Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-24
HEAVY ROBBERY.
A Revenue Collector Relieved
of $4,000 I'm Mississippi.


We learn that few evenings since
Mr. A. NJ. Rafter, connected with the
United States Revenue in Carroll
county, was robbed of $4,000 in Govern
ment funds at the little town Of Old
Middleton, in that county. After Mr..
Rafter had retired for the night, the door
was approached by three armed men,
with blackened faces, who obtained adj
mission by telling Mr.. r. that a friend,
Mr.. Waddington, who resided near by,
was dying, and desired to see him at
once. Arising at once, Mr. r. dressed
aud started with them. A short distance
from the house the ruffians suddenly
confronted him with drawn pistols and
demanded the keys Of his safe, swearing
that they intended to take all the
revenue money he had. He tremblingly
complied, and while one of the scoun-
drels guarded their prisoner, the other
two returned to the house and effected
the robbery. They obtained $4,000 be.
longing to the Government, and released
Mr.. Rafter, after warning him against
telling any one of the exploit that night
under penalty Of death.
THE PROPOSITION TO PLACE THE CRY
IN THE HANDS OF CoMMIssIoSERs.-The
recent announcement that an attempt is
being made to place the city govern.
ment in the hands Of a board Of commits
sioners appointed by the Governor, has
naturally created no little excitement.
It is true, so far as the fact is concerned,
but not so far as the names used apply.
The most correct information to be OBJ
tanned is in substance that the chief en-
gineer in the project is Mr.. W. M. Con.
nelly, who was first Radical, then a
Conservative, but is now. doubtless, again
in the Radical ranks, where he belongs.
II was Connolly who labored so earn
estly to secure the passage of the Metro
politan Police bill, hoping to be APP
pointed Superintendent. But Colonel
Beaumont hanked him, and since that
time Connolly has been foremost in de.
nouncing the law and everything con-
neoted Herewith. Connolly has been
for sometime in Nashville lobbying, and
corresponding with Northern Radical
journals. The muddle into which our
municipal affairs we're recently resolved,
suggested to the enterprising Connolly
another chance for Board of Commits
sioners. So an effort is at once made to
induce the Legislature to annul the city
charter and place Memphis in the hands
of Board of Commissioners. 1t was
necessary to show that prominent citi'
zens favored the measure, and the names
of Messrs. John M. Lea, r. G. Brink.
ley and w. B. Greehlaw were
freely used. This, we under
stand, was wholly without authority.
Messrs. Brinkley and Lea never heard of
the project until announced via Nash
vile, as laboring to secure it. Prior to
the municipal election it is understood
that Mr.. Greenlaw favored some such
project, in the event of Beecher's cleo
ton; but he was perfectly satisfied with
the result, which placed an honorable,
capable man at the head of the govern
ment. Connclly's known modesty pre-
cludes the belief that he desires to be
appointed on the proposed Board of
Commissioners. The above is understood
to be the history of the latest Commits
sioner project.
COUNTRY AND CITY MERCHANTS