Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-18
MuRPHrs HITcH.
The Apostle Of Temperance Fails to
Make Connection at 6r. en.burV.
WHERE A LARGE AUDIENCE AWAITED
The Announcement That il was 0rJ
Aurphy's Son That was Coming
enrages the People:
EXP LANATIoNs BY HIS FRIENDS.

GREExsBuRG, Pa March l7.-For the
past few weeks the ladies Of the Wousn's
Christian Temperance Union have been IN
tiring in their efforts to raise . sufi ient
amount of money to defray the expenses ct
holding q protracted temperance meedAg
here, with Francis Murphy as the chief st-
traction. 1t was but q few days aso hat
they succeeded in their efforts, and . oors-
spondence WAS opened with Mr.. Murphy
with a view Of getting him here. Af.ss .
great deal of trouble, it was finally asresd
that Mr.. Murphy was to come here for 80
per night or $3.50 for the week. Everything
seemed to be working smoothly until last
night (the night set for the FIRST meetinS)
arrived. The announcement that MIR.
Murphy was to be there had the effect Of
filing the court house to overhowing with
people anxious 10 hear the famous apostle
OF temperance, At little before o'clock
the Rev. Mr.. Love stepped before the au.
dience and announced that Mr.. Murphy had
been detained By the freight wreck at Car.
penters Station. but he hoped he would
manage to get here before the meeting
closed At this point the Rev. W. W.
Moorehead arose in his place and made the
startling announcement that ii Was not
Francis Murphy that was on his way here,
but his son Edward He said q telegram
had been received from Mr.. Murphy stating
that he could not come and that he had
sent his son Edward to reap
in the fifty dollars a night The effect OF
this announcement is hard TO describe, As
the public Of Greensburg regardless OF re-.
ipious sect have subscribed their money
hberally TO get Murphy here, and they In
ono voice said they would not be ho)d'
wink,d in this manner. and that they either
wanted Francis Murphy or their money re-
turned. The Rev. Mr.. Morehead explained
that i; was no fault OF the ladies Of the soci-
ETY.; that they had contracted with Mr.
Francis Murphy only, and they through him
wished TO make the statement that they did
not propose to be put of with the soa Ed.
ward: that if Mr.. Murphy, the elder, did not
see fit to stand up TO his contract the meet
inps would be declared off, This announce
men, WAS greeted with cheers. The meet.
ing was then adjourned, all uniting in con.
dcmning Murphy for his failure.
F,plnnntion by Mr. Murphy's Friends.
PIrTsBuRG, March l7.-lnquiry was made
for Mr.. Murphy at the Seventh Avenue Hotel
this morning, but IT was learned that he Was
out Of town-where, the clerks did not know.
This being the case, nothing could be
learned from him in the way Of explanation
Of the Greensburg trouble Some OF his
friends in this city were found, however.
and when learning Of the affair at Green's
burg, were somewhat surprised. "Mr.
Murphy has several tunes failed to fulfill his
engagements at different places" said one.
and have talked with him about il. IL 10
one Of his failngs and am not very much
surprised that the Greensburg people are in
dignant. But ] don't believe that Mr..
Murphy made the contract with the latics
of Greensburg in order to have Edward
Murphy gil il. don't know where be is
TO day, but think Judgment should DO
withheld ON this affair until he can bs
seem
Another of Mr. Murphys friend, vss
seen, and he was able 10 Tell Whetc MT
Murphy was last night u thought Mr..
Murphy was TO be ut Greensburg, but hs
told me Yesterday that he had to 20 to
Wheeling again this week 1t is quite like
" that he received q telegram TO 90 there
after saw him yesterday, and that he ssnt
bis son Edward out 10 Greensburg 70 Gil
his engagement there last night. / have
known him to do the same thing before, bat
he would always give an exun night whom
his vas done. ] don't think he ever sent
his son 10 Gltpaid engagements. and J have
no doubt but that II young Murphy
had resched GrseDsburg last night, be
would have been able 10 explain his
iath,r'g abrence and tia, the people would
have h, en- satisfied ] think that they did
vronp to accuse Mr. Murphy . they did
with rut knowing the facts lie will be able
10 s.,pfy them that he is no, q fraud, and
tba, lc had 10 intention Of having bis son
supply his place. know all about the con
trac, he had with the Greensburs ladies. to-
helped to bring il about Mr.. Murphy u
very busy man, and. like other Lecturers
someiimes has more on his hands than b
can we'll get through with. lie expsctsd "a
be in Grecnsburg last night. and have %
! d,nht h,t ,ba, be fully intended 10 be-