Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-06-04
A New Phase of the Fraudulent certih-
cate Business.
How it is Run in Haywood County by Mr.. B.
P. Boyd.
The Reporter of this Journal Mistaken for
Chief Engineer Of a Loyal League.
Mr.. Morton, Late of Haywood County,
Makes the Mistake Under Peculiar
Circumstances.
A Shameful Abuse Of Confidence by this
Writer.

pleleAN SHOWN up Ihcli PIoSNltueAohiNA az
ballot-box as an expose we fell upon, b.
the sheerest accident, yesterday-o
frauds, not happening, however, IN on
county, but in Haywood.
The principal actor in the drama, so far
is a Mr.. 7. r.. Morton, who has reason Il
congratulate himself upon the rendition
Of the character of an indubitable Han
dy Andy. Not to anticipate our story
however, we viii commence at the begin
ming.
On Wednesday evening Mr.. Taylor
bOok-keeper for Messrs. Morris, Lee &
Co., in the Lee Block, after finishing NJ
his business took a chair and seated him.
self in the door of the office, in order Il
catch the cool breeze. The draught haC
the effect it usually has in warm weather
and he soon dropped off into an easy, gen
tie slumber.
While he was thus sleeping, a man who
was evidently prowling about watching
for an opening to steal something, cam
] along and approaching the condition o
things, slipped quietly by the sleeper, anC
got into the Office without waking him
The key of the safe was in the door, 50 ii
| helped himself Of what was within sight
how much r. not known TO the police, Ion
if they knoa they won't tell MS, a lot O.
stamps md some envelopes. Having
thus made his haul the thief started out
but as he was passing Mr.. Taylor, he no.
ticed that that gentleman wore a watch
and chain. 1t would never do, he thought.
to leave this much " loot, - " sway plum
| der in sight andn o gone for, so ne picked
Mr.. Taylor's pocket and made of.
As soon as his nap was ended, Mr.. Tay-
Tor, on looking TO find the time, found
that he had been robbed. Information
was Immediately given to the police, and
| Detectives McCune and Hastings took
the Job in hand. How they worked il M
we were not informed. but before the
| evening was over they had arrested. q
youth. caIlinE himself j. 7. Morton, fol
I committing the crime. They found some
ofthe missing envelopes and papers on
his person when they searched him, but
no watch or money. After arrcsting him
they conveyed him 10 the Second District
lookup and put him under the tender care
and fostering s0liciIude of Capt. McAIath.
Yesterday afternoon, in going usual
rounds, we visited the lower station, and
not seeing the name of the prisoner on
the docket we walked back to the call and
called his name. He responded quickly
rs if he was expecting n visit, and was
very ready and anxious TO communicate
with US, apparently mistaking us for the
party that he expected.
After a short preliminary conversation
which il is not necessary to repeat here,
he remarked TO US hat he was in a bad
scrape, but that we could get him out
Taking U from this and his former
remarks in order to draw him out we as
sented to his conclusion, and he con-
tinued a. nearly as we can %recOllect, as
follows:
MY names J.. T. Morton. You ought
10 know me. Your circle has received
communications enough from me. I'm
the teacher Of the cOlOred school at
Brownsville, Haywood county. I'm the
,- $3.50 1-----Ts Fs-,F-s-- Ls-NL,-lt
With his a Hood of light burst upOn rs,
and we took our cue =" instantly, and
replied that W. had certainly heard the
name, but we hear so many, etc. etc.
"Well, now he continued, Il came
to town yesterday "wednesday on the
twelve o'clock train. and / went up to the
Lee Block to see a Mr.. Boyd, n lawyer,
and 1 picked up them papers On the
stairs
We asked if he had not picked up a
watch and some other things at the same
time. but he denied the Impeachment.
Further conversation ensued, which we
VIII not repeat at present, but which con-
WINGED rs in our first suppositiOn, viz:
that he took US for a fellow loyal Lacquer.
The following is, however, the substance
Of it:
Il am the MAJ who got the militia to
Haywood, by getting up that Eu-klux re-
port. You recOllect, don't you? 1t
was about the time 1 commenced
the eOlored school there-about the 18th
of February. There were some threats
against me by ONE rebels, and 1 sent up
the report that the Ku-Klux had come to
my house and threatened to hang me if 1
would not swear to leave the State. This
brought the militia to Haywood mt that
time"
"Ihavu't been teaching for a month or
so-nOt much 70 least. | suspended it
until after the election, when I was to get
the SupeEiUtendCuce of the county free
schools. Ih0pe this (his a~rrest) will be
be kept quiet, as 70 might effect my pros
poets if it should get put. During this
time / have been in Bovd's employ ="
"Whose?" we asked.
"Boyd's-B. d. Boyd's directly, but l
have been working for this whole ticket,
handing US a ticket bearing the
names Of Andrews, McLain and Hawkins
for the Supreme Bench, Coldwen for Re-
porter, Boyd for Circuit Judge, Muse for
Chancellor, and Tally for A~ttOrney-Gen-
eralL. But Boyd was my employer"
"What to do? - we asked.
Well, to get up the niger vote. / was
to get the certificates for the niggers that
would vote the ticket, hunt up niggers to
answer TO names on the books, and see
they voted them. l was Boyd's conhden-
tial NOU can telegraph 10 him and
he'll tell You I'm all right. I wish you'd
get the thin- .E.l, as l want to go back
right OFF. i vc promised to take taa
stump in HAYWOOD and Upton and Fav-
cite for Senter. Youiust telegraph Boyd.
Hold on-I'n show you something to
show who I am. ] wouldn't let any one /
you see it for anything producing a
bundle Of papers. Look at that-that
shows you that what / say is So"
We did look at it, and we nov want the
public TO look at it; for amore shameless
document we rave rarely seen. 1t speaks
for itself, however. The original is in our
possession, and we propose 10 forward il
to the proper parties in Brownsville to be
used as testimony. Here it is:
Mr., p, Il, Boyd,
Mr. J, 7, Morton has been to see me to
get some certificates. I am very buisey
and no time for issuing certificates but he
insisted so hard | agreed to give them by
paying twenty five cts apeace for nav
trouble. l have give him . for which he
has paid me five dollars and sails you viii
pay the l.& cts more.
II. D. FREEMAN
May the 18th 1869 (Registerl.
Comment pm the above is unnecessary.
Volumes Of testimony, and hundreds of
afidavits could not tell the whole state Of
the case with more clearness or truth thar
this simple letter in the handwriting. and
under the signature, of the Commissioner
Of Registration of Haywood county.
With all Of the charges against our man |
Williams, we think that none have been |
brought that can "hold a candle" to it,
either in point of boIdness, u~nbiushing |
rascalty, or fool-hardiness.
As to Morton, after obtaining the above
much more valuable information from |
him we left him TO his meditatiOns in the
comfortable cell that Capt. McMath had
prepared for him. A warrant was Is
sued for him by Squire Griffith during
he afternoon, and he Will have a hearing
PROCEEDINGS OF THE G.. 4. Rat the
regular meeting Of the G.. A. r., held June
}. 1869, the following resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
ReSOlUed, That the thanks of this en-
.ampment be rendered to the press Of this
for the kindness they have shown us
N publishing our notices of the recent
loral offering, and for their excellent and
truthful report of the same.
Resolved, That the thanks of this en-
'ampment be also rendered to those ladies
gentlemen who so generously assisted
" donating and in the decoration of the
upon the occasion.
ReSOIUed That N thanks are due and
eDdered to Col. Sam. b. Jones, Superin-
endent of the Memphis and Louisville
railroad, for the many courtesies extended
o Us by him.