Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-10
Rascality of the Metropolitan Police:

EDITons LEDGER: 1t often becomes the
disagreeable duty of q Journalist to ex-
pose to the public gaze the infamous
conduct of officials who stop at no crime
when private or public plunder appears
within view. Such character is Beau.
mont, the Chief of Police of this city.
His career, since he came to the surface
of politics, has been marked by notori
ous corruption in office. At first Con.
federate deserter, he has advanced, step
by step, toward the goal of infamous
notoriety, with a success unparalleled
since the days of Jack Sheppard The
last disgraceful act of this immortal in
dividual we must record.
Last week Mr.. Alfred Horne arrived in
the city on horseback, from the county
of Lawrence, State of Arkansas. The
young man was evidently not citizen
of the world, and was at once marked
by the satellites of the police Office as a
fit object of plunder. The unfortunate
young man was on his way to the home
of his brother, who is prominent law
yer, living in the neighborhood of Nash
vile. He rode splendid bay mare,
which he expected to dispose of in the
city for valuable consideration; but
Mr.. Beaumont's chief detective deter
mined to relieve the unsophisticated
youth OF such an onerous responsibility.
We will inform the public, by way OF
preface, that in the police Office there is q
book wherein descriptions OF stolen
property are recorded. Some time in
May last was entered the following de-
scription of stolen mare:
Zone dark bay mare, with slight col
lar marks; small round mark near left
shoulder; l44 or Is hands high; white
mark on left side of back. Reported
stolen by +. Fagan, lO2 Jefferson street,
Memphis. May 2, 1868 "
The mare ridden by Mr.. Horne must
be described as follows:
"a mahogany bay mare, about six
years old; brand on shoulder j. r.,
brand on hip J. A.; saddle marks white
on both sides the property of Mr..
Horne.
Mr.Horne arrived in the city last Tues
day week and put up his saddle stock at
the stable of Mr.. Williams, with the in
tention of selling his mare in few days.
To the practiced eye of detective Hast
ings, this was the stolen animal, and here
was the thief. So poor Mr.. Horne was
arrested on Wednesday morning, and
thrown into the stationbouse dungeons
while his fine mare was disposed OF as
follows by our famous Ku. klux catcher
Beaumont, who dashed off the following
billet deaur to Mr.. Williams:
0FFIcF OF METROPOLITAN PoLIcE,l
hat l
Mr.. Williams will deliver to the bearer
one bay mare, left in bis stable by =
-, claiming to have brought her
from Lawrence county, Arkansas, and
who has confessed that she is a stolen
animal. The mare will be held thirty
DAYS and advertised for an owner.
s. b. BEAUMONT,
Superintendent M. p.
From the above choice morcedu it is
difficult TO determine whether the con
fession was made by the mare or the
prisoner confined 10 the Metropolitan
bastile. Il is quite evident from the de-
scripsion Of the stolen animal that no
owner would appear, notwithstanding
the bogus advertisement for thirty days
At the expiration Of that time, under the
doctrine Of csckedf, the mare would be
forfeited for want Of heirs, and revert TO
the crown Beaumont wears q crown
A king Of shreds and pstches- Mr..
Horne, in the meantime, was enjoying
ofiuus cur digHffafe in dungeon, where
be vas as hermetically sealed up as II be
had entered his grave Thursday even
ing our imperial Beaumont made bis