Year: 1872


A scathing Card I'm eference to the


governmental Brother-in-Law.


Correspondence of the Cincinnati Enquirer.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-Henry Reed,
editor of the Capital, who was assaulted
by Judge Dent, publishes a column card
detailing the circumstances Of the assault,
from which it appears that It was much
more savage than was given in the papers.
he then says, speaking of Dent, "He
struck to kill To suppose that, armed as
he was, and directing his attack as he did, be
had any other intent than to destroy, Is to
suppose that he is an idiot, which he is not.
He has all the cunning of creatures Of
base material and small caliber, and knew
perfectly well that whatever my fate might
be he was sure of immunity. Whether
owe my life and my present apparent free
dom from permanent injury to the weak
ness of his arm or the strength of my skull
is more than can be determined, but that
escaped beiLg slain upon the spot is to me
amatter of astonishment. He is, therefore,
in heart and spirit a murderer. The act
was not unpremeditated; he had day for
deliberation; be went and provided himself
with a weapon which he believed would do
his work efectually. remember
now that when be first entered my
room be placed himself in situation which
commanded my person, and l have no
doubt that at the same time he took posses
sion of my walking-stick, and thus put it
out of my power to avail myself of the
slender defense it might have offered. The
act was entirely without provocation. The
facts stated in the article of which be pro-
fessed to complain had been circulated
through the press of the country for q
month, and were believed to be
true. as they bad gone
uncontradicJed. If they were false be
had abundant means for his own vindica-
ton and the punishment of all offenders,
for the criminal laws of libel are exceeding
ly stringent in the District Of Columbia, and
the brother-in-law of the United States is
not without his influence to expedite
and to prescribe in the processes Of public
Justice in this latitude. The author of the
article in the Sun, as now know, lives IN
the city-a fact which be well knew; and
the article itself, after it was put in
type. and before it was published,
No submitted 10 Gen. Dent, Gen. Bah
cocI- N / Gen. Porter in the White House,
snd a denia'' Of the facts it contained chal-
ianced- He diG not care to expose himself
near the source fr-Hu which this report
er,anated. for influence furnishes as dis
ance from the seat of Government increases,
and he has too much respect for ne sound
ness of his anatomy to venture where tnere
might be a chance of retaliation. He dou2t-
less knew enough of the situation here TO De
sure that he would find me a'one, ignorant
of his person, and unsuspicious OF
danger, and felt that he could kill his man
witt out imperiling the integrity OF the
Pr esident's family, and at the same time
obt ain some rencwn for himself through
accident. and through accident alone he has
escaI,ed being a murderer in fact, as he was
one in intention. /, therefore, look upon
Louis Dent IS piece of my property; ne
belongs to me IS the carcass OF tne assassin
belongs to the mqn he has tried TO slay.
He is vulgar ruffiNn and hls value Is not
high. But for this, as my title 10 nun
was not voluntarily acquired, l
have no apology to otter. AT one ume
and another have been the subject OF sew
eral Observation-Disclosures enterprises, anu l
have always succeeded in putting TO good
| use the property thereby Obtained: Ahe
| judicial proceedings were farce. IL was l
| who, on the trial of the brother-ln-laW OF
| the PRESIDENT OF JDe OnIJou DbdISoJ +" - =.
| fered his option between seat on the Dencn
beside the personi6cation of justice and the
chail of the Clerk of the Court, and con
descendingly chose the latter. The shadow
of the tenant of the White House pervaded
the tribunal, and wholesome fear OF the


power that can turn little men into In


posing officers and then turn them back
into little men was visible in the counte-
| nances of all concerned"


He concludes by saying: "The President


will remit the fine, or the officers Of the


law win fail to collect, and if it has beer
] handed over it will Oe refunded, and here


is the end. Redress in the Courts OF civi
jurisdiction for personal injuries inflicted BY


the relatives of General Grant, there is none


in the District of Columbia, and can be


none, SO long as Gen. Grant is Presiden


of the United States. Men who conduc


themselves in ways that are not agreeable Il


the members of the executive family mus


do it on their own responsibility. The dan


ger, perhaps, is not great, for such individu


ais as Louis Dent will only assassinate un


der circumstances which will not admit


personal risk to themselves"