Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-12
RAPID RHODES.
The Romance Of a Fast Young Man
Testimony in the Thayer.
Rhodes Case.
He Hopes to Escape Prosecution by Re.
turning Part OF the Diamonds
in Dispute.

There were some startling developments in
the case Of W. n. Rhodes, which came up
Tor trial before Justice ]. NJ. Colems an yester-
day evening at 4 o'clock. When the defend
ant was brought in for trial his attorney,
Mr.. ]. NJ. Harris, stepped forward aud depos-
ted under The judicial eye
WATCH AND RING,
the one of gold, the other set with a costly
diamond. These, be said. we're the articles
upon which the charge was based, aud they
had been in the possession of his client ever
since be obtained them from Y. 3. Thayer.
The defendants attorney argued that the
restitution OF these goods relieved his client
of guilt, but the attorney for The prosecution
denied that such was the law, and the case
went to trial. There we're no Witnesses on
either eide. The State based is case
on the strength of the unsustsined testimony
OF Thsyer, while Rhodes relied upon what
he hoped might be lie inherent weakness. He
brought
NO WITNESSES FOR REBUTTAL
Of what we're very specific charges on the
part of Thayer. The latter claimed that q
quantity of j=welry, amounting in value to
about 5000, had been obtained from him BY
Rhodes, who gave him his notes for that
amount. For the watch and ring, however,
no notes had been given, and it WAS on these
that the suit was brought. Several of the
transactions were described by the witness.
SOME MYTHICAL MULES.
Rhodes went to Tbayer one day and told
him he had friend n the country who
owned some mules, and that he would sell
these mules in lew days and buy watcI
and ring. Shertly afterward Rhodes took
the ring aud watch, but failed to turn over
the money for them. When pushed he said
he had taken The mules aud sold them. But
if they were ever sold the money was not
paid over 10 Thayer, who was induced 10
take one OF Rhodes's notes of hand.
TIP-ToP PLAN.
On another occasion Rhodes went to
Thayer with letter in his hand, which he
said contained an order from a man at Little
Rock, TO purchase 800 diamond cross for
him from Byrd. Rhodes said ne would buy
it from him (Thayer) instesd. Thayer had
a cross which he offered TO sell him for 1915,
which the latter might sell to the Little
Rock maa for what he pleased. Rhodes
took the diamonds, saying he would send
them to Little Rock and have the money
back in few days. Days passed and the
money did not come. Finally, Rhodes said
the man at Little Rock would pay
$3.50 Tor the diamonds, but Thayer told
him he would rather have them than
that much money, aad ordered bin
TO return them. This Rhodes did ON the 9th
of April. After day or two be said he had
received lstter from the Arksnsian who
spoke Of going to Louisville, intending to
pass through this city on Friday.
HE WOULD FIX HIM.
81 will have him 10 come on Sunday" said
Rhodes, "and as Byrd will be closed on hat
day you will be sure 10 strike Ysde."
Th9yer assented and was on had at o'clc ok,
rem aiming until night, but he neither saw or
heard any hing of Rhodes or his bonanza
customer. Monday morning, however, Rhodes
told MIN he had seen his man, who had
shaken $3.50 in his face for the cross, and he was
satisfied q sale could have been made for $500
had Thsyer been present. Rhodes remarked
the next week that the Arkansian, who had
been 10 Louisville to buy wedding outfit,
had passed through Memphis on his return
without his knowledge and had just written
ordering the goods 10 be sent him.
ct WILL INSULT HIM
to send then, c. .. d." said Rhodes. HE
is worth ten times the amount, and will re-
nit promptly" Thayer let Rhodes have
the diamonds, and on Monday Rhodes said
he had sent them. The money did not come,
but Rhodes insisted that he would be cert ain
to hear in day or two, and thus put Thsyer
of. Al last he agreed TO pay himself, and
gave some notes. Mr.. Thaysr added here
that he did not believe the goods went
out of the city. He was informed that
they had-bsen sold by Rhodes 10 $
party in Memphis for $500 cash. Thayer
vas asked here why he lot confidence in
Rhodes at last, and his reply was that he had
been
INFORMED BY DETECTIVES
that Rhodes was 'spoutipg" the goods he
got from him to sell at various pawn-shops
A third transaction, in which "a man around
the corner" was customer, was related by
the WITNESS. Rhodes went to Thsyer in q
considerable hurry, one evening, and told
him there was a man at the Peabody wbo
would give him S275 for a diamond ring
that the man had the money ready, and the
sale would be made out of hand. He asked
Thayer how long he would remain at
the store, and the latter replied he
there until 8 o'clock. Rhodss departed
with the ring, but the half hour passed away
without his re4ppesrance. Nine o'cocs
passed, IL O'Clock, still lie did not come, and
Thayer shut up shop. Next morning be
learned that Rhodes had
GONE TO NASHVILLE.
When he returned ne said he had sold the
ring on ere DIT. He would not say 10 whom
he had sold this or any of the things he got
from Thaytr. remarkiug that it was not
business" AT tuis stsge of the proceedings
Thsyer swore out a warrant for Rhodes
After his arrest he accused him of having
pawued his goods, and Rhodes did not deny
it. This conversation, Thsyer believed
occurred either al Justice COlemsn's flee
or at R1odes's place of business
After hearing all the testimony, Justice
Coleman said no charge of embezzlement
bad been made out, but that of obtaining
goods under false pretenses certainly had
been, and therefore he held Rhodes TO answer
in the sum of $1,000, Napoleon Hill and
Vernon Rhodes becoming his bondsmen.
A Card.