The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-11-05
AUGUSTA, Miss, October Sth, 1879.
To the Masonic Order and All Good People

To the Masonic Order and All Good People
Believing that rascality ought to be eX-
posed, and that honest men everywhere ought
TO be warned against any man who makes il
his practice to swindle his neighbOr in every
place he resides-and that it is especially the
duty of all good Masons to expose any mem-
Der of that Order who who far forgets his
duty as to use the Order merely as means to
further his swindling operations, feel it my
duty as District Deputy Grand Master to warn
the Masonic Order and all good people, against
one MARTIN V. STEVENS, "A Master Mason,
and member of Enon Lodge, No, 1879, at this
place. This man Stevens was born and raised
in Perry county, Mississippi. A few years
ago he left the county and was absent for
several years. Soon after his return letters
began to come from Mexia, Texas, inquiring
about Stevens, and stating that he had OBJ
tanned goods from J j. Beckham and others
in Texas, under false pretenses, and had fail
ed to pay for them.
After while upon the requisition of the
| Governor of Texas, the proper process was
issued by the Governor of this State, and
Martin V. Stevens was arrested by Sheriff
McCallum, of Perry county, at this place,
and held TO await the arrival Of the agent
sent here to carry him to Texas. A few days,
however, before the arrival of the agent Mr..
RObY), Stevens escaped from the Sheriff, and
fed to Mobile. Soon after Mr.. Roby reached
here, negotiations commenced betwesn him
and b Stevens of this place, a brother of NJ
V. Stevens, which ended in a written oblga-
tion on the part of b. Stevens to pay the money
which NJ. V. Stevens had obtained from par
ties in Texas on the conviction that they
would far as they could do so abandon the
prosecution of the cases against NJ. V. Ste
vens.
This settlement of the matter having been
reached, Mr.. Roby returned 10 Texas, and NJ b.
V. Stt vens came back to Perry county, appnr-
emily by no means abashed by the disgrace
full exposure, and commenced the log business
in connection, so he stated, with another bro
Their, William Stevens. During the sitting Of
the Circut Court for Perry county last April,
and while William Stevens was serving on
the Grand Jury, Martin V. Stevens carried
down a lot of logs (Which William Stevens
claims were his) sold them 10 banner X Co,
Moss Point, got draft for the amount (about
S80000,) got the draft cashed at Mobile and
disappeared. William Stevens says that the
logs were his that he directed another party
to carry them to w. Denny Co, and that he
expected to go down soon as discharged
from the jury and sell the logs himself. He
says further, that he has never received a
dollar of the money moreover, that he has
replevied the logs and his suit is now pend
ing in the Circuit Court of Jackson county.
Since that time nothing has been heard Of
Martin V. Stevens. 1t is believed however,
that he is in Florida and those who know him
feel certain that (wherever he isl he is en-
gagged in his old practice of swindling every
one with whom he has any dealings. In adj
ditlon to the larger sWindles mentioned above,
Martin V. Stevens left here indebted to va
rious parties who had either work. for him
or sold him goods upon his promise to pay
them out of the proceeds of the logs he was
getting Among others he thus swindled, |
may mention d. McGilvray, John Lewis, r.
p. Bradley, Robert Brown, Malcolm ellis and
Franklin Nixon.
Martin v Stevens is about five feet three
or four inches high, chunky built, grey eyes,
auburn hair, sandy beard, great talker,
laughs constantly when talking, and is fond
of telling big yarns in which he Is generally
the principal figure. His manners are pleas
ant, but he never looks any one directly in the
face. He has also another Distinguishing
mark-s finger, do not remember on which
hand, but think it is the left, is bent towards
the palm. This exposure would have been
made sooner, but have been waiting for his
Lodge TO take some action in the matter. In
conclusion, l hope all papers friendly to Ma
sonry and to honesty will publish this card.
| can easily substantiate every charge have
made. Hand him around.
Fraternally, ]. NJ BRADLEY, JR-,
Dist. Deputy Grand Master.