The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-11
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
And OF the Various Shifts and Devices
Adopted by the Slippery Rogue to Escape
its consequences,


And OF the Various Shifts and Devices
Adopted by the Slippery Rogue to Escape
Its Consequences.
The announcement was made in the
Associated Press dispatches yesterday
that ex.Gov. franklin ]. Moses had been
arrested in New York or Sunday night,
on charge of forgery, lad been lodged
in the Tombs and would be brought to
Charleston in q. few dayS. 1t is proper
to mention just here, says the Neacs and
Courier, that true bill was found against
Moses, at tie last term of the Court of
General Sessions, III Charleston, and on
this very charge, and that in order to
further the ends of justice, at the request
of the Solicitor, no mention Of the fact
has previously beer made in this paper.
The facts of the case are these;
In January, 1877, F. J. Moses, being
engaged as editor of Radical evening
paper published in this city, went into
the jewelry store Of Mr.. james Allan,
King street, and expressed the desire to
see some of hiB choicest stock. The an
niversary of his wife's wedding day, he
said, confdenGially, was near at hand,
and he was desirous of showing his afec-
ton by presenting her with some hand
some pieces of jewelry. Mr.. Allan went
carefully through his showcases and ex-
hibited article after article, and after
long consideration the Ex-Governor Sc
lected n watch and chain, several brooch
es, rings, &c., amounting in value to
$SI6. After the articles had been neatly
put away in their cases, Mr.. Allan stated
the amount of the bill and suggested
that he would like to have cash. Moses
replied that he was desirous of getting q
little time, and asked if Mr.. Allan would
not consent to take his note for the goods.
Mr.. Allan stated that he did not feel
warranted in accepting his note, intima-
ting gently but firmly that it was posi-
BILE that it might 80 to protest, Moses,
nothing daunted, then inquired if Ir.
Allan would accept his note with an
endorsement, to which he replied that If
the cndorser was good he would agree.
Moses retired and The next day returned
with the note endorsed by Josephus
Woodruff, of Printing Ring fame. The
endorsement being satisfactory, Mr: Al
Ian accepted the note and turned the
articles over to the "natiye young Cover
nor"
A few days subsequent to this little
transaction Mr.. Allan met Woodruff in
the utreet, and, being desirous of getting
some money at the time, asked Wood
ruff if he would like to shave" his note.
Woodruff, very much surprised, stated
that he had given him no note. Mr..
Allan stated the circumstances, and
Woodruff replied that he had not signed
the note, that no had not seen Moses
within three months of that time, and
that he had given him no authority to
sign his name.
MIR. Allan then obtained an interview
with Moses, which, from all accounts,
must have been very rich and racy.
Upon entering the room in which the
Ex-Governor sat, Mr.. Allan remarked
that he had called TO arrange little
irregularity in the note which he had
given him few days before.
Moses, somewhat surprised, but with
an air of perfect composure, said: "Ah,
indeed I was not aware of any irregu-
larity. I will be happy to correct it."
Mr.. Allan said: "Well, sir, the irregu-
larity is simply this, Mr.. Woodruff says
that he did not sign that note~
Moses, with the utmost sang troid and
smiling blandly, replied: "Why, my
dear sir, / didn't tell you that Mr.. Wood
ruff aligned the note; but did he not tell
you that he authorized me to sign his
name for him?"
MI. Allan said: "No, sir 1t is quite
the reverse. Mr.. Woodruff says that he
did not authorize you to sign his name,
nor has he seen you within three
monthsP
Like tender plant struck by the win
ter's blast Mr.. Moses wilted. BE saw
that the bluff game would avail him no
longer, SC throwing up his hand, he pen.
itently said: "Well, sir, you've got me !
but if you will give me until tomorrow
morning will arrange the whole mat
ter" Not knowing exactly what else to
do, M.. Allan consented to this PROPOSE
ton and retired.
The next morning Moses walked into
Mr.. Allan's establishment with the air of
one who had the means to do and the
will to dare, asked the proprietor care
lessly in what manner he would prefer to
have the matter arranged. Mr.. Allan
replied that be would like to get the
money. "The money" said Moses, "oi
course, if I had the money l could
arrange the matter without your consent,
but what would like to know is in what
way it would suit you best to have this
matter settled"
"Well,"' replied Mr.. Allan, eff you will
return me the articles will agree to call
it square," "But," said Moses, 'I desire
to retain some of those articles, at least,
and I have proposition to make, which,
I think, will be satisfactory. I will re-
turn you Il portion OF the articles and
will give you an order on my paper,
which will be paid on Saturday night, for
the balance"
To this Mr.. Allan aiIsented as the best
thing he could do under the circumstan-
ces, and accordingly Moses returned
shortly with about one hundred dollars
worth of the goods, ard gave the prom
ised order for the balance. When Sat
urday night arrived the order was dis
honored, and Mr.. Allan had again to
seek redress from Moses in person
Promises were freely made by the e1-
Governor that be would settle up very
shortly, and during the next few days his
father, the Chief Justice, being Ill he
left the city to visit him. Shortly after
his arrival in Columbia Mr.. Allan re-
ceived a letter purpolting to have been
written by the Chief Justice, and stating
that Frank" had informed him of the
facts of the case and that he would see
that the matter was speedily settled.
The Chief Justice died, and the next