Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-17
Sketch of Rives Pollard's Associate.

From the Petersburg (Va.) Index. 1st.l
J. Marshall Hanna is new, perhaps,
the best known newspaper man in vlr-
ginia. Like his late associate, his life
has been q turbulent one; from his ear
liest manhood to the day that Rives Pol
lard fell dead at his feet, his life has been
exposed 20 danger from the hereeness
and bitterness of his remarkable writings.
He was born in Hartford county, Mary
land, about thirty-four years ago; at
eighteen he went te Philadelphia, became
a clerk on religious newspaper, and
filled his leisure time by contributing to
the american Courier and other literary
journals In 1867 he became regularly
connected with the Baltimore Sun, as re-
porter. The 'plugs" ruled the city then,
and Mr.. Hanna had a saries of encounters
with the most notorious bullies OF that
organization. The frat of these was
with "Bouey Lee" who assaulted him
with q" "billy," because of local para.
graph published concerning his mis-
deedp. Shots were passed in the frscas,
and both were arrested. Lee was sent
to Jail for three years, but was soon par
doned out In the next year, while en-
gagged in personal difficulty Mr.. Hanna
accidentally shot the Mayor of Baltimore
(Mr. Phail); after this he narrowly es-
capped hanging at the hands OF a moo'
who charged that he had been brlbed by
the reform. party to put the plug
Mayor out of the way. So violent were
the "rougks," Mr.. Hanna had to be sent
into the Jail tor safe keeping, but was
released as soon as the storm which he
raised had subsided. He resumed his
place on the Sun, and we hear no more of
him until 1862. When the Federal forces
occupied Baltimore, Mr.. Hanna visited
their encempment in his professional
capacity as reporter, and was recognized
as a secessionist, assaulted and terribly
beaten by the infuriated soldiers. bis
right jaw and three ribs were broken.
In 1862 Mr.. H. cane through the ene-
my's lines into Virginia, and was imme-
diateIy employed by Mr.. Daniel upon
the Eraminer. His connection with
that paper continued during the whole
war, and he made it the soldiers delight
by the Tycoon" and other like sketches.
When the Examiner was revived by Pol
lard, Hanna returned to II, and bis
trouble commenced afresh, for be wrote
an article on the Yankee bop at the
Spotswood, which so enraged Gen. Terry
that he suppressed the paper. Then came
that little misunderstanding with Mana
ger Ogden, Of the theater, and a street
fight with pistols. Adding the last terrible
shooting affair, which has brought his
name prominently before the public
again in connection with Pollard's, and
We have a few threads in life than
which few have been more remarkable
and conspicuous.
Personally, Marshall Hanna is the
best known man in Richmond. Tall aud
gaunt looking, with luxuriant growth
of long black curly hair, and he ie known
wherever be goes; aud it he is not now,
time was when be was everywhere q
favorits. OF bis great nstsrel talents /
there can be no two opinions. He writes
with wonderful ease aud celebrity, and |
his articles. divesied Of their morbid
ness and scridity, are always Entertain
i,g and interesfinc.