The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-08


The case OF A. NJ. Scales Is one of the
most remarkuhl in Virginia history. The
baldwin detective Agency al toanoke
had a warrant for the arrest ~ h"ocrt
T. Lewis alias Price alas Prentice ahaS
browning alias Scales. on charge OF
forgery, alleged 10 have been committed
In Fars, Tex. IN August. lNJl.
When their detective arrived NJ Keys
Vile. Scales got wind OF Tho matter ano
eA.apcd II Is SAID by he aid cf prori-
ncut people In the town.
Scales had so incratiated himself with
tho people Of keyssille that h" hat their
full sympathy and every effort was madc
10 keep The matter quiet aud out OF the
newspapers the news ~ the affair hay
Ing been sent out hv correspondents from
near by towns. Who had no interest IN
protecting this interesting character.
HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM.
Ills II .nds in Kcysyille have Q very
high regard Tor Scales and hrmly lclieve
In his Innocence. Notwithstanding hts
aliases. his iieriug when the dctective
came for him and the charges against
him.
lie came to Ieysvillc In October isaG.
flum Giuudy. ',uchauan couniy. sunefing
with rheumatism. and introduced himself
rs Alfred NJ. Scales. - lawyer nni
cousin OF the late General 4. NJ Staies,
of North Carolina lie hud certificate
of iicsnS% TO practice. signed 10y TN late
Judge Richardson. ~ the Supreme court
Of Appeals. aud the late Judg" W. :.
Barton. OF the Tenth circuit, ne well as "A
certificate OF good standing signed by
John b. Sexton. depuiy clerk ~ Snvtn
cnuniy. r l.. CountZ Judge ~ buchanan
county. W. 4. Icndiciun. clerk "t me
Supreme Court Of Appeals at Wyihcville.
and Circuit Clerk Crundy' OF GrayS"n
county. -
4 CIuRCIT WORKER
lie also had a church letter from
Methodist church IN buchanan county. on
which ne Joined tho Methodist churcll NJ
EeVsvtlte fn which lr became nn afttNe
worker aud sup.riutrnlcut ut the SUNDAY
srhom lie Joined the Ma~OnS while there,
and was held In high esteem by mo
citizens.
Tbov saw he has lived m Marion and at
Chilhowic I'm Smyth county ard In Rus
s.lI cnuniy. where he practicc1 law aS
X. L Lewis.
Scales during his sol0urn has engaged
I'm various enterprises. aud won tue enn-
fdence of the people Of the t"w,. WIZ VIII
his law practice he added Other business
ventures was public spirited, and re-
rarded as a great ACQUISITION To the thriy-
ing villege. ITe had bank accounts ~
Chase city. Smiihville ana keySNlile. i,,s
credit was undispIted. and be seemed 10
be prosperlng
A STRANGE STORY.
The Investigation made by tho citizens
of Kevsville in rcgard % the past history
of Scales d'NplnnS most i'"i', - q =
| story ma strengthens their sympathy ior
tho fugitive ~, fo..o-.,
case NJ Paris Tex. speak In hirh peaiS',
OF Lewis" ard Is a. loss 10 kho" why
| H. eh,uid ~" - rs"1ne.
| MS bondsman. who is poor man mn J
| sold his home 10 paw the forfeited honh:
| ,nd il irving to secure the presence ot
| Lewis only tO save the cost 10 himse'f
| and family lie saws his trin VIII We
| only a Formally. as he has endeayored
to acquit him.
HIS FORMER LIFE.
Tn q letter 20 n Kovsvilic citizen his
] hondsman gives The following outline o,
| Lewis life I'm Texas
! LOWS went 10 Texas youth and work
| ed os n farmland and WAS respected nv
| ali vino know him. T,v his ovcr-cxcri ions
! ha studied law and VAS admitted % prnf-
| tice In Paris and prospcrcd as 4 LAWYER
| aud a man Of business. But hc fcll under
! thn hvnnOiic Influence OF a man deStitnfe
| Of honor who fnrgcd some names and
| Lewis being i'm his confidence. refused
! 10 hetray him. and TO save him left the
! state.
| Lewis father went 10 Texas from Nor'l
! CarOltna with annpie money 20 settle tht
/ notes md was swindlod out or " nv the
| same man who PROMISED 10 rci the pa
! nor fcwis affcrward voluntarily return
/ "a 70 Texas and stood trial md was n -
| piicifv IN tho fOrgerv and would have
/ been acquitted without doubt on tho
/ Other hiit the nlghf before tho trial this
| snnne Influence was cvertcd over HIM ana
! ne was fnduced 10 loave the state His
bondsman Is a poor man.