Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-23
TALE OF THREE STATES
A Man with Two Names and Two
Wives Found in a Nashville
Furniture House.
Run Down by a DeIeeiiSe for
Mail Robbery in Texas.


ApOAh bNS mAuuAC VI OcpNcMUtI laNl
a neatly dressed man, apparently about
fifty years Of age, dropped into the
furniture house Of Mr. Bradley Mich
OILS, on College street, and applied for
a position of any kind. He gave his
name as 0. II, Gregg, and represented
himself as a Mason in distress, with.
cut money, and, in fact, anything to
eat. He also stated that his wife and
mother,in-l law were with him. and
dependent totally upon his exertions
for support. That they we're entire
strangers in the city, having Just ar.
rived with him in Nashville from the
North. which locality they had left
and come South for a change of
climate, which was neeessitated By the
bad health Of the two ladies. BE was
given employment and worked very
faithfully and satisfactorily until one
week ago, when he threw up his posi-.
ton and requested a letter Of recon
mendation as to his energy, honesty
and ability ms a business man. This
was given him, and be left the estab
lishment. Gregg then went next door
to the furniture house of Atwell &
Co; and procured employment. He
remained With that firm until yester-
day about l o'clock. At that hour a
Mr.. Lacy, a detective IN the employ
of the United States Nail Service.
called on u OF the proprietors OF
Atwell, Sneed & Co., and informed the
gentleman that be would like TO sec
one Of the firms employees who was
there under the name of Gregg. The
detective was asked if he wished 10
see Gregg on aRy particular bnsinas.
and replied that he did; that doubtless
the man whom be wished to see was
one whom he had been looking for ali
over the United States; that bis true
name wa Howard. and that he had
been formerly engaged as a railroad
mail agent out at Dallas, Texas. On.
the 9th day of last June, so the detect.
i've continued, various packages of
money, one Of which amounted To
$500, were stolen from Towards car
aud the theft had been traced to him
but before he could be arrested. had
fed the State and gone to Kansas. To.
that State be was traced, and from
there to other portions Of tho United
States until finally run down in Nash
vile.
Gregg was brought to the front part
OF the store, where he was immedi-
ately identified By the officer and
placed under aTrest. He was then
taken 70 the CustOmhouse, from which
place, after amittimus had been Issued
BY the United States Court Clerk. he
was transferred TO the jail and placed
in a cell.
A bench warrant was filed out by
Clerk Baxter, and will be forwarded
for signature to Judge Key. after
which the prisoner will DO taken to
Texas for trial.
The day that Gregg left the employ
Of Mr.. Bradford Nichol, his wife
called on the proprietors Of the Fair
and applied for a position as cashier.
aud produced as credentials the letter
her husband had received from M.
Nichol. The lady was given the posi-.
ton she applied for, and filed It very
satisfactorily until the fact became
known that her husband was arrested
on the above charge, when her services
we're dispensed with. She vas d resi-.
dent OF Topeka, Kansas, until about
four months ago, when she met Gregg
at that place and married him. As IL
Is understood, he represented himself
as q man Of wealth, etc, Offering her
q horne Of luxury and happiness.
Alter marrying him she found that he
had misrepreSented his financial
standing, and discovered that he was
comparatively speaking without A
dollar. She nevertheless accented her
lot, and together with her husband
aud mother left Topeka, and after
stopping at several intermediate points
arrived at Nashville. A menth after
they had been married the mother 81
Mrs. Gregg received indirect informa.
ton to the effect that her daughters
husband had a wife and family Of
grown children living 10 some part of
Texas, but the statement could never
BY neg be authenticated until yester
day, when Detective Lacy informed
them that his prisoner had, at The
time Of his flight from Texas, deserted
a most estimable wife and family Of
grown daughters living at Dallas. The
grief that the young girl (who is
probably not over twenty three Years
Of age) and Who had been living with
Gregg as bis supposed legal wife since
their marriage, vas pitiable 10 witness
when informed Of the true state Of
affairs. She, as well as her mother.
give evidence by their cultured adj
dress and refined manner of being
ladies' in every sense of the word.
Their present condition is one 10 be
pitied by all, Thousands Of miles
away from home, nc friends to assist
them, and in all probability With not
enough money on hand to pay a weeks
board. The mother Of Mrs. Gregg
was postmistress in one OF the largest
towns in Kansas for four years, and
has 10 her possession most aattering