Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-07-24
CHAPTER ".

John A. Murrell and his influential
coadjutors all through the southwest
had set up state OF AFFAIRS alCo9etnel
anomalous. The history OF mankind
does not show another example OF vide
spread and perfectly organized lawless-
ness to compare with it in boldness OF
design and accuracy OF execution
Murrell appeared upon the scene IN
Alabama. Mississippi and Louisiana
few wears after Burr's scheme had como
10 naught, and he found that the arch
consnirator. together with such men as
Wilkinson on one hand and the La
Fittes on the other, had educated a
large constituency in the various
branches of direct or indirect outlawry
This was lust the wind for the great
robher's sail. and how he utilized it is a
matter of history. One effect OF MS
organization was this: 1t became SO
formidable that even the officers OF the
law in many places were its OILS, ana
tho elections were controlled by 1t. Of
course. O. combination so powerful IN
timidated the good and fascinated the
bad No person was strong enough to
combat alone an influence so secret,
vet SO bold so widespread, yet invis-
lille. so strong and yet SO hard 10 dis
cover. Men of otherwise spotless CHAR
acter were drawn into passive, IL not
active. relations with the robbers. ana
it soon came to pass that large
mart of the commercial activities OF the
interior, especially those connected
with New Orleans, were more or less
controlled by Murrell and his men.
The coming of Martin Lawrence to
New Orleans happened 20 touch sensl-
five point in the circle of illegal opera
tions. although the young man was
wholly ignorant of the fact. At that
fine Murrells kingdom was topping TO
lis fall. The attention Of government
had been attracted to his doings in such
n way that he was finding it difficult TO
ouiet the fears and retain the conii-
| dence of his less desperate adherents.
Now the affair that Lawrence had come
to look after was on its face q mere
breach of faith-a mild form OF shrewd
swindle: but it connected itself with
certain operations involving enormous
sums of money, and affecting the honor
and indeed, Indirectly, the lives OF
some of the richest, most enterprlslng'
influential, and highly respected men IN
the business circles OF New orleans.
The word went out, mysteriously IL not
electrically telegraphed through the city
and country, that deep-laid plans were
forming to expose and bring to grlel
the principal citizens who had directly
or Indirectly aided or abetted Murrell'
schemes or shared his illegal gains. a
ouiet. terrible CONSERVATION selzec
many men who heretofore had lived II
security and adluence.
some who had gone no farther be-
vond the limit of propriety than to prac'
fce n little in the ways Of the smugglel
and the dealer in goods and chattels o.
questionable ownership were frightened
almost to the point Of offering them
selves as state witnesses with the nope
of securing pardon.
In as utter ignorance OF all this as ne
was innocent OF any ulterior design be-
yond securing his clients money ant
riphting up some records that had beer
tampered with, Lawrence went abou
feeling that the very atmosphere aroun(
him was heavy with mystery.
When upon turning at the bottom o
the step and looking up he saw Lucie a
chamber window, it scarcely surprlseC
him. SO rapidly was his mind accommo
dating itself to its strange surroundings
The girl made a sign to him to wait. an'
in a little time note was placed in hi
hand by little slave girl, who cam
round the outer wall of the court (whicl
in those days was part of almost ever,
respectable creole residence in New Or
leans) and furtively delivered it.