The New York herald., 1872-09-15
lN EAST TENNESSEE SENSATION.
TIE TROUBLES OF A CLAIM AGENT.
He Makes a Proposition to
the President.
Failing in His Negotiations at Washing
ton He Plays a Bold Game.
His Mysterious Disappearance and Rumors Of
His Death at the Hands Of AsSassins.
"A Horrible Murder that Was
No Murder at ALI.
A Plausible Story Fixed Up and Corpse
Provided for the Occasion.
DISCOVERY OF THE IMPOSITION.
The sDeceased's'' Where
abOuts a Mystery.
His Mysterious Disappearance and RumOrs Of
His Death at the Hands Of AsSassins.
"A Horrible Murder that Was
No Murder at All.
A Plausible Story Fixed Up and Corpse
Provided for the Occasion.
DISCOVERY OF THE IMPOSITION.
The ssDeccased's'' Where
abouts a Mystery.

The sDeceased's'' Where
abOuts a Mystery.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Sept. H. 1872.
That this is sensational age no reader of the
daily press can deny. The great newspapers Of
the country, going to the remotest sections trav-
ersed by railways and stage coaches, are the
vehicles OF communication by which every morning
an epit0me OF the occurrences OF the previous day
ds laid before the reading public while by means
OF correspondence the condensed teegraphic de-
epatch-the usual means OF transmitting important
dntelgence-is supplemented by detailed and
elaborate statement Of any events Of more than
ordinary interest In this letter the writer will
endeavOr to give to the readers OF the
HERALD a reliable account of one Of
the most remarkable events that have
ever transpired in this section Of
the country, and which has caused
the greatest excitement and awakened the pro-
foundest interest In the minds OF the quiet and
orderly people Of East Tennessee. The hero Of the
narrative that is to follow is native Of Sweet
water, Monroe county, Tenn, o small village
situated forty two miles southwest OF Knox
vile, on the line of the East Ten
nessee. Virginia and Georgia Railroad His
name Is Thomas G. Boyd, and his avocaton
that Of claim agent He Is a good-loOking man,
some thirty-fve years OF age, OF pleasing manners
and address, talks plausibly and nuently, and is
possessed Of vast amount OF assurance and
good deal OF cunning He has followed the busi-
mess OF soliciting claims since the close Of the
late war, and has, beyond doubt, made great deal
Ofm0ney, report says dishOnestly-in some cases by
presenting fraudulent claims to the departments, in
Others by retaining the lions share OF the moneys
secured for persons who had entrusted their busi-
rnooo IA; u tnio t,a foC io hA
has been indicted in the federal Court for these
alleged orences, the number Of true bills found
against him being about twenty-five Being well
connected he was enabled to give bonds In the sum
OF forty-four thousand dollars, or two thousand
dollars in each At the last term OF the federal
Court one Of these cases was tried, but the result
was o drawn battle between the government and
himself the jury having failed to return a verdict.
Soon after the adjournment OF the federal Court,
the Presidential question being uppermost in the
public mind, through the mists by which he was
enveloped Boyd thought that he had discovered
way out of all his dniculties. He looked aoft and
pet his hopes on
PRESIDENT GRANT,
evidently believing himself Of sufficient import
ance and possessed OF such influence as to COM
mand that high functionary's ready compliance
with his modest wishes. At the same time he must
have been judging from his conduct, fully i'm
pressed with the idea that the President was the
corrupt man his enemies represent him to be. He
doubtless thought this, his attempt to the
intervention OF the Executive In his behalf is in
applicable except upon the hypothesis OF his in
sanity-an idea have never heard advanced. In
fact, such supposlton it would be absurd for the
people here to consider especially in view of the
occurrences Of the last few days. The only indlca-
ton OF Boyd's insanity that has developed it.
self is the writing Of this letter the President,
but his whole course OF conduct and the means he
mas taken to escape the penalties Of the law afford
superabundant evidence that, II a lunatic he is
certainly the most methodical maniac that has ever
disported among the mountains Of East Tennes-
see. Boyd's letter to the President, given below,
as its date shows, was written on the 2Sth day of
May, 1877
REMARKABLE DOCUMENT
PROPOSITION TO CARRY TENNESSEE FOR GRANT.
The foowing remarkable document has been furnished
swxrrwArrR, Tenr, May %, 1872
TO His ExcelIency U. GRANT President u s. A., W ash
sis|i trust the subject, when stated, win be sufficient
n: the ne ySsS MssD time
eood fortune to i've trust AFTER you hear brief state
ent Of case you will give such attention as it seems
Ss %ina s6s Df the late war; was
against
getting % s n 0ss %s
followed in connection win ihe law to the present
Tenn win ;gsssi agent. the govern
ned saes Court for the District Of
sn the crime
United States for consprns to defraud the govern
i am innocent of the charges never knowingly made
presented fraudulent claim, nor did soSspire to
the other hand at all times gave snch advice and din in
% able see@ent NJ between the the hand
and the claimant on the other and seriously doubt i
had full control. know y was not knowingly BE 4
and
In TACT the contest has already begun AS matters now %
@ anq
S chat Sn Ss s az ne
democrats of the SOUTH Should the democrats in con-
for The Presaency Which IS than
"n s e The
ods the balance ofpower and their action will elect the
:s Isg psgs moss
the RScps and carry the state our
ThS:s wHa has s.d
S az % aSa SAY en AND
panimous IL time 81 peace They look upon your admin
popu,sry standing abroad and as the oe best
the S with other nations sos Hs on y
n 's soy w" 1o SssS f.
IL the VIII UsniSs tnc suits here
tofore begun against at Knoxville to take up the
cause republican party of Tennessee and support
the Philadelphia nominees; viii canvass the state, and
In this State. will read his record and history from
every stump In the State i can also buy heavy inhu
yence to the front on the side.
served through the late war; beginning as Confcder
ate private in 1851 and surrcnering e you in The spring
1866 of ordnance Have large and respect
able relationship In the state and in iu confidence win
che late who believe the suits against me
groundcss and instituted by certain officials Tor self
aggrandizcment.
purpose to be good and true man. to make an
pprght citizen protect the Institutions Of my country
and my fellow man. and thus do all the good can MY
conviction, was probable, could not benefit the goy
cost them thousands to prosecute me- and It WA WI
earnings OF many years have abiding conhdcnce
ln my ultimate success and final vindcaon Should an
Interference compromise the standing Of any official