Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-07-18
JOHN MORRISSEY.
Row the Prize-Fighter Was Elected n
Member Of Congress.

)urSue to secure his election. Johns
haracter at that time didn't stand very I
high in the religious community, who 1
we're largely represented in the district |!
he proposed to run for. He was only
Known as successful prize-6ghter,
King pin among the boys, a cunning and
sdroit gambler, and hacker of illegal
ottery schemes-in fact, was rather
for such a race. Just
then Sam Ward, who in those days,
sometimes in gratifying his epicurean
and varied taste, sought the tiger in his
lair" struck up warm intimacy with
the would-be congressman, who, in turn,
came to consulting Sam quite frequently
and when the question of overcoming
the difficulties of his election came up.
Sam readily solved the problem by orr
gnating the plan, which, carried out by |
Morrissey, insured his election.
"Pshaw!" said Sam, that's easily done;
all you have to do is to let me write one
of my peculiar letters for you; that'll fix
it." Soon after Morrissey issued through
the press the famous letter asking votes,
on the ground, among others, that he
had ceased fighting and sold out his in
terests in all lotteries, was about to close
his gambling houses. and, for the sake
of his only child, desired to reform and
establish character such rs his hopeful
might be proud to quote and boast of.
Besides this, Morrissey called at every
house in the district insisted upon seeing
IS many of the occupants, male and fe-
male, as possible. 81 am John Moriissey
the prize-fghter and gambler" said he !;
Il am trying to reform, and am running
for congress; help me, good people, with
your votes, and so help in my reforma-
tion." Many a pious voter went for
John, and he was triumphantlv elected.
Soon after his election, and just before
taking his seat in congress, John fancied
himself insulted by one of the white-kid
fraternity. To wallop him would have
been considered undignified in a men,
ber-elect to congress, and recourse was
had to Sam. "Why, challenge him, of
course" said Sam. you want just the
peculiar eclat that duel will give you
to vanish over other Shortcomings" The
challenge was at once written, and then
the difficulty was to find fitting party
to deliver it. This was impossible for
Sam to do. first, because lie was men,
Der of the'church, and, next, that the
party to whom the missive was addressed
was member of his club. But he was
equal to the emergency. Among his &C.
quaintances was certain broken-down
,impecunious bohemian, who, having
once been known in the club, yet main
tanned a sort of quasi reputation as &
gentleman, and was recognized as such
He was ostensiby a real estate broker
and held commission as notary public
Sam took him into their confidence, anC
called his services into requisition. Al
war with fortune, the business was
exactly to his hand. A little seedy il
appearance, Sam suggested that he bt
newly fitted out with clothes, which wa
done at Morrissey's expense, of course
and he departed with the war-like mis-
sive. Finding the party to whom it wa
addressed, and to whom he was known
he delivered the document. 1t was read
and then returned 10 him with the com
plimentaIy remarks: "Bill, my dea
| fol \ hoH 10 I'm u
and don't want to hu. your feelings
but You must have got mighty low dowr
when YOU would condescend to brlns
me such note as that from prize
fighter; take it back TO him and tell hin
il he don't leave the city in twenty-foul
h ,urs I'll make John G. Heenan give
him the blankest thrashing he ever go
in his life"
The popular idea at that time was tha
the Hon. John had wholesome fear o
the stalwart Heenan, who was only toe
anxious to redeem the laurels he hat
lost by treachery in their last encounter
Our friend Bill, somewhat mortified anC
crestfallen, returned to Morrissey',
headquarters, where Sam and John were
awaiting him. The answer brought
bothered Sam and startled Morrissey
1t was denouement he had not looked
for.
/ whats to be done now?' he ex
claimed.
THAT is bad. soyez tranquille," sale
Sam. reflectively.
who's that ?" said Morrissey.
81 have itp' exclaimed Sam. "Oul
friend Bill here is notary public. de
shall protest it for non-acceptance. Give
him $40 and he'll get it up for you in
good style.
"All right" said John. "hurry it up
I'll expose the coward" and he wa!
soon in possession OF document which
was to give him a position at Washing
ton and gain him recognition among the
fire eaters, even of the most ultra cas-:
John showed the document among hi
friends. and it was some days before ht
found out how good thing had beer
played on him. Then he went for Sam
who had slipped off to Washington, ano
it is perhaps needless t. add that Sam
and John were no longer on speaking
terms.
When l went to Morrissey for The
facts concerning himself needed for the
compilation of the congressional direc
. tory he answered my first question, as Il
his birthplace. saying: "TemplemOre
Tipperary county, Ireland. February IL
1881" Next, ! asked him his occupation
Faro dealer and prize fighter" was thu
reply, hut noticing that l hesitate'
about writing it, he said: "On tn
whole, for my boys sake, put it dow
4 xo1 % 1at h.,cs ass