Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-03-14
A STARTLING FORGERY
BY a Well-KnOwn Young Lady
Who is Teacher in the
Chelsea Public
Schools.
Circumstances Relating 10 the UnEOr.
tunate Transactions - Names
OF the C0nldiDg
Victims.

Victims.
The community was somewhat startled
this morning by the announcement thaI
Miss Mary Hampton, of the Chelssi
public school, had forged notes anC
orders to the amoun Of several thousand
dollars. From what we can learn il
seems that these forgeries have been
going on for two or three months, and
without having been brought to light by
any one save the parties who cashed the
bogus certificates and orders. Miss
Hampton has been a teacher in the Chel
sea schools for several years, and has
always been respected. Her mother,
Mrs. Harriet Hampton, has been pr:n.
cipal of the Chelsea school for ten or
fifteen years, and is a lady of noble
character, who enjoys the esteem OF all
who know her. As to the forge.
ries By Miss Hampton We can only
give the alleged facts as ELECTED
from different persons. Mr.. Fisher, Of
the Emmett Bank. had received for col.
lection a certain note, sigued by ]. T.
. iborne and Endorsed by j.. T. Leath,
for pay Of 5000 to Miss Hampton.
This, with other notes said to be forged,
we're held by County Court Clerk James
Kelley collateral for money loaned Miss
Mary Hampton. he gave these notes
to the Emmett Bank for collection, but,
upon presentation, Colonel Leath denied
the signature sud payment was refused.
About this time Mr.. Fisher and Mr..
Kelley received anonymous letters in
reference to the matter, and these led to
the exposure of the forgery. Miss Hsmp.
tons object in securing money was to
pay debts which she owed, and among
these was a certain sum due W. q
Mitchell, the school teacher. The letters
are supposed to have been written by a
man named Slaughter, although signed
W. r. and G. R. Lawrence. In addition
to the notes forged aud hypothecated to
other parties an order for payment of
salaries due Miss Hampton and her mo.
Their were presented to Major W. R Nc.
Clune, secretary Of the beard Of educa.
ton. In reference to theis srder we
give the following as
MAJJR MoLUNE's STATEMENT.
gave her a certificate to this effect:
II hereby certify that there is due to
Miss Mary Hampton and to her mother,
Mrs. 81. Hampton, by the Memphis City
Schools, the sun of $72 each for servi
ces as teachers in the Chelsea schools for
December, 1877. This certificate will be
required to be returned to the secretary
Of the school board before payment will
be made to the above psrties." The
paper was duly signed by W. R Nc.
Cluue, as secretary. / believe there was
something said that the certificate was
transferred to John J. Duffy, with whom
subsequently came to get payment,
and | demanded the delivery of the Ger.
which she said had been lost
Miss Mary Hampton signed q statement
the effect that the above certificate
had been lost or mislsid, and she thought
had been accidentally thrown with a
lot of waste paper into the FIRE where it
consumed. Major Mcclure Issued
10 Mr.. Duffy q warrant on s P. Reid,
treasurer, for the amount Of money due.
Prior to this transaction u party from
The Emmett Bank presented to Msj,r
Mcclure an order on him es secretary of
The school board, to this effect: "P.else
pay to - the sum Of - for services
'andered as teacher. Siguei, Mary
Under this was written,
This is approved by W. R. Mcclure
Iecretary," Major Mcclure not thir king
his was a forgery, paid no attention to
bat upon the second visit of the En-
net Bank collector the question as to
lis signature arose, Msjor Mcclure at
nee denied that it was his signature.
)olonel Leath was present at the time.
lis rec Election is hat it was signed by
iiss Hampton.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS
Iere raid 10 Miss Hampton upon a note
Ihich is said to be a forgery. This note
hitch isnow on file in the Eemmet Bank
sads as follows:
Memphis, January 5th, 1878.
Six months after date | promise to pay
Kate &. Dawson or order fifteen hun
dollars (Sl5OO) With interest Tor
alue resolved. MARY HAMPTON.
Ga the back of this note is written the
anne TX ate +. Dawson" This note
as presented by Miss Mary Hampton to
.r. Fisher, cashier Of the Emmett Bank, :
no had previously loaned money to her.
e gave her upon this order the sum of
l5O the day it was presented, about the !
~ of its date. Mr.. Fisher advised her !
get other friends to pay the remain. !
sr, as he did not like to pay out on such
ng time. The balances, however, was 4
nd by Mr.. Fisher January 9Th, when
isS Hampton returned and said she
'uld not fad any friend who had the Il
amount, Miss Hampton stated T
a - n