Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-05-07
The History OF Mrs. Perry, the Bland,
the Sweet, the Charming Friend
Of Mrs. Bcyden.
How she BIlked her Friend OF 500
in Money, and Robbed her Ample
Wardrobe OF her Best Clothes.
Her Run 20 New Orleans-HOW she was
Brought Back by q DeeOy Tele-
gram-WomaR's Plans and
COanierpl0ts.


women this time that disturb the pasto-
raj quiet OF this town. It has been evil
dent for several weeks that something
unusual has been IN the wind; but those
who were supposed to know all about il
kept their mouths sealed, while those
who only imagined gave so many re-
ports that it was most impossible to get
any straight version of the affair. The
facts as at present elueidated are too rich
in incident and Ingenuity to escape some
notice. A few weeks since, two ladies,
] representing themselves as Mrs. s. s. b.
f. Boyden aud daughter, came here as
agents for The Lives Of the Presidents.
! They procured board at a respectable
private family, and rumOr, though
ever a busy dame, found moth
ing to criticize in either their
conduct or general depOrtment
They sought and obtained among the
members of the legislature, many sub
scribers to their book. While thus en-
ployed, and about two weeks previous
/ to the adjournment of the Legislature,
another lady arrived and presented her
self at the Edwards house, announcing
herself as Miss NJ. Z. Perry, Especial cor
respondent of the Chicago Times, and
stating TO several gentlemen with whom
/ sue kOl l4Adl 81 Z WIS u ul6NE.
of Colonel Storey, of the Times, and il
! his employ, at a salary of one
hundred dollars per month, and trav-
cling expenses; that she had been
sent south to viss the various cities
and places of interest to obtain items
and information, both political and
general, and forward for the informa-
ton of the readers of the Times. She
also represented that on her way here
| from Nashville she had been robbed of a
satchel, which, with other things, con-
| tanned her purse and baggage checks,
| thus leaving her for a time perfectly des
titute and helpless until she should reach
| Vicksburg, where her next remittsnces
were to arrive. Several gentlemen at
once prOffered her such assistance as she
should desire to prosecute her journey to
that point, which she gracefully but
firmly declined, preferring to be in
debted to them only for such cOurtesies
as they might be at liberty to offer
her during the time she might be
engaged in visiting the legislature
and other places of interest and note in
and around Jackson. Her quiet self
possession and unassuming manners,
combined with her intelligence and evil
dent acquaintance with the various de-
partments of journalistic labors, were
deemed a sufficient Endorsement of the
truths of her story, and as a representa-.
tive of leading paper, every courtesy
was shown her. After several DAYS she
announced that she had received orders
to remain in Jackson until after the
adjournment, and accompanied this an
nOuncement with the request of a loan
of fifty dollars from several of the gem
tlemen whose assistance she had de-
clined on her arrival, to be returned
when her remittance arrived, which
would be in eight o. ten days.
Some bit, but others smelt a mouse, and
declined TO advance on the coming re-
mittance. Nothing deferred, apparent
ly, by her failure, she visited the legis-
lature daily, occupying a reporters ta-
ble, where she could be seen daily, and
sometimes in company with Mrs. Boy
den and daughter, whose business
brought them around the capitol, and
whose acquaintance she had made 10y
this time. So great was the affection
that sprang up between this trio, that
after having been at the Edwards house
ten days, Mrs. Perry quietly left that
ho3pitable bed and board, and her bill
unpaid, leaving the genial host nothing
to compensate him but vague number
of imaginary puffs in the Chicago Times,
and took up her quarters with the Boy
dens, who by this time had given her
carte blanche to help herself out of their
wardrobe, she being entirely destitute of
clothing, save what she had on.
While these loving relations were
going on. it is claimed that Mrs. Perry
informed Mrs. z. and daughter that a
plot was on foot to rob them of their
money, and to effect this measure
charges were to be preferred against
them as being kukluX emissaries, and
they were to be put in Jail, and that
their arrest had been agreed upon.
Horror-struck at this news, the Boydens
listened to her advice, and so sOundly
did she advise them that she obtained
possession of all of their money, amount
ing to about seven hundred dollars,
the reward of their labors and in
dustry. Again, it is claimed that a
gentleman of considerable reputation as
lobbyist had paid Mrs. b. about sew
enty dollars IN advance for a number of
her books, and afterward made improper
proposals to her daughter, and on being
repulsed had, in spite, demanded his
money or his books. This was impossi-
BILE to comply with, as the books were
not ready and the money had been spent
in current expenses. A seizure of her
property, including the books when
they should arrive, was rumored, and to
guard against this q bill of sale was
made, transferring to Perry all of their
worldly goods and possessions. Whether
il was one way or the other, it is certain
that Mrs. B. and daughter had
no money, and Mrs. Perry had it
hn Of aAf
in the general exodus from Jackson went
the gentle correspondent, on a visit, as
she said, to see a brother who resided in
Yazoo. Mrs. &. and daughter ascer-
tanned afterward, however, that the
Hnorting engine took her TO the Crescent
City, and finding herself destitute, un-
arrested and alone, grave doubts gathered
in her mind, which doubts were con-
firmed by an examination Of her ward
robe. or her collection Of-such things
as ladies wear-there was not vision
left. After having recovered from the
shock, and shaken off the kuklux ter
nOIs, she set to work to ascertain the
whereabouts Of the departed. By tel
egraph to tlfe Times it was aseertained
she had no connection whatever with
that paper. The telegraph further
| ascertained that she was in New Orleans
where she had visited the Pc0gSsle Of
fee in her journalistic role, and was
stopping at the st. Charles hotel. A
decoy telegram brought her back to
jackson where Mrs. BOyden met her,
not with smiles and an embrace, but
belligeTent front and cooked derringer,
accompanied with desire to scatter the
journalistic brains Of Miss Perry over
the platform of the New Orleans, Jack
son and Great Northern railroad, In the
pastoral city of Jackson Police inter
| fered, no blood was shed, and the whole
matter came lp before Mayor Smith
for adjudication. Miss Perry was tried
on a charge OF theft. The evidence re-
vealed only breach of trust. There
fore, she was discharged. Tomorrow
Mrs. Boyden answers to the charge of
assault with intent to kill, when further
develop nents are looked for.
The following letter, which "got
astray,n may throw some light ON the
subject Is. S. are Boyden's first initials,
and the letter was sent TO her, but she
didn't get it,:
/ / enclose cards 10 mark baggage with. I'm
side were three cards, printed, In neat style,
Miss NJ +. Perry, correspondent OF the
Chicago Times Dear :. >, be careful. Put
up "the things" oompactly, mark with my
name ana leave Al Us 10 my order. Let
Mrs p think them mine. was stopped,
as told you; can't tell all that was said, but
found your papers must be seen after. Just
hired a hack sent order aud word to Mrs.
p that wanted my trunk and travelling
bag. 80 to visit, till tom borrow, my brother.
SO have them ali with lie. Get away from
Jackson on the trst train toward Merician, IL
possible. / am not "sUspected," but am
tshadoweG-" Don't go 10 -. l will tele-
graph 10 - what you viii understand.
have not told her q word except what
Aas already known. IL 1 say "send
copv at once" In the telegram, IL
will mean, / cant get "a you, bat you must
come 20 any place signed or named 10 iele-
grsD, Don 4 let soul know of any trouble