Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-26
WILLIAMS sANDTTTI.
How the Attorney General was Ter
rOEfzed by His 0yv, Tools

How the Attorney General was Ter
rOEfzed by His Own Tools.
The Washin gton correspondent o.
the Cincinnati Commercial, who wa
in New Orleans last January during
the bAndItti outcry, and subsequently
went on to Washington, tells som,
startling stories about how Williams
Outr age Bureau was run, sometimes, ,tc
ms own discomfort, "by the veriest
ScOundrels that ever were refused ad.
mission to decent mems houses" The
correspondent thinks that Gen. Sheri.
dan had every reason to suppose
that there was assassination in
the air." if he believed a tithe of
the stories with which Williams under.
hngs piled his ears. The cream Of the
story Is that the Attorney General at
Washington was scared almost to death
by the ingenious device of one of his
own detectives who was anxious to
prove himself useful if not necessary.
The Commercial correspondent dis.
guises this detectives name under the
PseudOnym Of Quilp, and Quilp had a
''slayey" dubbed Heap. Without let.
ting his henehman into the secret,
Quilp sent Heap 10 certain locality on
Pennsylvania avenue, where he over
heard a conversation between two for.
bidding-loOking rufians, as It was
prearranged that he should. Head
gathered from this conversation
that a certain dignitary, whose
name he did not catch, was to
attend party that night at the resi-
dence of Senator -, and would be
murdered on his way home. Heap
hastened to tell Quilp the frightful de-
velopments, and the latter, With a de-
tectiVe's dexterity, worked it up as a
conspiracy on the life of Attorney Gen
eral Williams. The dupe, Heap, was
set to watch the wesrisome hours away
in the neighborhood Of the Senator's s
house, and toward midright Quilp
Joined him, asking If he had seen the
mysterious strangers lurking about,
etc. Receiving negative reply, they
both tapped at the Senator's door,
called for the Attorney General and
communicated to him the fearful dan
ger IN which he stood. The cor
respondent proceeds:
The great outrage manufacturer was
agbast at the blood cUrdling revelation,
and tremblingly inquired what must he do
90 be saved? The heroic Quilp suggested
that instead Of waiting for his carriage, he
at once proceed to his house under escort
of the two fearless detectives. The Judge
determined to accept the advice. He,
therefore, c0ncealing his agitation as well
as he was able, excused himself from the
party, and wrapping his cloak about his
stalwart form, left the hospitable delights
Of the Senator'S house, and set forth to
brave the winters wrath, with his protec-
tors marching one on either side Of him,
with drawn revOlvers, sternly resolved to
sell the Judges life as dearly as possible.
Every sorry hut, every lonely tree and
bush writhing in the sweeping blast, every
rock and stump on the way was keen
ly scrutiniZed by the alarmed object Of the
hatred and vengeance Of the Southern
banditti whom he had so often summoned
successfully to the aid of his party in the
hour Of dire political need. There was no
telling what hideOUs aYenger might be
lurking behind the innocent looking bush
or tree. The Attorney Generals house was
situated in that desOlate region so iayishlv
and eXpeDsiyely improved by the Shepherd
Ring for the benefit Of the Real Estate
Fool, and being a bowling wilderness,
there was small chance Of meeting on his
lonely way with any OF the vigilant police
force who were very properly stationed in
the settled part Of the city, where there
were life and property 20 guard. So great
was the Judges agitation that he lost his
way, and led his fIiends a merry tramp
through the dTeary uninhabited wastes in
that region. However much l would like
TO tell the whole truth in this
connection, it would involve such
shocking revelations that I forbear. Suf-
fee it that when the Attorney General
finally reached his home there were not
lacking abundant evidences Of the thor
OUgh fright he had experienced. Leaning
on his good friend Quilp he advised with
him IS to whether he had not better send for /
detachment Of police to guard his house
and life. Il was finally settled, however.
upon Quilp's suggestion, that Heap should
remain in the house, and keep watch and
ward during the night. This he did. and
continued his service for some time, holding
his ;sOlitary watch during the long NIGHT
with brace Of loaded revolvers ready 10
his hand. This was an anxious, wearing
time to the Attorney General, and by its
narrowing intensity added peTceptibly to
his age. Time, however, worked a cure.
and finally the Judges fears died out, and
he was restored once more TO his accus-
toned serenity Of nerve.
This correspondent gives the follow
ing circumstantial details of another
'.heIlish invention" Of this detective
Quilp:
On the 14th day of January last Quilp
gave Heap letter, TO be mailed at the let
teT-bOX on the corner of Ninth street and
Pennsylvania Avenue. The letter was
not stamped, but three cents were given
the emissary to pay the postage. 1t is
quite common, when stamps are not at
hand, to slip the money in the letteEboX
with the letter, which is then stamped at
the PostsOffice. Explicit and positive di-
rections were given that the letter should
be put in this particular box, and no other.
The letter was addressed to the Hon. Louis
A. Wilt, New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr..
Wilt is, Of course, remembered as the
the Speaker Of the Conservative House
which effected its organization by the coup
defdt of the 4th OfJanUary, and which was
dispersed by the military on the same day.
THE letter was dated at Washington, and
smoke in a vague, mysterious way Of arms
thai had been purchased for the Conserva-