Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-17

We have heard Of so many mean men
in the last few years. and encountered SO
many that it has to be an exception of
grand rascal or iron-clad liar to attract
our special notice. John Allen, of New
York, made sensation as the wickedest
man in Gotham. and we have several
candidates for the honor in Memphis.
At present their merits are undecided,
but the meanest man and,the boldest liar
has established his character so well that
no one else will dare to claim the belt in
Memphis for several years. Though
be has q rival up in Weak!ey county
that will give him betty old tug for the
championship of Tennessee. We doubt
whether such an instance Of human
meanness and depravity was ever known
certainly not in Tennessee before the
war.
Here are the facts, and if any proof is
required we can furnish an affidavit from
ex Governsr Isham G.. Harris and other
we'll known citizens: Last Saturday as
the afternoon train went out on the Mem
phis and Ohio railroad, the conductor
was presented ticket free for the year
over the entire road from Memphis to
Louisville. granted by Albert Fink to one
Mr.. Prestwood, by reason of his belong
ing to the Tennessee Legislature, as the
member from Weakley county. The con-
ductor read the pass closely, and theL
scanned the Individual before him. He
happened to be from Prestwood's neigh
borhood, and knew that Individual to be
tall man, nearly fifty years old, while
the one before him was apparently not
twenty-five years old, and was some six
inches shorter than Priesthood.
Conductor" Is this your ticket%
Young man (pompously)-" 1t is, sir"
Conductor" Is your name Prest-
wood ?"
Young man (impatiently)-"Yesi it is"
Conductor" And are you member
of the Tennessee Legislature from
Weakley county p
Young man livery positively III am"
Conductor" l know you are not Mr..
Priesthood, of Weakley county, and that
this is not your pass"
Young man (rising indignant)-"I
don't like for any one to question my
veracity in that style, and will not sub
nit to it. My name is Prestwood-I
would swear it-and l am member of the
Legislature from Weakley county"
This assertion was repeated with great
emphasis, and attracted the attention OF
several passengers, among the number
was Ex-Governor Harris, who heard the
entire conversation. The conductor then
told him very coolly that he was an i'm
poster, for he was from Prestwood's neigh
borhood and had known him from boy
hood, and proceeded to administer the
most whitening rebuke. The make
believe Legislator wilted and his color
came and went several times, and he
looked as though he would faint. The
conductor took up the ticket, of course,
and collected the fare to Mckenzie, which
| was five dollars and thirty-Gve cents.
The young man owned up then and made
| a full confession, and begged that nothing
be said about the affair. Of course there
will not be much. We are letting him
off mildly to what he deserves.
He stated that his name was Boswell,
aud that he lived in Weakley county.
Being trooly loil he had received an APP
pointment of some kind in the Municipal
Court at Memphis. Mr.. Prestwood owed
him some money which be could not
collect, and he had taken the compli-
mentary pass to ride out the worth of the
debt. The young man seemed to have
some sense of shame left, and asked ex-
Governor Harris if there was no way to
get the pass back and get out of the
sorape. Mr.. Harris told him he knew Of
no help for it-that be had committed q
mean, low down act, which no money on
earth would hire him Governor Har
ris) to do. The chap got off at
Mckenzie and went toward Dresden very
sick. His bold, arrogant front at first
had given place to a weakness which was
pitiable to behold. He is specimen
brick of the Tennessee Radicals who hold
Offices, and yet it is disloyal not to make
bed fellows Of all such cattle. As for
Brestvoed, his infamy ia more damnable
from bis high position and his years
He will doubtless haye the efrontery to
call on the railroad for ANOTHER free
ticket, We would suggest that all rail
road conductors look out for such tickets
.aaatipg around, and see how many other
members Of the Legislature have been
traficing in free passes. What we have
written is written, aud can be proved be-
| fore any msgistFais,
AN old friend of ours iuStructs as to
say that be will sell two elegant houses,
each containing seven rooms, two good
nisterna. al in nerfect repair, at bar