The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-10-17
PASS HIM AROUND.
A SWINDLER AT LARGE-WILLIAM
V. STEVENS is HIS NAME.


Believing that rascality ought t,
be exposed, and that honest mel
everywhere onght to be warned
against any man who makes it lii
practice to swindle his neighbors
in every place he resides; and
that it is especially the duty OF al
good MasonS to expose any mem
Der OF that order who SO forgets his
duty as to use the order merely as
a 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 a
member of Euon lodge, No. 1919, at
this place. This man Stevens was
born and raised in Perry cohnty.
Miss. A few years ago ho left the
county and was absent tor Several
years. Soon after his return letters
began to come from Mexla, Texas,
inquiring about Stevens, and stat.
ing that he had obtained goods
from j. j. Beckham and others in
Texas under false pretenses, and
had failed to pay for them. After
awhile, upon the requisition of the
Governor of Texas, the proper pro
cess 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, be
fore the arrival of the agent (Mr.
Raby) Stevens escaped from the
sheriff and fed to Mobile. Soon
after Mr.. ROby reached here nego-
tiations commenced between him
and B. Stevens, of this place,
brotherof NJ. V Stevens, which end.
ed in a written obligation 8n the
part of B. Stevens to pay the
money, which NJ. V. Stevens had
obtained from parties in Texas, on
the condition that they would as
far as they could do so abandon the
prosecution Of the cases against M.
V. Stevens This settlement of
the matter having been reached
Mr.. Rn5y rptnr!ed to Texas, and
NJ. '. Stevens came back to Perry
county apparently, 6y 10 means
ahaShcd Dy the disgracefnl expo
sure, and coiiniPncul tile log bust
ness IL connection; so he stated,
with another brother, William
Stevens. During the sitting of the
circuit court for Perry county last
April, and while Wnis Stevens was
serving th the GRIND jnry Martin
V. Stevens carried down q lot of
logs (Which VIM. Stevens claims
were his) sold them to Danner 81
Co., Moss Point, got ii Hratt for the |
amodnt tatout $S00J, got The draft
cashed at Mobile and disappeared.
WIN. Stevens says that the logs !
were His, that he directed Nrother
party to carry them to ": Denny
N Co., and that he expected ID go
down as soon an discharged from
the jury and sell the logs himself.
He says further that lie lH9 never
received 4 dollar of the money; and
moreover he has replevicd tile logs
md his suit is now pending in the
circuit court Of Jackson county.
Since that imenothing Has been
heard OF Martin Y. Stevens. 1t is
believed, however, that he is in
Florida, and those who know him
eel certain that wherever he is)
lie is engaged in his old practice OF
every one with whom he
las any dealings. In addition to
he larger swindles mentioned
.bove Martin V. Stevens left here
Indebted to various parties who
ad either worked for him, or sold
i'm goods upon his promise to pay
he,n out of the proceeds of the
ogs he was getting. Among others
e thus swindled l may mention ID.
1cGilvray, John Lewis, r. z.
'radley, Robert Brown, Malcom
Hills and Franklin Nixon.
Martin V: Stevens is about five
,et, three or four inches high,
huhky built, grey seyes, aburn /
air, sanday beard-a greater talk
r, laughs constantly when talking, I
nd is fond of telling big 5arns, :
which he is generally the princi- ,
al figure, His manners are pleas
Mt, but he never looks any one di-
,ctly in the face. He has also an.
ther distinguishing mark-a flu
er, do no remember on which
and, but think it is the left, is bent a
,ward the palm. This exposure o
ould have been made sooner, but + c
have been waiting for his lodge q
} take some action in the matter. =
In conclueion l hope all papers q
ieudly to Masonry and to honesty Z
i'll publish this card. I can easily q
lbstantiate every charge have
ade. Hand him around. n
Fraternally; q
J. NJ. BRADLEY, D.. D.. ON a