Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-02
a SAD STORY.
The Disappearance ana Reported Death
of john w. White


From the Chattanooga septhern Representative, Nov 3d.
John W. White, of this city, and late member of
the Tennessee Legislature. has Of recent date oc-
cuped much Of the public attention, rom the fact of
being man whose character was considered ire
proachable by those who knew him, there not having
been even the breath Of suspicion against him. in
any connection previous to his arrest by the United
States Marshal upon fhe charge Of forging numer-
GUS Land Warrants. The charge was one of grave
import, and fell upon his friends and kindred like
the shock of an earthquake, His kindred spd fami-
ly connections stainless in character aud of the
most respectable class in the commonwealth, and
his friends we're almost legions, comprising the
most respectable intelligent and worthy citizens the
country afforded Then may it be well imagined
what chagrin, despair and modification the
news of his arrest, coupled with the ignominious
charges, created in his home circle, where the
people thought they knew him best. The conster-
nation was awful and death. like
He tried before the proper authorities and
acquitted upon the grounds of want Of sufficient
evidence in the opinion of the Court, which sat ct
Cleveland, Tenn.
In a few weeks thereafter, the Marshal re-arrest-
ed him upon similar charges, only much more nu-
merous than ia the first instance He was tried
before a Court of Inquiry in Chattanooga, Judge
West H. Humphreys, of the u s. District Court,
presiding The investigation lasted some FIVE or six
days, ad0ur ned meet Knoxville the fourth
Monday 1.-THE 22d) of November, instant, counsel for
NtLeLO tnt summing the ease anu glNuE OOnQ anu
security for defendants appearance in the sum of
900.
Mr. John W. White from that time remained about
his home, as far as we can learn, never appearing
in public more than twice, and left Chatta-
n0Oga about The last Of October or the first of No.
vember, for the purpose, as rumOr said, of visiting
Jackson county, Alabama, TO collect testimony for
his approaching trial.
Nothing was heard of him from the day of his de-
parture, (as We learn until about three weeks ago.
which by letter TO friend in this city, stating
that he was in Arkansas looking up witnesses,
and that his horse had died, for which he had given
a watch, but had retained his fine gold cbau The
next news was that from the Memphis papers, which
stated upon the authority Of certain individuals by
the name Of Brooks aud Pander, that person was
found dead in isolated log hut near the road side
ten miles east of Clarendon, Arkansas, and from /
certain papers found on the body and the name on
the shirt, it was evidently John VI. White OF Chat
tanOoga. The account further stated that there /
were marks of violence on the body, which
appeared to have been dead several days. the boots
were muddy some five dollars found in the pocket /
of deceased, and "fHe gold chain"
This news reaching Chattanooga, his frieu ds /
started IN post>haste after his body, and reaching
Memphis wrote back that from all the facts that /
could be cleaned, that White Ger ainly dead, |
and that they had procured metallic case for he ,
&c, of his remains. In few days
after the reception of this intelligence letter
received, addressed to two gentlemen of this place
purportiBg 10 be from old acquaintance by the
name of Gibbs, confirming the rumor of Whites
death, and giving it as his opinion that White had
been murdered, although the informant said there
were discernable marks of violence about the
body The writer furthermore stated that a rufian
boxing set Of men had held an inquest over the
body, Justice of the Peace acting Coroner, and
hat the body was buried in very rough coffin, in
grave about three feet deep.
Immediately upon the reception of this letter a
fvvaI nAI gaH to h Dee
er of this place, purpOrtug be from the Coroner
hat held the inquest. This letter was confrmstory
# the identity and death of White
After the lapse of several days, the parties that
vent after the body of White returned, and stated
hat they went to the place designated disintered
ody, which was plain TO their minds was not that
f Jno W. White although the corpse wore the
lothes of the aforesaid John w. White. One of the
arties that made the examination was an elder
rother of White, and the other old friend and
cquaintanee. They we're satisfied that the whole
natter was a hoax.
The day after the arrival of these parties from
rkansas, third letter received from that point
ddressed to our Postmaster, aud signed " John Rus
ell, also oonfrmstory Of Whites demise and iden-
ty. This letter was serutinized by those well ao-
TAINTED with Whites handwriting, and pronounced
be his
So far, thus closes this magnificent farce. That =
ohm W. White is guilty of the charges preferred 5
gainst hi1S by the General Government, there is 8
OF the slightest doubt. A more eonsummate swind-
II and accomplished villain does not exist Figuring
nder the aliases Of B. F. FargubarSOn, John Mar {
H. Lucy Pogus, c. G. Cole, Cirrus Worth, j. B.
rest5rooE. John Russell, and many others, he has
cen enabled to practice fraud and q svindle upon 7
lie Government, poor soldiers their widows and
'phans almost equal to the celebrated Gardner and
aphin claims.
The fraud has been stupendous, and that he has
Imerous accomplices is unquestiOnable, and that a
e hand of retribution is close upon them little m
me viii develope. G
As the stands the reoognizsnce Of S25,N &C
10 will be paid. If John W. White had made his NJ
,pearanoe before the Federal Court at Knoxville h,
en tried and acquitted, he would have been ar =
sted the third time upon eight additional cases of
md Warrant fOrgeries, which were of so recent
tie, in conjunction with the facts that could have
en- brought to bear upon Ihem that his conviction vi
,uld have been certain. This information was Fl
ven MS by Col Lucien Peyton, the gentleman who re
s conducted the investigation in this sWinde with
much efficiency. Col. L. PeylOn deserves the an
altitude of the people Of Tennessee for the efi> an
snt and untring manner in which he has conduct -
this case, in ferreiing out the rascality and ex-
sing the yillany thai was being carried on in our
DIST The Government should well be proud of an z
eut so efficient and successful Let this be
rning to those who love and worship the '.flhy
ne" more than an unblsmished character and
oLlsss name, Sc