Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-12
And thereby hangs
TaTn

a AN
which we give upon authority of the OH
GERS Of the Union and Planters bank, il
is needless 70 say, one of the soundest in
stitutions, not only OF our own, but of any
Of our surrounding States.
On the 30th of October 3 person claim
ing to be the COmstOck mentioned in this
letter, hom q well known and prominent
banker OF Nashville, presented himself to
Cashier Read, who believing him &c be
good snd it genuine. sold him a draft on
New Orleans for 5000, and gave him q
letter of introduction, at his request, TO
the bank upon which b draft was drawn.
Here is the letter Of PorteIfield, sO-called
NASHVILLE, OcSo Der %, 1871.
s. P, Read, Esq, Memphis, Tennessee:
Dear SiT-This will introduce to YOU
our TREND Mr.. J, n. COmstook, of New
York, who is also q friend and customer
of our New York correspondent. ANY ia
vors you can do him during his stay in
your city will be duly appreciated by
dear sir, yours very truly,
JOHN PORTERFIELD.
Upon the departure of Comstock for
Nsw 0rlssns, Mr.. Read, fearing some
thing was wrong, telegrsphed 20 Mr.. Por-
teTdald, at Nashville, asking IL the letter
presented by COmstock from him was
genuine. Porterfeld answered "No."
Upon recsiVing this nsWer, Mr.. Rsid i'm
msdiRtely photographed TO New Orleans
and stopped the payment OF the draft,
which ne thought was evidently purchRs-
ed with q view TO a '~'raiss," perhaps to
thirtesn thousand, perhsps TO thirty thou
sand or more Payment being stripped,
this nice lit 9 'pu.-np jobn was spoiled.
The next move WAS tins following from
Henry R. Beach, Of New Onlesns, who,
when here, registered himself ct the
Peabody Is from Portland, Meme. The In
dignAut Beach telegraphs:
NEW ORLEANS, November 8, 1871.
s p Read CashieT-On strength Of letter OF
Identification, l purchased at Mobile your
thousand dollars DRAFT and letter in my pos
session Draft protested. What fors WIN
you order its immedlsGe payment by tele-
graph? HENRY r. BEACH,
s. Rampant street.
Deliver at residence Immediately.
This was answered by Mr. Read. who
sent a confidential agent 20 New Orleans.
This gentleman called at the Louisiana
bank, and stated the purpoTt of his busi-
ness; with an order TO psy the draft, II
the party presenting cOnld be identified
and vouehsd for IS an honest man. Since
this nothing has been heard from the Crss-
cent city. But it Is presumed
that it was paid from the fast
hat the draft yesterday turned up
In possession OF Shaw, who presented 1t
for payment, which was refused by Mr..
Read, unless said Shaw could be guarsn-
tsed by solvent and respectable parties.
This be failed to do. He then had re-
course TO q lawyer, who proposed TO MI.
Read to receive the draft for payment
through the First National bank. To this
Mr.. Reid consented. But upon calling
1T the First National bank the lawyer
found himsslf Donplussed in his ne
gOiialions for his client, unless be
would iDdorse and guarantee him.
This he in return refused to
70 do. There wss hen nothing left to do
but TO "pOst" the bank as ~dishonored, a
piece of work that may cost Nj. Shsw
dearly before he gets through. The draft,
when presented yesterday, was endorsed
thus:
"Psy to the order Of " R Shaw.
J. h. COMST0CK.
". R shaw,
Henry L. Besch.
Louisiana Savings and Safety Deposit Co."
The bank here admits the validity of
the draft purchased by the so-cslled Com
stock; but refuses payment TO any but
him, or some responsible agent, who can
be vouehed for, and who will assume all
the risks Of ths transaction, In this
course tbs officers of the Union
and Planters bank, are fully sustained
by the usual practice of busi-
ness, and esrecislly In view of the
forged letter puTporting to come from Mr..
Porterheld If Nashville. They are will
ing now, and are ready to pay the 5000
20 ComstOek, for whom they ask in vain,
Notwithstanding the most pressing invi-
tatiOns through his friend Shaw. As the
press telegraph sOmStimesteils ns-"more
70 GOMEZ