The New York herald., 1877-02-14
THE ODS7REPEROuS MAJOR.
Career Of Major CoFliss, who Disturbed Mrs.
Sparrs Lodging House.
ALLEGED BASE AvOCATIONs.
Release Of the Accused on
Bail.


indeed The Majors praciiccs report says, are OF n
disreputable nature and If the detective force OF
the city desire to follow up tho cews now IN their
possession they may unearth something OF graver I'M
portance which TO base other and moro seri-
GUS complaints than that preferred by Mrs
Sparr in whose apartments he behaved so
'diseraccfuly OF late. Some years ago Cor
Iiss solicited business for the Equitable Iifc
Insurance Company, and very poor opinion some per-
sons connected with that corporation have OF him.
After ceasng to serve tho company be is said to havc
turned his talents INTO peculiar channel He became,
SO report says, n scconstitutcd inspector OF the
movements OF ladies who were being escorted TO
theatres and other places of entertainment by gentle
men whom he suspected be their husbancs, either
in fact or In prospective. After acquainting himself
with the of such couples he is understood
to have used Information resulting from his singu-
lar industry in way that could best be described py
the ladies' interested Some Of his critics do not hcsi-
tate to call Major Corss blackmaler others speak OF
him IN still sense, and all who we're seen
ny the writer yesterday respecting his aniccedens
anything added TO mis- disagrceabc characteristics
The rcspcctabilty and retiring disposition OF certain
of his intended victims, IT is sald has heretofore
saved him IRON publicity. Yesterday instance
was related by gentleman connected with largo
establishment down town Of Major Corss' style OF
pursuing his contemplate avocation Being pressed
for time on one occasion a few months ago the gen.
tcman IN question sent word TO lady TO meet him at
the Fulton !erry that they might 20 together 70 Inc
utes ahead OF her escort and during that timc was
the subject OF the offensive gaze OF the Mpjor
ACTING THE SPY.
When the gentleman tor whom she was waiting, and
who, as IL happened, knew Corss, arrived they en-.
tered stage, the Major following In the stage Cor.
lss made various overturcs the lady, but SO guard
edIy avoid direct offence. HIS conduct was nn-
noying, however, the gentleman says, ana 10 AVOID
., hath Af ~ stnn M
stepped into hotel for dinner They then proceeded
TO the Park Theatre. safe, as they supposed, from
further annoyance and we're settling down to The
peaccable enjoyment OF the performance OF "Brass,
when. to their as0nishmcnt they saw Corliss seated
preached the gentleman and said, at the same timo
presenting the article "Hcrc IS bow your lady lost
on her dress" vhc gentleman thinks The Major pur,
loned this from tho dress while in the theatre and
70 the lady. Failing in this effort he pursued
the same course on the return TO Brooklyn he had
followed on tho way to the theatre He followed the
pair to the Terry. ''Therc,n sad the gentleman. 81
procured carriage and drove the lady rapidly,
SO that could follow and by tanning her ad
dress be IN position to annoy her iurther personally
or by letter."
figured the role of carpet-bag Sheriff OF Rankin
county Mississippi He was then arrested on charge
OF emoezzement and raising county warrants. waved
examination gave bail and left the State In November,
1S75 he was, he has been up 10 the time oil his arrest
the other day New York agent for the Insurance Critic
published In Chicago during the month mentioned the
Insurance Tunes OF this city. III answer 10 inquiries
concerning ms character permitted HIM to speak for
himself through columns, and he put rather bold
lace on when SO speaking. The prosecution against
him Rankin county, hc stated. was instgated by
malice and political conspiracy. lie had accepted the
Office Of Sheriff at the urgency Of riends and contrary
to his own inclnations
PLAYING CAPTAIN BoBApII-
When invested with his official authority he an
nounced, SO he snid, 10 the editors OF the different
journals OF that district that he should make po ut
@ p ah o. ne @ wSU ravs
horseback and addressed public meetings
Of the coorcd population, imprcss.ng upon their
minds his DETERMINATION TO uphold thor glorious
rights lreedmen and their admitted superiority to
the white race He opened tho town halls He Kept
his promise TO the democratic editors and whipped
several OF them, hc says, adding In his magnificent
way, that 'the unfortunate scrbes had TO takc 1t all
around" &c. Now II appears The MAJOR IS an exae-
gcrator to spoak-n fact notorious prevsrcatNr,
q big Of humbug. Indeed, Mr.. A. j. FranZ, pro-
preior and of tho Brandon iissl Republican,
does not pause in his analysis OF the Majors state
meut short OF calling, italics, tho cxShcri "a thief
forger lar coward aud scoundrcL" lie says Corliss
sought the ollco OF sherin 10 give nm an oppor-
tunily TO steal, and that he did not announce TO
the editors that he would horsewhip them.
