Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1888)
ujf _ s sKemf siyy S . THE OMAJffA DAILY BEE ; SUNDAY.NOVEMBER 4 , 1888.-SIXTEEN PAGES. . ' ' " * ' . " ' ' 1 . . . ' ' . + ' ' ' ' ' ' ' . ' ' ' ' . ' . , . , ' : - .f- O ' ' ! : S- ' - : ; - . ' ; . ' . ' . ' ; ; ' : ' ; . . . . . ' ' . ' - . ' ' . ' ; - " - - ' ' ' < ' / ' . ; : , ' . : , " " : . ' . ' . ' ' . ' ' , ' . ' . . ' . ' . ' ' , - , " : \ - ' : : ; : * ' . . - . . , . ' ' , . . . . ' . : ' > . * / - . ; : . - " " / - , " : ' * : * , ' . : ; . . ' ' " ' . ' , . ' ' ' " . ' ' ' . ' ' . : ' * . - 'i' * . : . ' : . . * " mm % * XI Money Returned if Goods V * * S * \ % f * * 8 IRlift 1 BORDER RUFFIAN BASCALl , Isaao 3. Hasooll's Oaroor in Kansas and Missouri. RAMPANT DISUNIONIST. Driven Out of Kansas bjr Iioyal Union Men and Hidden by nuHlnvlmckors Near Rush- vlllo , Mo. A Matter of Record. A few days ago a prominent merchant , Who formerly resided lu Missouri , returned from a visit to his old home. la talking abouttho incidents of his trip ho remarked : "I was very much amused over a talk I had with some rampant old confods near Rush- vlllo. One of thorn asked whether Isaac S. Hascall was still on deck at Omaha , and when I told him that ho was , ho said : " 'Ho'i a staunch old democrat , and a man we admire. ' " " 'Why , he's a stalwart republican , and has Just been nominated by the republicans for the state senate. ' " " 'You're Joking , ain't you I Why , Has- call was one of our wheel-horses. Ho fought against the Froesollors , and finally shot one of these Llncolnltos over In Kansas. He getaway away across the river , and wo hid him down hero. ' This reminiscence of Hnscall as related by the Omaha moronant was promptly followed up by TIIK UKK and a reliable correspondent at Atohlson was directed to interview the old Bottlers at Atohlion and Kuslwillo and report wha the could loam with ref oroiico to Hascall a life on the Missouri-Kansas border. Follow ing Is the report : llQItDKH 11DFF1AN LAWYER. ATCiiibOx , Kai. , Oct. 30. [ Special to Tns Uuc. ] Judge S. H. Glenn , ono of the oldest settlers in Atohison , was called on and asked if he had over known Isaao S. Hascall , and what ho know of hit early reputation , ho said : " 1 came hero In ISoO. Isaao S. Hascull was hero then engaged in the law business with another pro-slavery man by the name of Hereford , the style of the firm being Here ford & Hascall. Howtu a rnbld secessionist , and loudly boasted that he was a rebel of the deepest dvo. On the sign , hung outsldo his oQlce , wore the words , 'Border Uuffian Lawyer. ' * The associates ho seamed to culti vate wore men of that class , the bushwhackers from Missouri , with whom tie always endeavored to stand In. Hascall , I bollove , came originally from New York state , and avowed himself as a demo crat. In ' 01 he was the domocratlo candidate for the mayoralty of Atuhlson , and had for an opponent Captain Qoorgo H. Falrchilds. About this time u largo number of democrats from the north came in , who wore "free Rollers" or nothing. Hascall was universally despised by nil free soil democrats In the vi- Cuilty , to soy nothing of the republican ele ment , and Hascall was overwhelmingly de feated by the joined forces. At this tlmo there was a South Carolina pro slavery law firm named Carr ft Hoadlcy doing business here , who had come out to endeavor to make Kansas a slave state. Thcso men Hascall , with others of hli Ilk , Including a large mob of MlsMurlans , Joined forces with , and ono day early lu ' ( H the loyal Inhabitant * armed themselves , and drove Hascall and his gang out of the state. HosoaH'c property was con fiscated. The house , a T > rlck structure , still tands on Second itreotIn this city. I bo llove though Hasoall afterwards got a small uua of money out of It. Hascall was per sonally one of the most offensive men I over met. Hta legal attainment * were of tb ' , 'po- lice court rustler" stamp , and that was about nil the practice he had hero. I never heard of his shootimj anyone in this part of the coun try ; in fact , ho was too cowardly to do any thing of that sort. I don't think ho did any actual fighting for the south ; all the fighting ho cared to do was with his mouth. So ho is a republican now. Well , It only boars out my constant opinion of the man. Entirely without principle , deceitful , and always looking out for Hascall first. " Major Crowoll , who was an United States postofUco Inspector in Kansas and Missouri in carlydays , was seen and asked if ho had known miscall in 1859 and 1800. Ho replied : "Yes , I distinctly remember Hascall. Wo drove him out of this country at the point of the revolver. Ho was a great blow hard In his views on the slavery question ; a rantt rebel , and always shouting It. I no vor hoard of his shooting anyone down hero ; It might have occurred back somewhere in