The Washington herald., 1907-11-10

preme Court were delivered in February,
1867 by District Attorney Russell and At
torney General Stansberry for the United
States, and by Senator Howard. for the
claimants. on May 5, 1867. that august
tribunal decided the case adversely to the
lower court. and dismissed the bin or
complaint Mr.. Associate Justice Nelson.
an octogenarian, delivering the opinion
for the court and baslng the decision
chiefly upon the antiquity OF the claim
and the neglect of the grantees and their
heirs in having allowed a period Of some
eighty years to elapse before suit was
commenced.
Count de Repentigny had died In 1856 in
Guadalupe, whittier he had gone from
SengaI, Gaboon. Africa, where he had
been stationed as governor by the French
government after having been ordered
by the same authority TO remove from
his grant at Sault Ste Marie; so that his
quitting the possession OF his American
estates was not voluntary abandonment,
but was compulsory. This phase OF the
case was not given sufficient cOnsidera-
tion By the overburdened court.
The case stands as a monument of
legal learning and historical research 10
the counsel engaged in its prosecution
nate questions appertaining to land titles
IN the United States. Six years had been
expended in both trials; that much work
and a couple OF thousand dollars out of
pocket were Senator Towards compensa-
ton. His advice to the writer was,
Never take a law case on a contingent
feew.
Poor Favarger, He had at the last be-
come a bankrupt and blind. and returned
TO Paris 10 die, while the city was I'M
dergoing the siege of 1871, a heartbroken
man.
FavarEer's Checkered Career.
Alexis F. Favarger was born early in
the nineteenth century. Of French par
ents, resident in Neufchatel, Switzer-
land; was educated IN Paris. and on at
tanning his majority. was sent out as a
commission agent for number OF large
mercantile establishments OF Paris, 20
Senegal Gaboon. Africa, there TO ex-
change in trade with the native chiefs
spices. oils. and 'gimcracks" generally
for worries and other precious products OF
that then comparatively unknown region
Of the globe. He resided there seven
years, making quite a competency for
himself.
From Africa he went to the Island OF
Guadaloupc where he beCame a slave
holder and resided until the fifties. when.
after securing the power Of attorney
from the heirs-at-law Of the Chevalier de
Repentigny, he arrived in New York to
begin the great chase, via the law, for
what was then regarded as a vast for
tune
Makes influential Friendships.
In order to learn our language, the
frs; requisite step in his interesting and
long journey to that end, he established
a tobacco store under Niblo's Garden
Theater. In the course of time ne met
and became intimately acquainted with
Gen. Daniel +. Sickles. then a member
Of Congress. Through SicIIles he met
Hon. William II. Seward. then United
States Senator; Judah =. Benjamin. then
United States Senator from Louisiana.
afterward Secretary Of State of the Con
federate States Of America Henry A.
Wise. member Of Congress from Virginia,
and other distinguished public men Of
the days Of 'befOah de wah.' Many Of
these acquaintance were made in Wash
ington, whittier he was advised by Gen.
Sickles 10 go in order 70 secure requisite
n
against the Federal government.
Shortly before the breaking out OF the
civil war. through the kindly offices of
Messrs. Benjamin and Wise. a bill was
passed by Congress approved April 10,
1860 granting permission for such suit
to be brought. Nj. Favarger had gained
his first victory. But 'grim-visaged war
Unexpectedly presented his old ''WTinkled
front Benjamin and Wise went with
their StateA and NJ. Favarger consulted
Senator Seward. who recommended Mr..
Howard as leading counsel In the case.
While residing in Washington. before
the civil war. NJ. FavaTger. through his
engaging and polished department. be-
came acquainted with a number Of dis
tinguished people: among these was Col
Key, son Of the author of The Star
Spangled Banner with whom ne drank
a glass of wine a few minutes before Key
was shot to death by Gen. Sickles for
alternating the affections Of the latter's
Italian wife-the first Mrs. Sickles, nee
Teresa BaglioH.
"Cut" by Gen. SickIes.
1 cannot resist the temptation to re-
late here little incident coming within
my own personal experience and observa-
ton in connection with my friend Favar-
ger and that old, battered hero of Gettys-
burg, whose haUteur Is historic. 1t oc-
CURED al a White House reception dur
ing the Lincoln regime. which NJ Favar-
ger had urged me 20 attend with him
In evening dress he was a veritable
| glass Of fashion and mold Of form" of
perfect figure and about six feet tall.
After shaking Father Abraham's'
mighty palm, we soon found ourselves I'm
the magnificent East Room crowded al
/ most 10 suffocatiOn. An open space was
reserved around its outer edge for the
promenaders. We gradually inched our
way 70 a front place, and closely observ-
ed them as they passed. Senators, jus
tees, generals, admirals. ambassadors.
End secretaries, some with ladies beauti-
fully gowned, others with their stats, all
passed slowly by.
Shortly we beheld the tall. majestic,
sturdy figure Of Gen. Sickles. in full uni
form, gold epauIettes, walking on
crutches, head very stiffly erect, a proud
and naughty look on his face. straight
as an arrow in pOise, and surrounded by
half dozen Of his staff, all i'm gold
glittering uniforms. People involuntariIy
on the inner edges Of the gaping throng
stepped back a little in reverential adj
miration as the mighty man OF war. who.
as much as any man. had saved the day
at the pivotal battle Of the civil war.
! passed slowly along
NJ. Favarger, anxious to do homage
extraordinaire to his old and supposedly
/ good friend, Monsieur le General. whom
he had known intimately for several
years. impulsively advanced "A step OF
two, but with perfect deferential grace,
so characteristic of mis- nation. and ac-
costed the doughty soldier with. smiling
| countenance and extended hand. But
| Monsieur lie General was apparently SO
] Inflated with the incensa of The nnnasio-,