Mr.. Frantz spys he was the only editor in
town, 'ard George never mentioned horscwhip to
him." He never made speech TO white coIored
people in tho county and there was no Town Hall TO
open. He was not indicted through maliue Mr. Frantz
says Tor assault, but for cmbezzlcnenl and ras-
ing county warrants He took $1,000 warrant"
says that gentleman, ''on the back OF which wero in
dorscmcnts showing that all had been paid except
ttlo 500, backeucd the face with ink, in
pieces, pasted yellow paper on the bnck to cover
ate, who was President of the Board OF Police,
got new warrant issued Tor the full amount
of the face of the old warrant, and thus robbed
The county Of the amount that had been paid on
the old warrant while his confederate In vilany kept
the old warrant ana sold 1t for $780, He arrested
IN August 1863 charged with numerous offences, but
Of the hands of the civil authorities by
Governor Amcs, kept under military guard until
one went on his bond when he lett the State Subse-
qucnty bill passed the Legislature releasing all
bondsmcn up TO certain date. and this released the
Majors bondsmen; but tho indictment stood against
last
offers deiray his expenses II he Will appear before
the Circuit Court and stand his trial. When the MAJOR
all the Shcris books with him, but that there still
sufficient outside evidence to convict him.
coRLiss RELEASED on BAtL
When the Essex Market Court opened yesterday
morning Major Corliss who had been confined since
Monday morning the charge OF creating the disturb
ance the house of Mrs. Mary Sparr TO- 1so Second
avenue inquired whether any OF his friends had called
He sent iour or five letters to different persons by the
prison messenger HIS principal wish seemed to DO
the procurement OF ball. and nearly all the day messages
were sent by HIM TO various persons In the city.
Shortly before four O'Clock Mcssrs Osborne and Stat
ford, his counsel, came into court with "A handsomely
dressed man whom u soon appeared was to be Mr..
Corliss' bondsman Mr. Osborne said d:-"Your Honor,
in the case Of Major George W. Coriss, committed
for disorderly conduct, we desire to enter bail
We are not Mt present In position to offer
real estate property as security, but viii
make such offer doubtless will satisfy Your Honor
aud fully meet the requirements OF the law | UNDER
stand that Mr. Coriss Is nncd SO aud committed in
default OF 81 900 bail for good behavior We propose to
n the fine and place Your Honor's hands 8 900
IL money until Tomorrow afternoon, when we will
furnish real estate bail.
The Court pronounced tho offer satisfactory and the
strange gentleman psid the $40 fine and handed Judge
wandcll ten 500 bills. Mayor Corliss was then
brought up stairs. lie recognized his bondsman by
shaking hands with him.
"You are discharged said Judge wandcll Major
Corliss bowed a comprehensive bow which embraced
the court clerks officers and attendants and passed
out Of the court When the strange gentleman who
became surety for Corliss asked Tor his be
smiled aud said TO the reporter, Put II down John
Doe IL was subsequently stated that be mer.
chant dong in Grand street, near Broadway
CorIiss sent a messenger for his properly TO Mrs.
Sparr last evening, out, as advised, she refused
deliver II without an order from the police captain