The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-16

A CRIME AGAINST BEAuTY.--Arrest Of the Criminal.
Abouttwo years since, Ms. Hall, captain OF vessel
then in the West Indies sent TO this city, by one jas
Murphy, letter containing check on the South
wark Bank, for two hundred dollars TO be delivered
to his VILE Mrs Hall II never received BY herj
and II subsequently, appeared that Murphy mad cav
ed at the bank and presented the check for payment
but was there told that as the check was drawn 70
Mrs. Halls order, il must be endorsed BY her. He
then went and forged the endorsement OF MIS- hairs
name, and induced, by plausible preicnces and sPe-
cous promises his wife's sister, beautiful girl,
named O'Neill, in the belief that all was right, and
ignorant of any previous or intended fraud, TO go TO
the bank and present the check for payment On Of
fering the check, she was asked IL the endorsement
Mrs Halls signature, and replied afhrmalively;
and there is doubt but that she believed to be
al the time Upon giving her name and residence,
The money was paid 10 her. The brolher-iniaw, on
receiving the money, made an excuse OF business
over n New Jersey, and Immediately departed; and
the next intelligence received from him, was by
letter dated at New York, which required his wife
10 come on to him there Immediately, which she did,
leaving her sister in this city. few days after the
payment of the check the forgery ofthe endorsement
was discovered, and Miss O'Neill was arrested on
the charge Of forgery, and taken before Alderman
Badger, where the foregoing facts were elected.
The magistrate was convinced OF the truth OF the ma
tura and simple story as TO the extent OF her uncon-
scious agency in the consummation OF the forgery,
and one of the officers, Mr.. WOLF we believe, went
10 New York to arrest the double distilled villain,
who could violate confidence reposed in him, com
NIT high crime against the laws, and then basely
endeavor 10 place young, innocent, and unproiect-
ed female in situation calculated TO ruin her cha
racter, and draw upon her the punishment due 10
himself alone. The officer, however, did not sue
ceed but heard that Murphy had embarked on
board OF a vessel which had sailed for Ireland Miss
ONeitl was finally discharged and voluntarily made
the promise that If her unworthy brother in law
should ever come to Philadelphia again, she would
Immediately give information against him. All this,
as stated at the commencement, occurred nearly
| two years ago.
On Friday morning last person, or persons, call
ed at Alderman Badgers Office, and stated that Mur-
ply was in town. having arrived the previous even
ing. But they had not vel leit the office, when Miss
O'Neil also came in to give the same information,
as she had voluntarily promised to do nearly Two
years before. A warrant was placed in the hands
of officer Moffat, who succeeded in arfesting Muir
ply at No "a Lombard street, and, on hearing be-
lore the Alderman, he was committed for trial JUS
tice is farreachng, and, or late, will overtake
| the guilty
II would seem that Murphy, subsequent to his first
violation of confidence proceeded on, step BY step,
| IN crime. Since his return from Ireland, he has
been convicted in New York for larceny, and SEN
fenced to hard labor on Blackwcs Island from
| which he escaped few weeks since, in most dar-
| ing ma 1ner.-U S. Gazette.