Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-12-25

and copying, as closely as their limited
brains will allow the habits of the deB3i-
monde, there you will find American
women. The receptions Of the United
States minister's drawing room are said
to be little beyond any thing seen 10
Paris for magnii3enc Of toilet and
ecoentrietiy in manner Of the visitors.
A NEW PHASE OF CRIME.
Articles OF Agreenent signed Binding
Ghe Perpetrators 10 the Commission
OF tise Deed
/ From the Chicago Times Dec. Il
! A well concOcted, completely organized
[ scheme for the robbery OF a merchant IN
/ the West Division was on Saturday night
/ frustrated by the police. The business
| like manner ia which the plot was laid,
and The arrangements perfected, as well
I as the peculiar way ia which the con
[ templated robbery cametG the knowledge
Of the authorities, constitute novel iea-
! lures in the history Of crime. The cir
| cumstaHees Of the singular affair are as
/ follows
! On Thursday afternoon Of last week,
| q man named Joseph Wagner, in COM
pany with his wife. entered a saloon on
/ Randolph street, where, having business
OUTSIDE. he left the latter. On hisrsturn,
after an absence OF g. few nlinuets, he found
a msn engaged in close conversation with
! his wife. Wondering 81 the circum-
stances, Wagner proceeded to where they
were sitting, when the stranger asked II
! he could 20 home with them and stay
all night. Bupposing the fellow had
I designs upon his wife, Wagner told him
I ne could not, by any means
whereupon the former led him aside,
/ aud in q whpiser proposed that he en-
bark with him in robbery, whereby
/ $1,000 could be made. The p!an was 10
/ proceed on Friday night to the grocery
I Of Dennis SpilIane, on the corner Of
jefferson and Wilson streets, and to-
ggthsr with q friend who should join
/ them, oyerpower aud rob the merchant.
/ After some parley, Wagner agreed to
meet the stranger and his friend on the
| following afteruOCn in ths the same
saloon. Pursuant to appointment he
/ proceeded, on Friday Afternoon, TO the
1 plsca designated, where the stranger and
/ his friend were in waiting Again the
subisct was cauvassed, ana it was finally
agreed that the excursion should be de-
/ ferrsd until Saturday night, when Spill
/ lane, having col eeJed in his weekly
accounts, the pluuder would be muen
larger.
Having progressed 50 far In their
/ arrangements, the tTiOprOcured the use OF
a private room into which they repaired
] and locked the door. Pen and paper
were produced, and the stranger, who
( was q good peumS.n, rapidly drew up
articles OF argreerlent, The provisions
and conditions of wlicn were as remark
/ able as the document itself.
/ First, the object OF the excursion were
/ fully stated, and the WORKING plan de-
tailed
Second, the three persons were to be
equsi sharers in the piuncsr.
Third, q failure on the part Of either OF
the siguers to appear at the time rspeci-
/ fed, Saturday evening" involved a
forfeit Of $50.
Fourth, in the event Of either prov
ing treacherOus and divulging the
plot, the three parties singiy and seyerally
bound themselves to sul the traitor,
4 whichever he nigh. prove to be.
This remarkable instrument was then
/ signed in red ink, in imitation ofa sigma
ture of blood. and sealed by terrible
oath of fidelity. The trio theH separs-
ted, Wagner proceeding directly to the
( Central station, where he unfoidsd the
whole scheme from beginning To eDj.
It vas arranged that he should proceede
to the scene of the proposed robbery, ss
though nothing had happened, and an
adequate force of officers would be 10
waiting to bag the rufdians.
Accordingly, on Saturday evening
detectives Miller and SUhumsD, and
/ Ssrgt. BriscOe, secreJed themselves in
SDiIiAne's store, and awaited develop
ments Wagner proceeded 10 the rem
devious agreed upon, where be found
bBt one Of his cOnfeterstes 10 waiting.
This individual, whose nsme was ascer-
tanned 70 be Harrison Way-an i'm
mense fellow, full six feet seveu inches
in height, breadth of chest ana muscular
develOpements in proportion expressed
his satisfaction that Wagner had been
faithful TO his agreement, but said he was
fearful lest the stranger should play
them foul. However, be that Is it may,
/ they bad their revenge, and would fol-
low 10 40 to its fullest extent. Finding
the party incomplete, Wagner was in
favor Of waiting, buJ Way would not
I listen to tbs arrangement. They could
complete the job and share equslly, thus
being gamers, he argued. The plRn was,
that Way should enter first, making sure
that Spillsne was alone, and Wagner
should follow, assaulting the merchant,
whom Way would pretend to assist
but in reality would p.uudsT him during
the melee, and beside would engage 10
stop his mouth during the process. It
should be mentioned that the officers had
not acquainted SpillaDe with the entire
plot, but simply that they were watching
I for burglars.
Wsy entered the store at twenty min
utes past ! | O. clock, and called fora glass.
of beer. While in the act of drinking
he stepped back from the counter, and
Wagner made his appearance. Ap-
preaching Spillane, be whispered his
Intentions, and dealt him a light blow,
the latter dropping 10 the floor. Wagner
then lodged out Of the door aud the on
GERS rushed upon Way, who stood as
though he could not comprehend the
situation. Recovering his presence of
mind, he laid vigorously about him with
his brawny fists, but wss at length COM
PEELED to the persuasive Influence Of four
( rey0lvers -p0iated toward, aud in un-
! pleasent proximity to bis head. By this
time crowd had collected in the grocery,
and learning the character Of the prison
er and his errand in the nsighborhOOd,
were bent upon takiug the law in their
own hands, and executing justice upon
the prisoner. The Officars succeeded,
however, in conveying him to the
Twelfth street station, where he was
] closely secured for the night, Yesterday
morning Way appeared in the Police
Court, charged with an assault with in
tent to commit robbery, The principal
witness against him were Spillane AID
| Wagner-the former indentifyiBg him
as the man who had first made his ap-
pearsnce in the store; while Wagner
detailed the whole plot substantially as
already given. The prisoner maintained
q stolid Indifference throughout the trial,
occasionally lifting his head to cast
upon Wagner deadly glauces Of hatred
and revenge. Nothing could be ascer-
tanned regarding the absent signer of
the ARTICLES Of agreement" ," not so much
a. his name being learned. Upon the
conclusion Of the examintiOn, Way
was ordered TO beeom mttted to jail 10
default OF bail In the amount Of $500