenue, because
| they knew the will gave every dollar to his
own relatives. The end was surely ap-
preaching. The iron was hot, and the blow
must fall before the executor had right
| to distribute, according to the words of the
will, and go they took this young woman
and used her to help their scheme to seize
| the fortune before 1t was too late.
/ "It is pitiful story and teaches a lesson
well worth the learning, 1t should make
| the legend, Millions for defense, but not
| one cent for tribute the motto of every
man. If Mr.. Grow had called me to his
| tack they would either have been driven to
cover or to prison. He had absolutely moth
| Ing to fear, but his mind was feeble-he
was in his second childhood, and extreme
weakness overcame the fighting spirit that
was always mis- when a question of right
was involved. I repeat, he had nothing to
| fear He was not the father of the child.
He told me so. and he never spoke falsely
J in his life, for he despised liars and all of
| their kind.
Has Young Woman's Statement.
IT have the young woman's signed state
ment, in which she says: I am satisfied that
| Mr.. Grow knows nothing as to my parent
| age except what he has been told, and that
| the aid and assistance which he gave me
| was done solely from his kindly disposition
| to aid others in need of assistance I have
| the mothers affidavit, in which she names
| the father. and the name is not that of my
dead friend I have a statement from the
former husband of the foster mother, and
| he says emphatically that Mr.. Grow never
knew the mother of the child l have the
affidavit of the doctor who attended the
birth, and he names the father, but 1t is not
the name of my dead friend.
1T was simply a Wretched conspiracy.
born OF ingratitude and lust for gold, to
seize fortune that was to go elsewhere by
will. If the child had been his-but have
| overwhelming proof that she is not-he
| treated her with kindness and considera-
| ton and discharged every duty that an in
| telligent public opinion can demand. She
is not his child, and we have overwhelming
been an exhibition of ingratitude for the
! untold kindness that has been showered
upon her that challenges comparison in the
annals of the meanest of all human frau-
the want Of gratitude.
Could Not Remain Silent.
IT wish had never had occasion to dis
charge this imperative duty, but could not
| remain silent and see the good name of a
| great man assassinated by yellow winded
space writers. and that great man my
friend. Ex-Speaker Grow honored me with
his friendship for thirty years, and in all
that time I never heard him utter word
that could not have been spoken in the
presence Of the most refined. He was
ever kindly, gentle and manly. The inf1u-
ence of his life was an uplift to all who
came within its sphere. His motto was,
Malice toward none, and charity for ALL
and he lived 1t in all its fullness, for his
daily life was filled with kindly thoughts
and generous deeds.
by wise craftsmanship, through ten
years Of Intelligent effort, he enacted into
| law that deathless legend, Free homes
for the Homeless and he signed the home
stead bill as Speaker of the House. Over
1O,0OO. 900 Of people are the direct benefl-
Charles Of that great act and If 1t had not
found place on our statute books the pub
| lie domain would have been left to land
grabbing monopolies and the masses de-
prived Of that indubitable right to the soil
which the homestead law secured to them