Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-15
Held Up IN A HOTEL.
The Daring Work Of a Most Des-
perate RObber.
HIS CAREER is CHECKED
By the Persuasion Of Rsvolvsrs Muzzls in the
Hands Of a Prominent Memphis Business
Man-A Bold Scheme Of Robbery
Which Was Successful.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, August 14.-R.
Frayser, president of the Security and
the Memphis city banks, secretary Of
the Memphis railway company, princi-
pal owner OF the Public Ledger, and one
of the most prominent and wealthy
citizens of Memphis, was this afternoon
chloroformed and robbed at the Gayoso
Hotel by man giving the name OF John
A. Morris, and his residence as New
Orleans.
About o'clock this morning gentle
man registered as "John A. Morris,
New Orleans" was assigned a room at
the Gayoso, for which he paid in ad-
vance and occupied at once. During
the morning he ordered a bottle OF
whisky from the bar, and a bell
boy secured a bottle of camphor
for him from the house drug
At about 2:3o this afternoon Mr..
Frayser, sitting in his private office at
the Memphis city bank, received note,
signed "John A. Norris" requesting
Mr.. Frayser to call on him at once on
business OF Importance. Mr.. Frayser
was at the hotel In few minutes and
was ushered into Mr.. Morris room.
The latter introduced himself as John
A. Morris of the Louisiana lottery Com
pany of New Orleans. He said the lot
terry company had been antagonized
greatly of late in that State; that their
Investment had been unfavorable
and lottery property generally was un-
safe, and he wished to consult him in
regard TO it. Mr.. Frayser gave him
wnat information he could in regard to
Memphis moneyed institutions, but
would give no advise, and turned to go.
At this juncture Mr.. Morris asked
him to have drink. He declined. say
ing he did not drink, but Mr.. Morris in
sisted, and Mr.. Frayser walked across
the floor to a window while Morris
opened satchel.
"Here." said Morris, and as Mr.. Fray
ser turned around he was greatly
startled to find two revolvers, one In
each of Morris hands, staring him in
the face. Said Morris: 81 am des-
perate man; have no money; my fam
ily in New Orleans are in destitute cir
cnmstances and l must have money.
You must indorse a check for IS, 900. /"
Wi NJ D--y-er had recovered from
his aStonishment he tried to argue with
the man, telling him that he did not
have that much money to give him.
The New Orleans man stuck to It, how
ever, and finally Mr.. Frayser agreed to
indorse check for $500. The check
was then drawn on the Hibernian Ma
tional Bank Of New Orleans, and Mr..
Frayser indorsed it ''R. d. Frayser,"
hoping the cashier at his bank would
suspect something wrong and refuse to
cash it, as he always indorsed his checks
"R. Dudley Frayser." A bell boy was
at once called by Mr.. Morris and the
check sent to the Memphis City Bank,
Mr.. Nayser being kept prisoner in the
hotel.
After the boy had gone Morris walked
over to where Mr.. Frayser was stand
ing, and, clapping a napkin over his
face, threw him on the bed, and that Is
the last of his adventure Mr.. Frayser
can recall.
Mr.. White, proprietor OF the hotel,
was notified about o'clock this evening
that there was something wrong in
Morris room, as cries Of murder,
thieves" could be plainly heard issuing
from that room. He called clerk
and they broke open the door Of the
room.
Mr. Frayser was found unconscious,
tossing and turning on the bed, and the
odor of chloroform was overpowering.
His watch was gone, $50 was gone and
Morris was gone; the check lay on the
table unpaid. The bell boy had taken
1t to the bank twice at Morris request,
payment, however, being each time re-
fused.
The police are greatly troubled over
the affair, and are searching every cor
ner Of the city for Morris.