Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-02-27
From the st. Louis Republican.
MAGNIFICENT COTTGE swINDLE.
shrewd Operations of Il Couple Of COun-
dry RGgues.


"
A most ingenious, daring and success
full scheme of robbery, by which a well
known firm Of Washington City, Messrs.
Hughes, Denver & Peck, together with
other interested parties, Gen. Davis, of
New York city, and R. c. Williams,
were swindled out of so, 900 at the South
ern Hotel in this city, two months since,
was brought TO light on Wednesday by
the arrest Of Henry S. Metcalfe, a well
known stock dealer of Paris, HIS, a
brother Of one Of the alleged swindlers,
who was arrested OF suspIcsOn of COM
plicity with the robbers, and brought to
this city and afterwards released on bail
by Judge Primm, Capt. J. c. Daggett, Of
the Dry Dock Company, becoming secu-
rity for him in the sum Of $4,000. The
details of the swindle are related to Us
by parties cOgniZant Of the facts in the
case as follows
Some three months ago, two young
men from Edgar county, H., who had
served for a time in the Union army,
George Allen and L r. Metcalfe, hitupOn
"A grand cotton swindling scheme, in the
development Of which Allen visited
Washington, where he figured as a dis
charged Confederate Colonel, seeking his
pardon. Hecalled upon Messrs. Hughes,
[ Denver * Peck, attorneys and lawyers,
and engaged them to use their influence
with President Johnson and work the
pardon through for him. The President
read all his forged letters and papers,
concluded that he was a thoroughly re-
pentant rebel, and signed his pardon.
Allen then informed MessTs. Hughes,
Denver x Peck that he would not forget
their services. He said that in addi-
ton to his five plantations N the Red
river, he had three thousand bales
Of cotton on storage near Little
Rock, and that he would give them a
chance to make something handsome on
the cotton he would let them have the
three thousand bales at twenty cents a
pound, or about half price. They told
him they would consult with their part
ners in the cotton trade-Gen. Davis and
Mr.. Williams-and asked him to let the
matter stand for atime. He promised TO
wait on them, and on leaving Washing
ton City, directed them to negotiate with
him at St. Louis. Allen then retuEned
TO this city, and put up at the Southern
Hotel, awaiting " dispatches" In ashOrt
time a dispatch came, which was an
swered by his confederate, Metcalfe, who
~telegraphed him that Allen was of on a
pleasure excursion, and that he would
notify them of his return, at them same
time assuring them thath his cation was
still in the market, and they would
have no difficulty in regard TO making
a fair bargain with him. In the
course of a week Metcalfe telegraphed
them as Aliens agent or private secre-
tary, and stated that Allen had returned,
and that he had authorised him to say
that they could nave the cotton at twenty
cents. Two or three days afterwards
Judge John c. Walker, Of Washington
city, arrived here with power of attor-
ney from Hughes, Denver Il Peck, to
purchase the cotton Of them, he himself
to have i sixth interest in the profits.
The Judge found Allen at the Southern
Hotel, and concluded, as they had a
matter of snch Importance to talk about,
it would be as well for them just to take
a room together for convenience sake.
Allen was willing, and they accordingly
took rooms together at the Southern,
each endeavoring to excel the other in
genial hospitality, and that kind of OPEN
hearted generosity which vents itself in
small matters, such as cigars, champagne, ,
etc. After two or three days spent in tele-
graphing backwards and forward from
Washington, Judge Walker received a
dispatch advising him to advance twenty
thousand dollars on the cotton to close
the bargain, and to draw on them Z
for the amount. The Judge accordingly
paid over TO Allen the sum Of twenty
thousand dollars, and they were TO leave
in the course of two or three days for
Little Rock, the Judge 10 take along I
with him the sum Of SljO,OOO, or cash
enough to pay for the cotton on its de- {
livery into his possession. Allen and
Metcalfe, having received the money, &
Ioff NJ ornaa for Rasfs ErFonr e,11tv III
they completely surprised the ma
Jives by the amount of treasure they dis
1t is alleged that upon the day
Of their reaching Paris, they took into :
their confidence a third party, to whom
they offered the sum Of SO, 800 in cash to Z
them to Little Rock with
Judge Walker, with a view 70 getting v
possession Of the $4,000 he was to take
with him.
The young man understood them as
that it would be necessary to
murder the Judge-whO, they stated, was \
notorious rebel-aDd he declined TO ac- :
company them. The young mar then
TO the Sheriff Of Edgar county, and G
informed him OF the plot. The. Sheriff
at once came to st. Louis, and informed a
Judge Walker Of what he had learned
The Judge, but an hour or two after re- c
sNANAA6 GAN A4ASJ anu Atdl nllA LQdb
he men he had been dealing with were
;windlers, and that they had conceived :
he idea Of numbering, came face to face i
Allen at the desk of the Southern
Hotel. He had not, however, the cour-
TO arrest Allen, but ran into the street
md hunted for q policeman. On entering
he hotel again, Allen and his confederate )
lad taken the hint of danger and fled.
{ was afterwards discovered that they b
eft the city ON the same afternoon for +
Nothing has since been heard
# either of them. The arrest of Met
allies brother at Paris IN Wednesday
vas made at the request, we believe, Of
dr. Williams, of Kentucky, one of the :
osers by the swindle, and who has been :
n a visit of a week or two in this city,
left for his home yesterday after
loon. Henry 5. Metcalfe is a young man
a excellent standing in Edgar county,
nd has made a fortune of his own in
government contracts, and it is difficult
o conceive that he was guilty Of any
omplicity with his brother and his
'rother's confederate in their wicked en-
He is respectfully connected in
his city and his friends vouch for his
haracter. He had no difficulty in pro- MI
uring the amount of bail required bv !"
Judge Primm, He viii appear before
he Criminal Court upon the coming
erm, when he viii probably be tried
pom whatever charges there may be y
gainst him. =