The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1874-09-03
Gov. Noses Trunk.
GFrom the New York Herald. ]


A curious story, says the Petersburg
Index, has come to our knowledge in con-
nection with the individual who is now
Governor of South Carolina by the grace
Of Federal influence and Senegambian
suffragcs. Mr.. F. j. Moses, Jr., was mar
ried in the year 1859, or just before the
war, and, while en- route to the North on
his bridal tour, had occasion to pass
through this city. At that time Judge
Joynes was president of the Petersburg
Railroad Company, and Maj. T. H. Bond
was auditor. Well, it seems that Moses,
on his way back home, lost one of the va
rious trunks. that constituted part of his
paraphernalia, Or, rather, of the outfit of
his bride, for it appeared that the con-
tents of the missing receptacle consisted
mainly of Mrs. Moses apparel. Great and
continued fuss was made on the subject,
and one would have thought from the
anxiety of Moses to get the trunk back
that it contained either bank notes of
large denominations or love letters, or
something else of rare and exceptional
value. However, though every effort was
made to recover the lost property, the
trunk still continued to turn up missing,
Notwithstanding all inquiries and all
searches after it. Finally Moses rendered
statement of contents as remembered,
and with it claim for compensation in
the amount of $3.50. The estimate was
regarded as excessive, but, to avoid any
appearance of inficting injury on a pas
senger for which redress was denied him,
the bill was approved by the president,
and duly paid by the treasurer of the COM
pany. Not long after, in the quietest way
in the world, the trunk turned up, and
was found to have suffered no damage
whatever in the course of the long wan
derings. Mr.. Moses was communicated
with promptly and given to understand
that he could return the money and get his
trunk back, with its contents uninjured
and intact. Mr.. Moses replied that since
he had received the money and duplicated
as far as desirable the articles lost, he
rather concluded that he would not re-
turn the money, and that the company
was welcome to keep the trunk. The
company kept the trunk and opened it
The contents were found to be laces, rib
bons, and the nameless and nuwberless
little ornaments of woman's wardrobe,
for which $3.50 was regarded as very
exorbitant estimate. So the company de-
termined not to sell the articles, as they
,evidently would not bring one-fourth Of
the sum given in penalty for them, and
Mr.. Moses was again informed that the
company hoped he would relieve them of
piece of property worthless to everybody
except his wife The offer was thus left
open, and in the meantime the war began.
When the market value of laces, ribbons
and other female doings and decorations
of that kind had gone up about fourfold,
and the value of paper money had gone
down in about the same proportion, Mr..
Moses appears on the scene again, closes
with the offer of the company, regains his
trunk with its pretty freight, and pays
back the S550-in Confederate money.
1t was sharp trick, and gave evidence at
that early day of the talents tor dishonesty
which were to make the name of Moses
the synonym of infamy the whole country
over. This is an DER true tale, and was
given us by gentleman who knew the
facts as reported. The dates and full par
ticulars could have been furnished, but it
suffices to narrate the simple story and to
afford particulars if the truth is doubted.