The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-12
TRUSTED A HORSE TRADER.
A Louisville Man Gives Worthless Paper for
a Carload of Indiana Horses.

Frequent visits have been made to Indianapo-
lis and neighboring towns during the last two
years by Martin J. Murphy, the proprietor of a
well-known sale stable on Market street, in Lou
isville, for the purpose of purchasing horses.
During the period of his transactions in this line
he has disposed of many hundreds of Indiana
horses in the Louisville market, and it was sup
posed from appearances that he realized i'm
mense profits from the business. During last
winter he visited Indianapolis as often as once a
week. usually coming on Sunday, and after
spending a dayin the city would return to Louis
vile, with one or more carloads of horses, which
ne would dispose of without delay at public auc-
ton. He always made his payments by giving
sight drafts, and as these were promptly honored
when presented, he established a good credit in
this city among the class of people with whom
he had business dealings. He had the reputation
of being uncommonly shrewd in horse-trading,
and among the loungers at the sale stables was
regarded as a very extraordinary person.
A week ago last Friday the dashing Louisville
horse-trader made his last visit to the city.
Within a few hours after he arrived he had pur-
twenty five horses from different persons. OF
this number eleven were sold to him by George
Scoield, seven by Levi Munter, two by Solomon
Leopold, two by w. w. jackson, one by Ira
Williamson, one by Cook 6 Fuhls, and
two by other persons, whose names are
not known. To each Murphy gave his
sight draft for the value of the horses,
and the paper was accepted without any doubt
of it's worth. In addition to the twenty-five pur-
chased in Indianapolis, Murphy bought seven
horses from iiveryman Jacobs, Of Franklin, pay
ing for them in the same manner, the aggregate
value of the total number being somewhat more
than 5000. From Indianapolis Murphy went
to Greencastle, and there purchased a carload
of horses from Block Brothers, giving them a
draft for 50, 700.
The horses sold to him in this city and at
Franklin were shipped to Louisville on the day
following the sale, and the drafts were for
warded at the same time to the Falls City Bank
for collection. When they were presented to
Murphy, on last Monday, for payment he ac-
knowledged their genuiness, but stated that he
desired to avail himself of the three days of
three days passed without the drafts
notice to this effect was received by
the Indianapolis creditors. Suspecting that
there was something wrong, Solomon Leopold
went to Louisville on Friday, to secure the
amount due him. He returned Saturday night
without his money. but with q great deal Of ex.
asperating about Murphy.
According to Leopolds statement, on the day
the drafts were presented to Murphy for pay
ment he disposed Of seventeen of the
Indianapolis horses at public sale, and
the remaining fifteen he shipped to Chicago,
where he sold them on last Tuesday. His where
abouts are unknown, but Leopold thinks from
information that has been obtained regarding
his movements that he will be in the custody of
officers soon.
Besides his Indianapolis and Franklin credit
ors, Murphy owed. it is said, the Falls City
Bank, of Louisville, S $500, and the Louisville
Street-car Company 81, 200, but the claim of the
latter was satisfied by the COM
pany purchasing several of the In
dianapolis horses at Murphy's public sale.
The Block Brothers, of Greencastle took the pre-
caution to inquire if Murphy had sufficient
money on deposit in bank to pay the amount of
their claim before shipping their horses to him,
and. in consequence, they lost nothing. Muir
phys mother. who owns fifteen hundred acres of
good farm land in Clarke county, is worth be-
tween $50, 900 and $40, 900. and it Is believed by
some of his creditors that she will come to his
rescue.
Leopold thinks that Murphy intended to pay
the drafts and return to get q larger number of
horses, as he was offered three carloads that he
had promised to take this week. but was forced
by the pressure of his Louisville creditors to
put his scheme into operation prematurely.