Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-13
U OF THE TOLLS.
He Quietly Goes Forth to Breathe Fresh
Air Once Aaalh

figured here as a clerk or bookkeepeI
in the DeSOto bank by the name Of
Thos. r. Lewis. Previous to his EN-.
ployment in the bank, he had served
as an accountant on the St. Louis
Packet Co.'s wharfboat. Lewis was a
fancy duck, chiefly noted among those
who frequented the same haunts he
did for the airs he put on. He dressed
after the most approved fashion, pat
ronized fancy houses literally, mixed
in fashionable society to a considerable
degree, was an expert in the art
of bookkeeping, wrote in a bold,
round hand equal to that
of Sir Joseph Porter K. G. B., when
he served as junior clerk; and he was
up to tricks that many knew little OF
nothing about. To this day those
who have occasion to look back over
Lewis accounts, all testify to their
accuracy and the beauty and clearness
of their c~hirography. He had no
superior in this line, and he could
cover up crooked work cleaner and
ncater than any one in the business
On one occasion it leaked out that
Lewis was unduly familiar with a
certain married lady. The scandal
spread on the wings of the wind and
Lewis left between the setting and
the rising Of the sun. Nothing
was heard Of him for a
number of years, but it, turned
out that Lewis at no time let
the grass grow beneath his feet,
He in due time became an assistant
cashier or bookkeeper in the Babbitt
soap factory in New York city, and
married an estimable young lady. In
conjunction with one Beckwith he
practiced a system of peculation
through a series of years until finally
their joint defalcations footed up sew
eral hundred thousand dollars. Then
he a away TO England, his native
land, was captured there and brought
back under the extradition law, went
free while on board the ship making
the western voyage, was pronounced a
perfect love of a fellow by the lady
passengers and went straight to the
tombs in charge of an officer as
soon as he landed in New York. Lewis
made restitution as far as was in his
power of the money he had embezzled
and in due time he was tried, convict
ed and sent to Sing Sing for two years
snd a half. While in prison he was
visited by Mr.. Babbitt, his former
employer, who, it is stated, gave him
a sumptuous dinner and got points
enough to enable him to obtain ajudg-
ment of $2O6,OOO against Thomas R.
Beckwith, the chief cashier, who is
also in the penitentiary for the part he
played in the colossal forgery. Lewis
time would have been out next
October, but just before
Governor Robinson's term Of Office
expired, his sentence was mysterious
ly committed 10 months, and he was
quietly released, sailing at once for
England. Political influences brought
this action about unbeknown to the
victim Babbitt. 1t appears according
to latest advices hat Lewis and his
co-worker in rascality, Beckwith are
at enmity. During their joint opera
tons in ~rascality it is hintcd that they
made a considerable amount off of
the government through the comfy
ance Of certain custom-house officials.
This was in addition to the amount
out of which they defrauded Babbitt.
The irregularities involved others be-
sides Lewis and Beckwith, and in
Auences were quietly set at work
to get Lewis out of prison and the
country. 1t was successful, and when
Babbitt heard of it a few days ago he
visited Sing Sing to find out whether
it was so. TWAS, much to his surprise
and chagrin. Lewis had been released
three days before Christmas, and he
went quietly abroad, where it is repre-
sented that he has already secured
employment, where he is expected to
reform and from whence he will never
again depart, never never. The soap
man has been inquiring whether the
other forge, may not get off in the
same way.
FRESH Shell Oysters received