the state , If ho did so , as I know of ovcryono who was killed along the river during these troublous times. You see Hascall was hand and glove with a pretty hard crowd of rebel sympathizers , and although a northern democrat , was as rabid as any southerner in the mob of bushwhackers who came across the river. So in ' 01 wo deter mined to clear thorn nil off Kansas soil. Any man who would not shout 'Hurrah for Lin coln' had to go. They didn't want to , but they saw wo meant business , and they went , quick , too. " xour correspondent went to Rushvlllo , Mo. , a town of about six hundred inhabitants , and mot so mo of the old set tlors. Hushvillo , during the war , was a rebel hot-bed and was a bushwhacker headquar ters. To this day the sentiment's of the men who were slaveholders before the war are distinctly rebellious. A letter of introduc tion to Uncle Hilly Wolls. as he Is called , paved the way to further Introductions. Mr. Wells was asked if he know Hascall : "Knowhlml J should say I did I When ho loft Kansas ho came over to us , and lived for six months or more in that little house on the hill , " and ho pointed to au unpretentious housn not far away. "What wore his politics then ! " "Ho was a good democrat , sir , and a fer vent pro-slavery man , as wo all were. Ho wont with mo to the Lccompton convention and helped frame the constitution. " At this Juncture Al. Fcnton , an old settler and a man of considerable means , strolled up whittling a pluo stick , and listened to the conversation. "Did you know of Hascall's ' over having killed a man In Kansas in 1301 , Mr. Wells. " "Yes"broke in Mr. Fenton , "it was claimed that ho was the man who shot old man Hurt- man. " Undo Billy was much annoyed at this in terruption , and excitedly "denied this. Mr. Fenton saw ho had made a mistake , aud nervously expectorated into the road. "No , sir , " thundered Uncle Hilly , "I re gard Mr. Hascall as a high-minded , high- toned gentleman , and when he was among us ho was very popular. " "Did Hascull avow himself to be a rebel , Mr. Wella ! ' "Yes , sir , ho did. It wasn't very healthy lu Rushvillo for u union man at that time. " Bv this time u crowd of village loafers and lank Mlssounans , with a pig and u couple of yellow dogs , gathered about Undo Ulllv and the reporter , and the conversation became general. Many of the older men remembered Hascall , and they all expressed admiration for the man's noble quaUtloa and his demo cratic principles. When told that ho was a republican , their disgust was manifest. One old gentleman said : "Well , I'll be gosh darned ! " and wandered off , wagging his head sadly. On the Missouri slilo of the river thu people who had known Hascall all poke highly of him until Informed of his re publicanism. ' AtU'r this letter had reached THE 11 BE of- lice a reporter was directed to interview Hascall personally and got his side of the story : In ono of his haunts on Farnam street Hascall , surrounded by a crowd of thirsty councllmon and politicians , was purchasing round after round of beer. Ho was called to ono side and asked , "Were you la Kansas or Missouri in 1859 or 18011" "Yes , " ho replied , "I was. " "What were your politics in these days Mr. Hnscalll" "I was a republican then as now. My father was a staunch democrat , but I have always been a republican. " "Did you over profess sympathy with the south bcforo or during the war ! " "No sir. I was a union man and a good , true one , sir. " "Did you have anything to do with killing a man by the name of Hartman in 1801 , Mr. Hnscalll" bluntly asked the reiwter. "Nothing whatever , sir , I'll toll you about that case. Yon sea Hartman com mitted suicide at St. Joe. He was a noted Jayhawker and horse thief , and was shot ono night by a party , that's all. " When asked about his "border ruffian law yer" sign , ho laughed and said It was merely a Joke. "Tho same , you know , " ho said , "ns If Bomo of my friends wcro to como up to mo say , 'Hollo , you old rascal. ' " This simile was too much for the roK | > rtor , and ho burst out laughing , in which Mr. Hascall Joined. "Now , young man , " ho continued , "if you want to know anything of my antecedents I can refer you to a dozen men. " Ho then called the names of two or throe mon who are known to bo strong friends of his , with whom ho has political connections. Mr. Hascall then Joined his party , but shortly returned , bringing with him a man of about thirty-five years of ago , whom ho said had known him all his life. Ho was Introduced to the reporter , and paid ho was a farmer from Iowa. Ho Imme diately stated that ho had known Hascall all his life , and had known his father well. Ho was asked the political belief of Hascall's father. "He was a republican nil his life , I knew him well. " "You are uro he was a republican ! " asked the ropoi ter. "Yes , I nm sure of