The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-10
n.,,,u y,n.ha an Ex-eonStct of the
xirriuia s'cnifcntiary.
.tor Of The Courier journal


virginia Pcnifcntfary.
,yo ,te E,yitor Of the Courier journal:
Mr. WASHINGTON, KY. Scptember2, 1877.
src NV a cable telegram in the Courier
Journal that Osman Pasha, OF the Turkish
army. is believed 10 be General BaZalne,
Int marshal Of the French army. This is
= mistake. / happen TO know very well
who O.man Pasha is, as have correspond
cd with him for several years, and have re-
ccivcd letters from him since he has been
given command OF a division OF the Turkish
army. OSlnan Pashs is an Americana ma
tive of Hawkins county. Tenn. His name
is Il. Clay Crawford He was colonel OF
regiment Of artillery during the late war
between the States. He afterwards entered
the service of the Liberal Government OF
Mexico. and was made 4 general or d.
vision. He created considerable stir by the
capture OF Eagdad. Mexico, passing ms
forces over the Rio Grandc from the Texas
shore. He finally quarrcllcd with JuareZ.
the Mexican President, and returned to the
United States with large fortune. He re-
sided for several wears at beautiful coun-
frv-scat on the Delaware. near Philadelphia.
Ills restless disposition caused him TO seek
excitement. and he entered the service OF
the khcdiyc Of Egypt, was soon after trans
fcrrcG 10 the service Of the Sultan, and
commanded the Turkish army at Plevna.
p. y. WICKLIFFE.
The Courier-JorTnnl adds:
The Baedad affair was really nothing
more nor less than frecbootng eXpcdi-
ton. ON the proceeds Of this and other
plundcring operations he appeared in wall
street where he struck q streak OF luck, ma
King 4 lnillon Of dollars in six or eight
months: he bought the magnificent Biddlc
estate just ont Of Philadelphia, lived in
great Sp,endoI and o>icntation few years,
having married a New York lady, and,
about 1870, disappeared. lie has not been
heard Of since. He deserted his wife, Ia
whom the letter o? our correspondent will
come rs the first news OF a long-lost hlls-
band i'll seven wears. All this is corrobora-
tive testimony a to the truth Of the state
mcnt that OSnan Paslia and Clay Crawford
""c one and the same person.
His FIRST APPEARANCE.
one OF the last acl~ Of Andrew johnson
~ a member OF Congress from the First dis
trict Of Tennessee was 10 appoint K. Clay
Crawford, OF Hawkins county, cadet to
West Point. That was in the early part OF
1913. The lad was turned Of seventeen, OF
respectable parcntagr. lie had had con-
siderable education for the region and pc
and 10 make rapid progress at the Military
Academy. EuI what he gained in learning
he lost in conduct. lie was arcstleSS, eX-
citailc creature. perpctually involving him.
self and others in trouble, and never con-
tent with established law. The result was in
cyitablc. though longer delayed than could
have Nccn expected. He was expelled and
left West Point with Il character for intelli-
.encc and ambition, hut also for reckless
ness. winch attended him in after life. In
Stead Of going quietly 10 his home in llaw-
kin, county, East Tennessee, he had mind
for seeing the world and taste for advcn-
turc. His uurU!y spirit would not brook
tn" mono;ony Of the hills and hoioWS, and
his wounded pride ichellcd at the thought
oi rcappearing among his old relatives and
friends with the disgrace OF expulsion upon
him. 50, having som" money to 20 on, he
stopped in New York, and tried life in the
METROPOLIS for awhile on his OWN account,
An UNEXPECTED M!SHAP.
Crawiord's money soon gave out, and he
M" thrown upon his wits. These, how
ever were both >cli-contident and acute.
He had many wyc>tlc with fortune, but,
YOUNG and inexperienced as he was, he
always fell upon his feet. He would per-
laps haze escaped 10 this day had he not
become cntangied in MI affair OF course
il was an affair OF the heart. In Such cir
cumStanccs as he found himself, il is ever
the case that Il WOMAN comes upon the
scene. Thus it was that he was forced
Of necessity to look homcWard. Accom-
panied by his paramount. he had got rs
far aS Wythcvillc. in Virginia, on his
way back TO Tennessee, when fi-
tai mi>hap bcfell him. They had put
mp for the night at the inn OF the town.
There happened TO be lodged there at the
same time 4 rich old cattle-dcaler, Just re-
turned from Alabama. He was loaded
down with money. The temptation was
too great for poor Crawford. He noted all
the points in the case, waited for his in
tended victim to retire. and, when all was
still and dark. stole softly to the room OF the
rattic-lealcr The old man was sound
asleep. and the Young marauder got away
with the SWa@, which had been carefully
deposited under the owners pillow. About
midnight the sleeper awoke and very nat
urallv felt to lind whether his treasure was
safe. 1t was gone. He happened 10 be a
cool keen. rcSol,ltc man. He had noticed
the wild Young fellow with the pretty
Young woman. had observed the attention
they paid him. and Immediately his
suspicion, Tell upon them. He got
quietly out OF bed, and, without disturb
me- any one, sought the room or the lanu-
lord, TO whom he communicated the circum-
stance OF the robbery and his belief thereon.
The landlord shared his opinion. They
procured 4 light and weapons. Then they
went together TO the apartment OF the ad-
ycnturouS stranger. Instead OF knocking,
~ they might have done, considering that
there was lady rs well as Il gentleman
within, they suddenly turned the bolt, and
the door being unlocked they walked ill.,
4 sight indeed met their aStonshed gaze.
There, seated upon the floor, was our en-
cadet and his mistress, the candle between
them blsily engaged in counting the cat
t!e-dealer's money. The arrest was made at
once. The trial and conviction speedily
followed, and in Il few weeks Crawford
found himself in the State prison OF Viz
ginia, at Richmond.
ANOTHER TURN OF THE WHEEL.
Poor Clay Crawford! gay. ardent, as
piring. the occupant Of felon's cell ! 1t
was hard but fair: and he langushed there
many 4 weary month and year, eXpiating
his first attempt at highway robbery. But
there is an end to all things. The war
came on. Many reports exist as to how
Crawford got out Of prison. Some say
he escaped. Others say he made terms
with the Confederate authorities. 1t is
most likely that his time expired. At
al events he found himself free man again.
Some time in 1862, after the occupation OF
Nashville by the Union forces, he turned
up in the capital Of his native State. His
old friend Andrew johnson was military
Governor. East TenneSSceans are pro-
verbally clnnnisb Where the clan is con-