The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-14
AN AUDACIOUS ROBBERY
PROMINENT MEMPHIAN Gallo
ROFORMED AT a HOTEL.

The Stranger WHO Committed the Act
Represented Eimself as John A. Nor
ris of the Louisiana Lottery Com
pany-His Victim Found in an IN
conscious State With His Gold
Watch Gone and Fifty Dollars in
Money.
MEMPHIS. TENN, Aug. 13.-R. Dudley
Fray ser president of the Security and
Memphis city banks, secretary of the Mem
phis city railway, principal owner of the
Public Ledger, and one of the most promi-
nent and wealthy citizens of Memphis. was
this afternoon chloroformed and robbed at
the Gayoso hotel, by a man giving his
name ae John A. Norris, and his residence
as New Orleans. About 6 o'clock
this morning getleman registering as
"John A. Morris, New Orleans" was as
signed room at the Gayoso, for which he
paid in advance and occupied at once.
During the morning he ordered bottle of
whisky from the bar and bell boy secured
bottle of csmphor for him from the house
drug store.
REQUESTING HIM TO CALL.
About 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, Fray
SER sitting in his private Office at the
Memphis City Bank, received a
note signed John A. Morris,
requesting Frayser TO call on him
at once on business of Importance. Frayser
was at the hotel in few minutes and was
ushered into Morris room. The latter In
troduced himself as John A. Morris of the
Louisiana Lottery Company of New Or
leans. He said the lottery company had
been antagonized greatly of late in that
state. That their investments had been un-
favorable, and lottery property generally
was unsafe, and he wished to consult him in
regard to it. Frayser gave him what in
formation he could in regard to Memphis
moneyed institutions, but would give no ad-
vice, aud turned to CO.
ASKED TO HAVE A DRINK.
At this juncture Morris asked him to
have a drink. He declined, saying he did
not driuk. but Morris insisted and Frayser
walked across the room to a window while
Morris opened a saohel. "Here," said Nor
us, and as Frayser turned around
ne was greatly startled to find two
revolvers, one in each OF Morris hands,
aring him in the face. Said Morris:
a DESPERATE MAN.
~ am a desperate man. | have no
money; my family in New Orleans are in
destitute circumstances. and | must have
money y ou must endorse a check for
$4,000" When Frayser had recovered from
his astonishment. he tried to argue with
the man, telling him that he did not have
Lnat much money to give him.
The New Orleans man stuck to it,
however, aud finally Frayser agreed to in
dorse check for $500. The check was
then drawn on the Hibernian National
ban6 Of New Orleans, and Frayser indorsed
~ n. u. Fray ser, hoping the cashier at his
panK would suspect something wrong and
refuse TO cash it, as he always indorsed his
checks ''R. Dudley Frayser." A bell-boY
was called by Morris and the check
sent TO the Memphis City Bank,
Frayser being kept prisoner in
the room. After the boy had gone Morris
walked over to where Frayser was standing,
and, clapping a napkin to his face,
THREW HIM ON THE BED,
and that was the last of his adventure
Frayser can recall. The proprietor of the
hotel was notified about O'Clock this even
ing that there was something wrong in
Morris room, as cries of Murder !"
"Thievesl" could be plainly heard issu-
iig from that room. He called the clerk
and they broke open the door of the room.
Frayser was found unconscious, tossing and
turning on the bed. and the odor of chloro-
form 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 it to the bank twice at
Morris request, payment, however, being
each time refused. The police are greatly
puzzled over the affair, and are searching
every corner of the city for Morris.