The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-29
CHAPTER ".

astar.
CHAPTER ".
John A. Murrell and his influential
coadjutors all through the Southwest
had set up q state Of affairs altogether
anomalous. The history Of mankind
does not show another example OF wide
spread and perfectly organized lawless-
ness to compare with 1t in boldnesr
design and accuracy OF execution.
Murrell appeared upon the scene in
Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana a
few years after BurT's scheme had come
to naught, and he found that the arch
conspirator, together with such men as
wilkinson on one hand and the La
Fittes on the other, had educated
large constituency in the various
branches of direct or indirect outlawry.
This was just the wind for the great
robbers sail, and how he utilized it is a
matter of history. One effect of his
organization was this: 1t became 80
formidable that even the officers Of the
law in many places were its t OILS, and
the elections were controlled by it. OF
course, q combination 30 powerful in
timidated the good and fascinated the
bad. No person was strong enough to
combat alone an influence so secret,
vet so bold, 30 widespread, yet invis-
ible, 80 strong and yet SO hard to dis
cover. Men Of otherwise spotless char
acter were drawn into passive, If not
active, relations with the robbers. and
it soon came to pass that large
part of the commercial activities Of the
interior. especially these connected
with New Orleans, were more or less
controlled by Murrell and his men.
The coming OF Martin Lawrence to
New Orleans happened 10 touch sensi-
tive point In the circle Of illegal opera
tions, although the young man was
wholly ignorant Of the fact. At that
time Murrell's kingdom was topping to
had been attracted to his doings in such
a way that he was finding it difficult to
quiet the fears and etain the conf
Now the affair that Lawrence had come
to look after was on its face q mere
breach of feith-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 enterprising,
influential, and highly respected men in
the business circles Of New Orleans.
The word went out, mysteriously II not
electrically telegraphe1 through the city
and country. that deep-laid plans were
forming to expose ana bring TO grief
the principal citizens who had directly
or indirectly aided or abetted Murrell's
schemes or shared his illegal gains. A
quiet, terrible CONSERVATION seized
many men who heretofore had lived in
security and aff1uence.
Some who had gone no farther be-
yond the limit of propriety than to prac-
tice little in the ways of the smugglet
and the dealer in goods and chattels OF
questionable ownership we're frightened
almost to the point of offering them.
selves as state witnesses with the hope
of securing pardon.
;. In as utter ignorance OF all this as he
was innocent OF any ulterior design be-
yond securing his clients money and
righting up some records that had been
tampered with, Lawrence went about
feeling that the very atmosphere around
him was heavy with mystery.
When upon turning at the bottom OF
the step and looking up he saw Lucie at
a chamber window, it scarcely surprised
him, so rapidly was his mind accommo-
dating itself to its strange surroundings.
The girl made sign to him to wait. and
in a little time note was placed in his
hand by little slave girl, who came
round the outer wall of the court (which
in those days was part Of almost every
respectable creole residence in New Or.
leans), and furtively delivered it.
He glanced at the window again. only
to be motioned away by Lucie.
Nothing was left to him but to jump
into his carriage and order the driver to
take him back to the hotel. He tore the
note open with some impatience and
read in French:
DEAR MARTIN: Do not be RASH. My
father is not guilty. He is an honorable
man; but his brother has drawn him in
to this thing unawares. Father fancies
that you have special desire to impli.
cote and ruin him. Since the panther's
death he seems to have shifted his
monomania to the subject Of being i'm
prisoned, and he imagines that you are
working to incarcerate him. II could
see you I could tell you a great deal
which I cannot put upon paper; but they
will not let me see you, and have
foolishly thought to evade you by their
silly story Of our flight to Europe. Be
patient and prudent, and ever believe
me your loving LUCE
It did not take Lawrence long to ar
rive at the meaning Of this. nor was he
slow in setting Col. de Vigny's mind
right, as nearly as that could be done,
on the subject Of arrest and imprison-
ment. Two or three stolen interviews
with Lucie gave him the fullest
knowledge Of the situation, and showed
him how to steer her. father out OF the
complication.
Descendants Of the Lawrence family
but, Of course, that is not the real
pame-still live in New Orleans, where
aim AJI