Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-08-17
STARTLING AFFAIR.
Discovery Of Immense Frauds and
FOrgeries By Prominent Business
Man OF Louisville - His
Flight and Arrest.

Right and Arrest.
From the Courier-Journail
An event of unusual character Oe
CURED yesterday, which excited pro
found sensation throughout the city and
was the universal subject of conversa-
ton. 1t was one of those cases which
while they illustrate the frailty of hu-
manity even under the most favorable
circumstances of education and assOcia-
tiOns, at the same time excite a certain
sympathy for the guilty party, and
stronger feeling for the relatives and
friends who must suffer innOcently from
the lapse from the strict standard of
commercial honor. The event was the
development Of a series Of fOrgeries on
the part Of one Of the most active young
business men Of the city. The extent Of
his operations is alone sufficient TO
show how thoroughly he was trusted,
and We approach with deep regret the
recital Of how the general confidence in
him was madly betrayed, a bright ca
reer suddenly darkened, and its crop of
promise dashed aside to the intOXicatiOn
Of speculation.
1t appears that for some time past Mr.
Robert Atwood has been engaged in
speculating in cotton, outside of his reg
ular lines Of business. He is the leading
member Of the firm of Atwood & Nicho-
las, insurance agents, and also one Of
the firm of a. SchOeffel & Co, pork
packers. he has been regarded as an
active, sagaciOus, upright business man,
and held the esteem and confidence Of
the community. His father was one of
the most highly-respected citizens Of
Louisville. His friends and family con-
nectiOns are of the same character He
married most estimable lady, the eldest
daughter OF DR.. Lewis Rogers. And yet,
in the midst Of all these restraints from
wrong and incentives to right, he yield
ed 10 temptation, and in the wild frenzy
of speculation went down under a load
of OblOquy which his own rash act had
brought upon him.
1t Is impossible until a full investiga-
ton is had to give the details of his fall,
or the number and names of those in
vOlved in it, or the extent Of their in
volvement The latter, it il estimated,
will aggregate about a quarter of a mill
lion, but some place the amount at a
much higher figure. The only explana-
ton Of the unfortunate affair is to be in
ferred from the facts as far as We could
gather them last night 1t seems that
Mr.. AtwOOd's speculations had turned
out badly, and in the desperate effort to
retrieve his losses be resorted to forgery,
and, it is said, other forms Of fraud.
The names Of the firms OF which he was
member were freely used to procure
money, and the signatures of DR.. Rogers,
his father-in-law, and Mr.. Charles NJ
ThrustOn, his uncle, were also used by
him without their authority.
A few days ago, we are informed, Mr.. /
Atwood exhibited telegram from his
broker in New York, advising him that
forty thousand dollars had been placed /
to his credit in the Park bank in that |
city. On this il is said that be negOtia- /
ted several drafts against the amount
one for fifteen thousand dollars in the 4
Citizens Bank, and one for a cOnsidera-
ble sum in the Northern Bank. Shortly 4
after the draft sold to the Northern 1
Bank reached the Park Bank, a tele-
gram was returned by the latter stating
that it held no money to the credit Of
Robert Atwood. This Immediately
started inquiry, and Mr.. Atwood not
making his drafts good, or giving a sat
isfactory explanation, doubt was thrown
upon the genuineness of the telegram.
Yesterday, however, a worse feature
Of the case was developed, which
brought about a startling discovery.
Some paper OF AtwOOC's falling due.
and not being taken up, il became
known that the Endorsement on il was
forgery. This led to further investiga-
ton, and il was soon ascertained that
large amounts Of paper with forged in
dOrsements were held by the banks of
the city, nearly every bank in Louisville
holding more or less. The revelation
was astounding. A fair business repu-
tatiOn, that had been built up by indus
try and the aid Of a wide circle of
friends and connections, crumbled in a
moment, and was iOst-must We say be-
yOnd recovery?
Probably aware that the eclaircisse-
ment was impending-yet, if he wished
TO escape, strangely delaying his depart
ure-AtwOOd left the city by the Indian
aPOlis railroad yesterday afternoon.
The affair was sOon nOised far and
wide, and was placed in the hands Of
officers, who at once telegraphed 10 Sey-
mOur, Indiana, where the train, when
it came UP, was boarded by the Marshal
Of the place, and Atwood taken into
custody and brought back TO this city
He arrived at half-past ten o'clock last
night, and was met by a number Of his
former friends, among whom were some
OF the most prominent business men .
Of the city. The party also included
several officers Of banking institutions, !
which are heavy sufferers by his
operations. All these expressed their I
sincere regret for his unfortunate condi-
ton, and their sympathy with him in
the misfortune and disgrace which be
had 50 rashly brought upon himself He
was taken TO the Office Of Esquire Speed
Pesy, where he was brought before
Esquires Peay and Matlack, who held J
him TO bail in the sum Of fifty thousand {
dollars 10 answer at the next term Of
the Jefferson Circuit Court. His bonds !
men were Richard Hall, DR.. D. w. Yam
dell, NJ. Muidoon and Jacob Smyser.
Upon giving bond be was released, and, /
by a number of friends, !
was driven to his home, now the abode .
OF grief too sacred 70 be more than :
It Is said that the Citizens Bank is in G
vOlved in Mr.. AtwOOd's transaction to I
the amount Of fifty thousand dollars, the }
Northern Bank to forty thousand dol
lars, the Bank of America to five thou ;
sand dollars, and the Bank Of Louisville, I
Bank of Kentucky, Falls City Bank, Z
Louisville Banking Company, German
Security Bank, and other institutions, TO
amounts ranging from five thousand |
dollars upward. We understand, also,
that the bank in Shelbyville holds some !
six thousand dollars of his paper. De- I
.ective Bligh testified before the Magis- q
rate that the amount of AtwOOds for
yeries, as far as discovered, was about l
seventy thousand dollars. Atwood &
were the agents Of the Ameri- \
can Insurance Company, Of Pennsylva- 4
nia; the Enterprise, of Cincinnati; the
Franklin, Of Philadelphia, and the In '
and Manhattan, of New I
York, each Of which will, il is said, suffer
10 the extent Of some ten thousand dol ,
ars.
IL Is clear that, while no one attempts
70 justify the reckless course Of the un
fortunate man, he yet has the sympathy =
)f many estimable people whose social
and commercial standing are above a
question. They regard his course as the d
result OF mad passion for speculation
he frenzy of the stock gambler. How D
ever il may be viewed, il certainly h
startled and shocked the entire COM o.
and aroused the deepest feeling Sc
lf sympathy and cOmmiseration for his
amily, which includes some four or five o
little children, and for his relatives. e.
lpOn whose anguish we fOrbear 10 in II
rude. p
weather PrOgnOsties. n
WASHINGTON, August 16.-The prob \
abilities of the weather are that sOutheT- h
Y TO easterly winds will generally pre- a
Tail on Saturday over Western Gulf ?
states; winds veering to westerly, with j
'learing weather, from Florida to North o
,arOlina. SOutherly and sOuthwesterly