Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-02
MURPHY'S MASH"
A Dashing Drummer and His Rural
Victim Arrested in Cincinnati
Wednesday.

anu TdlucI SOOu-lOOklDS BUSINESS man, named
w. J. Murphy, who resides, when at home,
in New FORK city, was prisoner at the Cen
trail station last night, and the cause of his
troubles is about as follows: Murphy some
weeks ago, was In Pittsburg on business CON-
nected with his agency for the sale of pat
ent wooden stopper for beer bottles, made by
a firm in Reading, Pennsylvania. He had
another iron, so to speak, in the fire, and this
was the. selling of an attachment for sew
ing-machine, on which to make plaits in
skirts. Wishing to obtain the assistance of
some one to run the plating machine contrl-
vance, while he devoted his abilities to the
wooden shoppers, he inserted in the Pittsburg
papers an advertisement for a lady to travel
In the west as an agent ''for the sale of
useful household article" This advertise
ment was answered by score or more of ap-
pllcants, and among the number was Miss
Clara French, daughter of the late Rev.
William French, who, while chaplain of q
Pennsylvania regiment during the war, was
killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virgin
la. Miss French resided with her mother and
grandmother at Monongahela City, little
place about thirty miles above Pittsburg. About
three months ago Miss Clara graduated
Though only seventeen years of age) from
the normal school of Pittsburg and Just pre-
vious to her application an agent for Muir
ply had been In Elizabethtown, a village
close to her home, for the purpose of raising
a select school, OF which she intended to take
charge. Her application met with success,
and Murphy employed her as his western
travelling agent, " with Instructions for her to
get ready to assume the duties of the posi-
ton as soon as possible. After personal in
terview between the parties In Pittsburg, the
girl returned home, when a family consulta-
ton was had as to whether it was best that
she should go. She and her mother were in
favor of the project, but the grandmother,
perhaps more worldly-wise than the others,
was heartily opposed to the whole scheme.
The younger women gained their point, how
ever, and Mrs. French and her daughter left
Monongahela City one afternoon, about two
weeks ago, for PIttsburg, where, at the de-
pot, Murphy met them. He pretended to
be very anxious to get to Cincinnati at as
early date as possible, and, with very little
demur on the part of the womep he and
Clara left for this city that same night, the
mother returning to her now lonely home.
In due time the pair reached this city,
and after dining at hotel Murphy took
his agent" to a clearinghouse at No.
"A West Eighth street, where he gave the
people to understand that they were man and
wife, and as man and wife were shown to
the same room. which they have occupied in
common ever since until last night. In the
mean time the mother fears that all was not
right with her young and inexperienced
daughter, whom she had so carelessly given
over to the care of total stranger, prompted
her to place the matter into the hands of the
chief of police of Pittsburg. Yesterday Chief
Iegler received letter from the Pittsburg
official, In which was inclosed a picture of
Clara, lnstructlng him to cause the detention
OF the girl and the arrest of the man if they
were in this city. Agreeably to this request
decoy letter, Enclosed in an envelop of pc
cullar shape and color, was placed in the city
postoffice, addressed to Miss Clara French.
Detective Tighe was detailed to watch and
arrest any one calling for it. Sooner than
could reasonably have been anticipated,
Tighe's vigilance was rewarded by his seeing
tall, slightly-built and lady-like looking
girl with auburn hair, full cheeks and blue
eyes call at the ladies' window, get the letter,
and step hurriedly toward Fourth street Be-
fore she had gone far the detective overlook
her. His business was made known, and
without the least reluctance she volunteered
to conduct him to her room. While
going there she told her story as above, and
between sobs and tears acknowledged that
she was anxious to be returned to her home.
Soon after she was taken to the Office of the
chief of police, who, after questioning her
very closely, sent her to private house,
where she will be cared for until the arrival
of her parent, whom Chief Ziegler notified of
the capture yesterday afternoon. In the
meantime the gay drummer was wanted. In
accordance with suggestion from Miss
French, who said that Murphy came to their
room haOltualiy at SIX CLOCK IN the evening,
an officer was stationed in that locality, and
about the usual time he made his appearance
and was promptly arrested. The fellow, who,
by the way, is but twenty-seven years of age,
of slight form, youthful face, and quite flu
ent in the use of good English, denies the
commission of any wrong act with his dupe.
Unfortunately, however, the girl states that
he accomplished the purpose for which she
now sees he at first employed her-merely
to get her in his power. He states that
his arrangements were strictly of
legitimate business nature; that he en-
ployed her to sell certain wares for him,
but that she never sold a dollars
worth. In fact, he found it impossible to get
her to stir out of her room In daylight, and in
consequence of her utter inability to perform
her part of the business contract, he was be-
coming heartily tired of his new employe.
His story is not credited by the officials. They
think if it was purely business arrange
ment,' why should he introduce her at their
boarding-place as his wife; and why, above
all things, should he occupy the same room
with her and the same couch? The fact of 1t
is, Murphy has been guilty of dastardly out
rage upon a hitherto highly respected girl,
whose youth, innocence and inexperience
should have been her defense; and these
would have been with any one but plotting,
lecherous villain. In his cell last night he
was whining about his troubles and his heart
disease. 1t is a pity the girl hasn't big
brother to wallop little decency into him.
Alderman Henry Smith, of Pttsburg, Is her
uncla