The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-28
ABSENTEE CONGRESSMEN.
REID, OF NORTH CAROLINA,
KING OF LOUISIANA,
And Senator Jones, OF FlOrIda-The
Latter Supposed TO BE Dement,.
ed-The Former Emigrated
to Canada.
IooRnrsPospExcn or rHE APPrAL.l

OFFICE OF THE MEMPHIS APPKAL,
No. 1905 + STREET, WASHINGTON, De-
cember 25.--The non-appsarsnce OF
Congressman Reid OF North Carolina,
is the subject OF much comment
among politicians and others. 1t will
be remembered that Mr.. Reid was de-
fesie1 for re election TO Congress, and
shortly after the presel session began
ugly rumors came from his district.
He had made an assignment 10 his
creditors, aud the charges are part Of
the developments OF that transaction.
These charges are that he has raised
large sums OF money, the total amount
of which Ia put at $4,000; that as
treasurer Of his county, which Office
he held prior to his election to Con-
grees, he appropriated funds to his
own use, and that fiduciary trusts
reposed in him went the same
way. These charges annoyed
his friends here very considerably.
10 order TO set the matter at rest they
telegraphed TO his district, confident
OF being answered by himself. The
answer came that he was supposed to
be here in Washington. Inquiries
were started and 1t was found that
Mr.. Reid had not been seen in town
since the first Of the month. He used
to stop at tue metropolitan Hotel dur
ing last session, but when he came to
town to attend the present session he
moved into the more expensive Eb.
bitt House. He only stayed there q
few days, however, and the impress
sion now prevails that he has skipped
to Canada. This idea was orlgl-
mated by himself and may
prove to have been only a
blind. On the evening previous
TO his departure he went TO the clerks
Office of the Ebbitt and told the pre-
siding functuaty that he was expect
his newly marriew sister and
her husband on the following
night on their way to Canada.
He wanted to find the best and
quickest route to that Dominion
and asked the clerk for information.
All the time tables and prospectuses
ofToutes TO Canada to be found In the
house were brought forth and shown
TO the Congressman, and after consid-
cradle STUDYING he went away appar-
emily satiffiId. He paid his bill on
the following day and has not been
seen since.
His friends are firmly persuaded
that the affair hes been much exag-
gerated, although they are aware OF
the fact that he has been for some
time financially embarrassed. He
has borrowed some money here, al.
though probably not more than $1,000
in all. His accounts at the Office OF
the Sergeant-at-Arms OF the House are
straight 30 far as can be ascortained.
Mr.. Reid Is a young man, under 40,
oil prepossessing appearance and good
address, and member OF an excellent
family. His father Ia one OF the
most distinguished Methodist Cler.
gymen In North Carolina, and his
brother, from whom he has borrowed
good deal Of money, is the editor of
the Raleigh Christidn Advocate. He
himself was esteemed man OF fine
ability. Last session was his first in
Congress. His entrance into politics
was made under favorable and promis.
Ing rcumsiances, but in the revolu.
tons which swept over North Carolina
politics last fall he was defeated. This
greatly discouraged him. Some email
farming interests are all he Is known
to possess outside OF his salary as
member OF Congress. His friends
here discuss his affairs with the utmost
reluctance and hope that all will yet
bs satisfactorily explained and ad-
justed.
Another absentee is Mr.. j. Floyd
King OF Louisiana. He also failed of
a reelection and he has not put in an
appearance In WASHINGTON during this
session. Some OF the Louisiana peo-
Pile think that he will not return at
all TO serve The balance OF his present
term. A few days before Mr.. Morrison
called up his tariff bill, he sent repeated
kilograms to Gen. King at his home,
urging the Importance OF hia presence
here 10 vote ON the bill. No answer
came from Gen. King, though dis.
patch was received from q citizen of
the place saying that Gen. King had
left there several days before, and his
whereabouts were not known to his
neighbours. Gen. CLARK, clerk of the
House, says that he has not heard
from King since he wenr home at the
close Of last session. He had henri IL
said that Gen. King had left his home
and was not going 10 resume his seat
In Congress, but had no pereonal
knowledge ON the subject. Sergeant.
alarms Leedom says that he has re-
ceived number OF letters from Mr..
King asking that he arrange pairs with
him during his absence, aud at the
time OF the tariff bill vote MIR. King
wrote him from the st. Charles Hotel
at New Orleans. The Congressional
Record shows that Gen. King
has been paired but twice during
the session, which would indicate
that he was not very much
concerned about his position on the
various questions, Some of Gen.
Kings friends say he has long since
contemplated removing TO Mexico.
and they attribute his absence to this.
In this city Gen. King is in very
bad o1or. He is heavily in debt, and
things would be made very hot for
him were he to return here. His
debts are all dishonorAble ones which
he has contracted without the slight.
est idea OF ever paying. There is a
poor,old man who hawks bouquets
and flowers around the hotels who
who would be glad to meet Mr.. King
again. He was induced to give credit
to that gentleman for several bouqusts
and is now whistling for his money.
Kings record here is OF a most unsav-
DRY character.
But the greateet absentee Of them
all is Senator Jones, formerly OF Flor
ida, now OF Detroit. As is we'll known
he went TO that Western city in order
to win the band OF fair lady. The
hand was not TO be won, however, by
Mr.. Jones, even though he was Sem
ator, aud so his trip 10 Detroit was a
failure. Meanwhile all the news
papers OF the country had turned him
TO Iidicule, and published accounts Of
his Disgusting himself as a wandering
troubadour and accompanying him
self on a guitar in tiugiDg sentimental
songs under the window Of his fair
lady's room. Possibly this made the
Senator ashamed TO return to his seat
in Congress, or it may be that he has
found the climate OF Detroit mora