There are times when it seems like I am about to run out of topics to write about. And there are times when I have so many different ideas, I worry that I will never get around to all of them. I am at the latter point right now, and so the question is more ‘which story do I want to tell?’ Fortunately, one of the episodes I have been researching is so wonderfully ridiculous that the decision is easy.
Hallet Kilbourn. was, as the headline in his obituary states “a well-known citizen” who “was prominent in many local matters.” And that is true, as far as it goes. He began his career in Washington during the Lincoln administration as a census clerk, then moved on to being a clerk in the department of the Interior. His real career began when he joined James Latta in the real estate business Kilbourn & Latta. Kilbourn was also connected with Boss Shepherd in the 1870s. In short, Kilbourn had the typical D.C. career in the late 19th century.
It all started to go awry in January, 1876, when a House committee was formed to look into the failure of the Jay Cooke & Company bank in 1873. Kilbourn was accused of having invested some of Cooke’s money in Washington real estate before the crash, presumably to avoid its loss during the failure of the bank.
Kilbourn was asked to appear before the committee. This he did. He was also asked to bring his books and allow the committee to inspect them. This, he adamantly refused to do, stating that his business with Cooke was complete, and that the committee had no right to look into the details.
Unsurprisingly, the committee did not agree, and held Kilbourn in contempt. When this failed to dissuade him, the sergeant-at-arms of the House, John G. Thompson, was ordered to arrest Kilbourn and drag him before the committee again. For the second time, Kilbourn refused to open his books, so Thompson was directed to take him to the D.C. jail. Kilbourn requested that he be allowed to go home first, which Thompson assented to. The March 15, 1876 Evening Star reported what happened then:
Upon his arrival at his residence, dinner being in waiting, he dined with his family and invited his custodian to the hospitalities of the table. Mr. Thompson accepted, and enjoyed the best meal he has eaten in many years. At 9 o’clock Mr. Kilbourn announced himself ready to proceed to prison, and in company with Mr. Thompson was conveyed to the jail building, on the Eastern Branch.
While the jail was, at the time, relatively new, it was still hardly the place for such an august personage as Hallet Kilbourn, and so arrangements were made:
He was assigned to the Warden’s quarters on the lower floor, a commodious room, with gas chandelier and other modern appliances. Soon after his arrival bedding, which had been sent from his residence, was received, and he was made quite comfortable for the night.
The following morning, Kilbourn dined with John Crocker, warden of the jail, then received “sundry bottles containing eye wash, hair dye, &c.” that had been sent to him, and, when the Star reporter visited him shortly thereafter, was said to be “merry as a cricket.”
Next: It gets even more ridiculous.