it ; ho was always a re publican. " This was somewhat of a shock to the re porter , as Hascall himself had said , but a few moments before , that his father had always been a democrat. "Did you over know Hascall in Kansas ! " he was asked. "Oh , yes ; I knew him at Ashton , " be re plied. "Don't you mean Atchlsonl" "No , I think It was Aahton. " The gentleman had evidently not been thoroughly posted before , ho WAS brought in to be interviewed , and this was so palpable that the reporter wasted no further tlmo on him , and he was bidden "good day. " A FLAT CONT1UDICTION. A party who know Hascall's father during the war stated last night that be was not only a rank copperhead anil rebel sympathizer , but had been accused of organizing a lodge of the Knights of the Golden Circle. These knights In New York , as in Indiana and in the northern border states , wcro llko the lories of the revolution , disloyal and plottiu R against the government. TKRlilOXABLH TALK. An old resident of Otnuha , who was Inter viewed by the reporter , said In substance : ' When Hascall came hero ho had letters of introduction from Missouri robot sympa thisers to J. M. WoolworthJames O. Mcgeath and others us u man who was entitled to help from staunch democrats. He was appointed probaU ) Judga at the instance of leading dem ocrats , und-was outspoken in his , disloyalty. The idea of Hascall pretending that ho was a union man 1 I hoard a great many socosion and copperhead speakers both north aud south at the outbreak of the war , but never in all my life did I hear such venomous , ma lignant and treasonable talk as I heard Has call muko in the first speech ho delivered at the old Douglas county court house. Ho de nounced Lincoln and the great loaders of the union in terms that wcro so shocking and de praved that I could not bear to listen to them , and left the hall with many others indignant and disgusted. THE SIGHT COXFIKMED. A very intimate and close friend of Has call's , whoso name is withheld by request , was next seeu.and told the story of Hascall's ' life , in Kansas and Missouri. It confirmed the story of his career as a pro-slavery border ruffian loader. It told of the flight Into Missouri , and the residence there for six months. The bushwhackers of Missouri were in Atohison constantly , and Hascall Is said to have been with them night after night , neglecting hl.s wife and homo. The night Hartman was shot it is claimed that Hartman was in the party , but whether" ho himself shot the man is not known. The statement that Hascall , with other treason- plotters , wore driven out of Atchison finally by the union element of the population , was also confirmed , and his denial refuted beyond a reasonable doubt. The -'Q" Going to the Coast. New York Times : It is stated that some important extensions which the Burlington company hits long hud In contemplation will bo curried out during the coming1 ycur. The work would have been begun long ago but for the great Btriko last March. Now that the Burlington has largely recovered from the effects of that disturbance it is pre paring to resume its westward march and push to completion its through route to the Pacific coast. If reports are to bo believed it is the intention of the company to build more miles of railroad next year than in any ono year of its past history , and the extension of the Cheyenne branch to Fort Collins to North Park , will bo undertaken first of all. There are geographical reasons for believing that the Burlington will build its transcontinental line by way of Port Collihs. ' The system covers a large strip of country 100 or 500 miles wide , duo west , with three parallel lines and many intersecting lines. The southern parallel , line runs to Denver , the northern into Wyoming and is known as the "Broken Bow route , and the central is the now line that runs from Holdredgo , - Nob. , duo west to Sterling , Cnl.jiinQ then duo west in the direction of Fort Collins to within 50 miles of that'nolnt , whore it takes a sharp turn aud. , uns northwesterly to Cheyenne. From this turning point preliminary surveys have boon made to Port Collins andwest into the Poudro Canon , and so this is believed by the people of that region to be the chosen route througlrthb Rocky mountains. It is hinted that ono of the improve ments to bo made during the year will bo the changing of the grade of the Denver , Utah and Pacific to the stand ard width and the oxtoiiblon of the line northward through Fort Collins to Lnr- amle City. There ia what is called a Juvenile Penny Savings bank at New Haven Conn. It Is opened once a week , and encourages children to make deposits. The interest ia given according to the nuintwr of deposits and not according to the amount deposited , and thus a deposit - posit of ono Cent wilt receive as much interest as. one of ton or twenty-live cents. Acid