The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-07

An astounding case OF villany has been
recently developed by the trial of cause
in the Chancery Court, entitled Eliza
Bronson and others against I. A. Grigsby
and Others. The facts developed read
more like romance than history, and fur
nsh record OF cunning, trickery and
audacious fraud rarely equaled in the an
mails Of crime.
The chief villain in the story is colored
man named Thos. A. Grgsby, who moves
in the best coloied society and is some
what OF dude. That very smart young
negro has missed his vocation. lie wash I
cut out for a common porter. He is a
Napoleon OF finance, ahd il the walls OF
the penitentiary do not put check to his
promising career he will mako noise in
the world.
Some years ago Tom Grigsby married
Georgia Smith, handsome quadroon,
who lived with her mother and her in
FAINT child, in little home on Orleans
street. near Vance, the gilt her mother,
Maria Smith.
Gergia Grigsby did not long survive her
marriage. The seeds OF consumption
were fast sapping her vitality and the
hand OF death had already touched her
pinched features. In her declining DAYS
when sickness had destroyed her beauty,
and pinned her to her bed, Thomas
Grigsby neglected her for the
smiles OF others aud left her
helpless invalid TO the tender
ministrations Of her mother and brothers
and sisters. The bare necessities OF life
were often wanting her and charitable
friends supplied her with money for medi-
cine, which her family paid after her death.
In the meantime her husband was leading
n gorgeous lie and spent money like
water, the product of a fraud perpetrated
upon the DeSoto Building and Loan Asso-
citation, OF which Georgia Grigsby, his
wife, was nominally a member.
On the 18th day Of June, 1852. three
months before his wiie's death, at time
when she was so i'll that she could not lift
her head FROM her pillow, Grigsby made
application 10 the DeStoto Building aBd
Loan Association 10 borrow on his wiie's
property and the two shares OF building
association stock the sum Of 500, which
application was signed Goorgana Grigsby,
per T. A. Grigsby. On the same day a
note for siOO was executed 10 the said
association with the recital therein that il
was secured by trust deed on house No.
$50 and lot on Orleans street, the very
home given TO Georgia by her mother, and
which she and her husband and mother
and child jointly occupied. The pote was
signed Georgia y Grigsby, +. A. Grigby,
both In the same handwriting On the
same day trust deed was executed. con
veying said propenyt 10 Minton Parker, trus-
tee, to secure the payment OF the note Tor
500. The deed purported 10 have been
executed june 30, 1882. aud was signed
thus: T. A. Grigsby, Georgia y or Geor-
giana y Grigsby, and attached thereto was
certificate signed by ]. l.. Lewis, Deputy
Clerk Of the County Court, GER
tiiying that Georgia Grigsby had
appeared before him, on the ID day of
July ,lSS2, and acknowledged the instru-
ment TO be her deed. Right here ii Is
proper TO state that Clerk Lewis
and Mr.. Parker, and tho Building
and Loan Association were all inn
posed upon by this smart coon who
forged his Niic's name, got another woman
20 imporsOnatc her, introduced her 10 Mr..
Parker Us his wife, made her on several
occasions go 10 Mr.. Parker's office 90 hand
him assessments on stock Ia order that he
might become familiar with her features
and readily fall into the trap prepared for
him by this forc-sigIted and long headed
rascal.
After the deed had been delivered
check for 800 was drawn TO the order Of
deorgiana Grgsby and the money paid on
the same day. Tho endorsements ON the
check are Ia the same handwriting NJ the
signature TO the deed, and Gngsby got the
money.
by virtue Of said deed. Mr.. Parker. as |
trustee, sold the above described property |
on the 10th day Of February, lSsB. for |
Of note, and 4. x. Grigsby, |
the same smooth customer who concocted |
the scheme, became the purchaser for the !
sum OF 500 cish and in order Ia raise that /
sum Grgsby again mortgagcd 10 Mr.. Parker, |
together with pledge OF three shares OF !
the capital stock of tho association, te Sc |
cure said association In the payment OF |
the sum OF 500. This deed Is dated Feb |
ruary u. 1883, five months after Georgia |
Grgby, the wife, had ended her suffer |
ings Ia death.
On the LIT day Of September, 1884, in
consideration Of SIS aud the debt OF 5000, |
Gngsby conveyed the property TO Mr. |
Parker.
The transfer Of the property was pub.
lished In the papers Of September 5, 1854, |
and then for the iist time the lawful hcis |
II Georgia Grigsby sol hint Of Thomas
Grigsby's yillainy.
A law firm, Smith & Collier, was en-
ploycd 10 investigate. They discovered |
hat the deeds were not executed by Geor- |
yia Smith, that she never signed her name
by mark, because she wrote an excellent |
hand; that ut the date Of the alleged exc
rulion ol the deed, July, 1882. she was 80
sick aud feeble she could not leave her !
bed. This was certified aud sworn 90 10y .
DR.. llcbor Jones and conroboratcd by a .
dozen other witnesses. Hence she could |
not have appeared nj the courthouse 10 nc.
knowledge the deed, and GHg'by must |
have got somebody 20 pcnonatc her. Tho |
rost followed NJ u matter Of course. Step |
by step Grgby's villainy WIS uncnnhcd, |
and bill iilcd on the 18th day Of Scptem.
Der, 1851 After four ycanOi the laws do. |
lay, answers and bills and cross bills aud |
dispositions aud inicrromlorics, Chancellor |
y. NJ Estes got the record aud went |
through II. His opinion was delivered |
last Friday morning, January 4, la the |
Chanccry Court, aud II was n scorcher. |
lie lid not mincc matter bit used eng
liah ~ she Is spoke" lie did not hesi- |
tate to say IN giving judgment for
plaintiff, the righiiul heir oi Georgia |
Ghgsby, that though such decree meant |
that crime had been committed. tho |
Chanccry Court could not stop the hand |
u justice on that account Fiat just,ua |
rult coclum.'
These facts are Of course new 20 tho AZ.
but hc will know how 10