The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-09
IT DID NOT WORK.
r. w. Mcdonald Attempts to Pass a
Mutilated Bill and is Arrested.


Mutilated Bill and is Arrested.
Some six or eight months ago r. w.
Mcdonald, about twenty-five years OF age,
came to this city from his country home
near Fayette, Miss, to look for business
situation. He was inexperienced, but be-
ing young fellow Of neat address, fairly
intelligent and sober in lis habits, he did
not encounter much difficulty in procuring
work. II. q. Craig 4 Co., seeds men on
Union street. gave him position in their
store and were well pleased with his
services. Mcdonald applied himself strict
ly TO business, being AT all times at his post
and willing TO do the work assigned him.
Besides this, he was member OF the
church, in good standing, connected him
self Immediately after coming here with
the Young Mems Christian association,
and was an active and apparently de-
voted and earnest worker III the assocla-
ton cause. He would not associate with
any one but members OF the association,
and lost no opportunity in attempts TO per
suade his co-employes, who were without
the fold, to join the association and lead
the pious life which he daily exempliiied
to them.
Such was the reputation that the young
man established in 50 brief h time,
that when he resolved TO quit X.
G. Craig & Co. for the purpose
Of getting higher salary, his application
for position in the Front street seed
house OF Otto Schwille, was readily con-
sidercd, and with the beginning of the
new year he went 10 that house. He
rented room at No. Towards row, in
order TO be near his place of business, and
NO far az is known his services were i'll
every way satisfactory. But last night ne
slept in the self-same iron cell at the police
station where 80 many other felons have
slept or tried to sleep. II came about in
this way: Yesterday afternoon about 3
o'clock, Mcdonald went up TO the peanut
stand OF Pierini at Front and Washington
streets and called for ten cents worth OF
nuts. The Italian put them in a bug and
handed them TO him, and Mcdonald
handed him a bill Of money, which he
intended the peanut yender to change for
S. bill, but the little street merchant was
too quick witted for thepious young fraud.
lie saw at a glance that the bill which he
held in his hand had been most adroitly
tempered with. II was in fact a 81 bill.
The figure on il had been evenly cut out,
and the figure smoothly torn from 81
note had been pasted in place OF the
clipped figure. The Italian instead OF
offering to change the note, and without
saying a word, drew police whistle from
bis pocket, and gave a shrill alarm for an
officer. At the first sound OF the
whistle Mcdonald, conscious OF the
deception he had attempted, wheel
cd and started on run
down the street. Officer Mahan being
near by responded promptly, and as he
came 10 the corner he saw the Italian
pursuing the would-bc swindler. Joining
in the chase, the officer soon outstripped
the Italian, but Mcdonald was well in
advance, and, as he looked back and saw
the officer, he seemed 10 be quickening his
pace at such rate that would insure his
escape. But Mahan is n good runner and
not 80 quickly outwindcd. Down the
street he went, and, steadily gaining on
the fugitive, was almost in the act oil
grabbing him at Madison and Front, when
Mcdonald suddenly turned up Madison
until he got to the alley between Main
and Second and then turned down that
narrow way; he was well nigh exhausted
and the officer nabbed him by the shoul
der before he had gotten half-wayto Unior
street II was good, long and exciting
chase, and both men were about winded
After resting for breath few minutes
Mahan took his prisoner 20 the station
Mcdonald admitted that the dollar bill
which he had offered the Italian in pay
ment had been tempered with, but II wa
not to be found on his person. He ha,
thrown II away during the chase.
He begged TO be released, spoke plying
ly OF his honest old father and mother
who were poor but respected by all 70
their integrity. lie protested that i wa
his first ofLensc, and that Il would ruiz
linn In the eyes OF his employer and tn
worthy order To which he belonged. III,
had been born and reared to be honest
had lived AN upright and Christian life
but nc had been tempted and In an evi
moment had fallen. He further INSISTS
that no one had been deirauded by hi
neatly arranged trick, and that he woul'
pay any charges for the trouble he hal
caused the officer. But his pleading fe
ON deaf ears, and he was locked up on ia
charge Of attempted swindling.