Phoaplioto. Beware of imitations. ; HASCALL CLIMBED A TRANSOM An Interesting Obaptor of Nebraska History. BUYING FORGED LETTERS A Great Plot Concocted by a Brace of Rascals Knocked Into a Cocked Hat and Ex ploded. Bogus Affidavit Making. The senatorial contest of 1870 was , as ev erybody remembers , ouo of the most exciting political struggles that has ever taken place in Nebraska. The state was torn up by two republican factions Hitchcock and antl- Hltchoock. The Into Senator Hitchcock was condldato for re-election , and against him was pitted the famous quintette Saunders , Mandorson , Cowin , Briggs and Crounse. Hitchcock and the Ins had full control of the federal patronage , owing to the dofcction of ox-Senator Tlpton. Besides this federal con tingent the Hitchcock faction had for its powerful ally the Union Pacific railway , with its array of politicians. The anti-Hitchcock forces wcro more or less supported by the Burlington road , which at that time was at swords-points with the Union Pacific over the question of prorating with it on traffic west of Kearney , then the B. & M. terminus. FRAUDULENT PAPERS. Soon after the legislature mot in January , 1377 , Hitchcock's confidential lieutenants began to exhibit to members of the legisla ture a batch of letters signed by Mr. C. E. Perkins , president of the Burlington road , directed to T. M. Marquett , its general attor ney , in which the latter was instructed to support Briggs and Saunders and supply them with all the necessary funds to olcct ouo or the other to the senate. There wcro also certain pretended cipher dispatches that purported to have passed between Perkins mid Marquett , all of which were coutlrma- tory of a coxspniACT TO connupt the legislature. These documents were ac companied by an affidavit from ono Finn- nlgan , private secretary of the president of the Burlington road , vouch ing for the genuineness - ness of all the papers , and adding testimony of his own as to what ho had overheard in his confidential position. As soon as Saun ders and Briggs became aware that these papers were being secretly circulated among members of the legislature , they publicly de nounced it as an IXFIMOU8 PLOT to blacken their reputation , and President Perkins , of the Burlington road , telegraphed from Chicago that his name bad been forged , and the Flannlgan affidavit was a piece of rank perjury. This explosion and the flight of Flannlgan from the country , was followed by an in vestigation through tbo legislature. The testimony taken before the legislative committee brought out the fact that Flannl- gnn had been paid $600 for the forged letters and false affidavit The parties to the trans action were one H. O. Adams , who , three ycara later , was indicted for and CONVICTED of embezzlement In the Dcudwood postoffico , and Isaac S , Hascall , who at that tlmo was playing political boss in the Second ward. Hascnll'a testimony before the Investigating committee was to the effect that Adams nnd hhnself had arranged a mooting with Flannlgan and consummated the bargain ono Saturday night. The certificate of Flannlgnn's affidavit being dated on Sunday , Hasoall was cross-questioned as to why it was sworn to on Sunday. This brought out the fact that the trio had been unable to pro cure a notarial seal the day previous and Hascall went with them to the United States court house , and finding tbo clerk's office locked , ho CLIMDCD THE TRAXSOU , struck a match in the room , and soon took possession of the seal belonging to the clerk of the Unltod States court , which was made use of on the occasion. This testimony was corroborated by Ad ams , who claimed to have assumed the re sponsibility and risk attending this plot. Being - ing a private citizen , Hascall got off without prosecution , but the method by which ho got possession of the seal and the forged docu ments and fraudulent affidavit show what ha Is willing to resort to when ho has an end to accomplish. The testimony taken during this memorable Investigation was printed in pamphlet form and given wide circulation at the tlmo , but like many ether chapters in Hascall'a history , has almost boon for gotten , even by those who were on the ground. BOMB FUNNY THINGS. The Fly and the Statesman. Detroit Free Press : Once upon a Time , as a Statesman was writing out a great speech on the Tariff Question , a Fly began Buzzing about his head and face in a Most Annoying Manner , and this was kept up so long that the States man finally lost his patlonco and in dulged in some Forcible Language. "Ahl but who would Believe that a Great Man like you would bo put out by a Llttlo Insect like mol" sneered the fly."It's "It's your smallnoes that BO Provokes me , " replied the Statesman. "If you were an Ox or a Horse I would suffer no ridicule by losing my Temper and Driving you Away. Let me give way and