Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-01
A Little Matter OF $4,000
Breaks into a Trip to the
Sunny Isle Of Cuba.
A Wall Street Broker in the
Hands Of the Memphis
Police.
From the Memphis Avalanche. Nov. %.

gaudy appearances which so often
dazzle the young and inexperienced, are
attended by many temptations and'perils.
The facts in this interesting but I'm
happy affair are briefly as follows: Last
Wednesday Colonel A. P Burdett, acting
| Superintendent of the Metropolitan PO-
lice, received dispatch from Heiser &
Sons, brokers in Wall street, New York,
giving a description of one J. Augustus
| Marsh. of the firm of Temple d Marsh,
also Wall street brokers' The dispatch
stated that he had frauduently obtained
SIS, 600 in United States five-twenties
from them, and that reward of $1,000
was offered for his apprehension. The
case was at once given to detectives
Hastings and MeCune, who watched
every train and boat and stranger with
sleepless vigilance. They knew If the
young defaulter, as he was styled, once
escaped the net work of Eastern detec-
tives they we're sure of him, for Memphis
is the Mecca to which every embezzler,
pick-pocket or thief feels bound, once at
least in his lifetime, to make pilgrimage.
The pilgrim came Last Thursday, when
the noon train arrived at the Charleston
depot, styli.h-looking young stranger
got of-and got off on the opposite side
from the platform That 'hurt him" in
the language of a distinguished detective
Then he had on New York shoeS-that
hurt him again. Then, instead Of going
to first class hotel and registering his
name, he went to GastOns restaurant,
and seemed rather shy. The detectives
watched him carelessly, but with eyes
that photographed his most casual glance
or motion. He went to the Commercial
Hotel, not the most prominent institution
on Jefferson street, and registered him
self as one of the Harris family. His
baggage consisted of a fine leather travel
ing bag, a silk umbrella and a light over-
coat, such as gentlemen wear about
cities.
He was permitted to sleep quietly that
night, but Friday morning his tracks
were logged by a lynx-oyed but apparent-
" unconcerned detective. This could
not 20 on long, At noon the stranger
was observed to be making his arrange.
ments to 90 to New Orleans. His tickets
were procured, and he made his way to
the Charleston depot, intending to go
east to Grand junction, and then turn
his face toward New Orleans.
The time had come; Hastings APP
preached him, and in the blandest mans
ner apologized for his presumption, but
really he would like to cultivate hi, ac-
auaintance a man Of his description
from Wall street was wanted. He was
profoundly surprised, of course, and for
a few moments played his hand well.
The telegraphic description said the alb.
sconder wore three very fine diamond
studs in his shirt bosom. These were
wanting to make up the man. Hastings,
again begging his pardon, opened the
young man 5 vest, and there flashed the
tell, tale diamond stud The others had
been replaced by cheap articles. They
told him he was prisoner, and that they
wanted the bonds. His self-possessiOn,
| his careless air and studied Indifference
forsook him, and he acknowledged all,
except the possession of the bonds
These he had left, he said, in Philadelphia,
This story was believed for while, but
when he was taken to a private room and
examined, the entire amount was found
| They are safe, and so Is he. He offered
them all to the detectives to let him eS~
cape, but in vain.
The young man is only twenty-three
years of age. When visited in his place
of confinement he talked freely OF the
circumstance, and of his history. His
| frankness, youth and confessions won at
least the sympathy of all who saw him.
| He said he was a classmate of young
Ketchum, of forgery and Sing Sing noto-
rity. He had been unfortunate IN BUSH
ness of late, he said, and had lost all he
had invested, SIS, 1000, and that belonged
to his aged mother, now left penniless
His troubles crazed him lie was en-
gagged to be married TO the grand-daugh'
ter of one of the most prominent railroad
presidents in the country, but his mis-
fortunes were pressing too closely to wal
for that contamination. His speculation
in Erie stock had ruined him. He ap
plied to two wealthy men, the only one
| on whom he looked as friends; but the,
| treated him coolly. Last Monday alter
| noon, about the close of banking hours
he wandered into the house OF Heiser 4
Sons, and inquired the price OF 5.2O
They told him, and he remarked that h
would take $4,000, and happening t
have 4 blank in his pocket, wrote TIA
check and received the bonds When Ia
came out of the bank his brain whirled
| and he knew not whether to retrace hi
f steps and return hebOnds for his worth
= less check OF fly. The tempter urged hu
. to escape with his booty. In wea
o moment he fled, and the rest has bee
l. told. He is good looking, very shrew
, and is highly connected, as may be di
closed hereafter After his arrest b
said he was glad it had occurred he vs.
= a miserable man, and but for his age
~ mother he would have blowej his BRAN
out before ever reaching Memphis. Il
d started to 20 to Cuba, and fully intend,
r. make restitution when he got ther
Such promises may soothe a troubi
I conscience, but are seldom carried GU
= lie will no doubt in due time be carrie
back to New York. aud seems real
&c anxious to 60 This is his first TT
il South, and he said he had no lea
d whatever Of being recognized. But o.
detectives are as sharp as any IN t
IN | world. and Messrs Hastings and McCu
Z deserve the highest credit Tor their SIX
s and vigilance. The reward OF Il
~ thousand dollars which they will recel
v will 90 into worthy hands and stimql'
r.