The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-30
is IT FAIR TREATMENTi
MORE INTERESTING LITERATURE N
THE OSCAR WATERS CASE.
Money From q Mysterious Source Fol
His Return From Little Rock
A Chance For Pryde
to Explain.

From reliable information that reached an
APPEAL reporter yesterday, Gov. r. l.. Tay-
lor did an eminently wise thing in pardon
ing Oscar i. Waters.
Judge DuBose, If the statements are not
broken down, will alike distinguish himself
by coming down from his lofty perch Of in
dignant rebellion and allowing Waters the
full benefit OF the Governors pardon.
The case OF Waters seems to be another in
which the police have not figured with any
brilliant credit 10 themselves, especially w.
G.. Pryde. Waters was first arrested for
assault and battery, and the police clinched
him by adding the charge of vagrancy. The
assault and battery was sworn to by his wife,
n very pretty woman, with whom he boarded
at a house on Second street between
Madison and Monroe. 1t grew out
of a jealous suspicion on the hus-
bands part that his wife no longer
cared for him, but had allowed her af-
~fections TO go out toward u handsomer man.
At all events the two have not, IL Is said,
lived together since, and the wife had not the
least timidity in prosecuting him. Waters
was convicted, though the proof in the Grim
inal Court only showed that he had pinched
his wife's arm. On the cross-examination,
Attorney-General Peters drew out the fact
that Waters had been indicted for gambling
at the place from whence he came TO Mem
phis, but whether he INDUCED his taste for
that pastime here, is not known. (Perhafs
Detective Pryde can nnswe on that noint,
and is respectfully invited to, because o.
something that will appear later.) The
prisoner was given q term in the workhouse,
where he served four or five weeks, and es-
capped.
The next heard from Waters was through
Pryde. He appeared before Attorney-Gen-
eral Peters and asked IL he would get q
requisition for Oscar Waters, stating
that he vas at Little Rock. Knowing that
the man was only wanted 10 serve
out an unexpired workhouse sentence for an
otiense that was no doubt severely pro-
voked, and only aggravated because IL was
upon q woman, and that woman hfs wife,
the Acknowledgement expressed avery grave
doubt. Gen. Peters knew further that there
were numbers of men, guilty of murder and
other serious crimes, located TO the police
and TO him. who could not be brought back
for trial and punishment because OF the
States niggardly policy In the premises. He
further remembered that good men and citi-
zens had endeavored to secure a pardon
for Waters before his escape from the
~workhouse, urging that he had been pun
ished enough, and had a good position offer
tu Hlm ~ Llilit hOCkt NntIt nc NOulu 20
and live an upright life II permitted. Know
ing all these things, Gen. Peters told Pryde
OF them, and doubted the wisdom of dis
turbing IN. individual thus attempted 20 he
hunted down. "Bosides,' added the Gem
eral at last, 'there is no money to bring him
back"
'0h the money will come all right"
promptly spoke up Pryde.
With nothing asked Of him but 10 apply
for n requisition. Gen. Peters saw no way
out OF II but 10 make the application. and
the document came in due course OF time. IL
was turned over 10 Pryde. who was engi-
neering the case, who then, according TO the
statement OF Chief Of Police Davis, went 20
that official and said: 'They want me to 20
over 10 Little Rock after Oscar Waters"
The Chief says he supposed Pryde referred
to the workhouse officials. or the State,
though such Nm example OF liberality on the
part OF either Of them Is almost unparalleled.
But that's what the Chief said, anyhow.
To make n long story short TuE APPEAL
desires 10 ask MI Pryde who felt such
an interest In escaped workhouse convict
Waters 10 put up money 10 dcfay the ex-
penscs OF his return TO the Shelby PRISON.
Had Waters gambled here, lost and squcaled?
Was u some one who felt peculiarly inter
ested In the mans ncarccrationg The money
undoubtedly came from an outside source.
Prydc lent himself 10 IL, and an explanation
II in order.