Fight a Fly aud everybody would Laugh at mo. " HOHAL : Ward Strikers can safely Insult and Malign Congressional Nominees. The Parrot and the Owl. Detroit Free Press : The question having arisen , "Why Do WoEat'r1" the Parrot Challenged the Owl to a Dis cussion and loft the Decision to the Snrpont. The Parrot went back several Thousand years to Prove that Adam Ate and was Obliged to Eat. and that nil Mon who came after him had been Obliged to oat , and used up the best part of two hours in drawing compar isons , Making Deductions , and Clinch ing His Points. When he finally sat down wet with Perspiration , hut Flat tered byjhis own Arguments , the Ser pent asked the Owl to begin. "Gentlemen , " said the Bird , as he olowly arose , "I have only a word to say. It ia my Opinion that wo Eat be cause we were Built that way. " The Serpent Promptly Decided that the Owl had the best of it , and when the Parrot raised a howl over it the Fox chucked him under the wing and said : "Blab is a good thing , but Brevity and Common Scnso most always hit a Jury. " SIQUAL : If some Lawyers wore Dumb they would double their Patronage. The Nail and the Hummer. Detroit Free Press : A Null which was About to ho Driven into a Board complained to the Hammer : "Ahl but have you -no Feelings ? Beheld - hold how etraignt and smooth and hnndsomo I am , and then think of the Fate to which you would consign rael" "My Friend , " replied the .Hammer , as ho made ready to Drive , "us a Nail lying around loose you will ho kicked Aside by all , and in u short time Rust would deprive you of your Strength , and Beauty. As u Nail helping to hold this Board to the House you have a Mis < siou and are Depended on. " MORAL : An Idle Man is of No Account , oven to Himself. Uncle Sandy. Detroit Free Press : It was when winter was just closing in , and the frost was making the planks crack and snap , that I mot Undo Sandy. Ho was ot real old African stock , with a emilo al ways covering his face , and ho laughed heartily as bo stopped mo and said : "I wasjista-linkiu'l 1 was jiat a-fmkiu1 dat if I should moot do angel Gabr'cl , an' ho should ax mo to walk wld him , an' dese yore butos should trow me down , how 'shamed do ole man would bo of hissolf yahl hal hnl" Ho hold up one foot and then the othor. I could see his black toes poop ing through the holes. I gave him some money to get repairs made , and it was three months before I ran across him again. Then I mot him ono biting' cold day. Ho was without an overcoat. Ho remembered mo , and ho burst out laughing as ho said' "Got dom butes all fixed , but Gabr'ol didn't dun cum along yit. " "You couldn't walk far with him without an overcoat. " "Dat's so , mas'r. If Gabr'ol should cum I'd hcv to take him in whar' dar1 wus a Hah yahl hal ha ! " Between Uuclo Sandy and myself and a second-hand dealer the old man got an overcoat the ilrst ho over had. II you give to charity you like to give to these who neither demand it nor seam to expect it. That gives you u chance to surprise them , and a word or two ot gratitude is ample recompense. When spring came I mot Uncle Sandy , for the third timo. It was slushy anoi sloppy , and the old boots were rent and worn. There is an end oven to an old boot. You may peg and catch and cob- bio , but the day comes whan the leather loses its life. "Looking for Gabriel ? " I asked a ? ho was about to pass by. "Oh ! dat's you , is it ? Yah ! hal hut No , I isn't lookin * . I'm jlst hoptu'ha won't cum. Dcso voi'Q ole butos her gone at last. Doan1 want ter make Ga br'ol 'shamed of mo , you know.1 Ho was fixed up for boots , and ono day two months later , a boy came after ma and I wont with him to find Unclu Sandy on his dying bed. "Gabr'el ar' a cumin' purtysoonl" ha said as ho gripped my hand. "And are the boots out of repair ? " I asked. " Tain't do butcs dis time , mas'r , It ar' do soull Ize ready to see him an' walk wid him 'longdo dark road. Kneel down yore , Izo ole an' pore an' dyln' an' dar's only ono way I kin pay ye f UP what yo hov dun fur mo. " And ho put hla black hand on my head and prayed : "Oli ! Gabr'ol , dis ycro white man shod mo an' clothed mo an' fixed ma up , dat I might walk wid yo if yo hap- noned diayer way. 'ScubO his faults , forgive his sins , an' when do ho'n blowa an' he comes ip to walk in at do gate , doan1 stop him. I'll ho dar to guldo him in , an1 I'll toll do Lord all about it , an' please doan' make no mistake amoal" Hud a Familiar Hound. Chicago Tribune : "Dan , " said th president , meditatively , "lot 1.10 BCO what wad the name of the Californian that wrote that decoy letter to Minister West ? " "Murchtson. " "So it was , Dan ; eo u was Murchiaoa Murohlson , " mused the president * "Thoru' a famllar sound about it , What does it remind you of , Dan ? " . "It sounds a little like Eurohard. " "Bo it does , Daa ; so it doa | '