The Washington times., 1901-12-02
HELD FOR THE HIGHER REWARD.
EufauIa Authorities Want Money for
SwindIcr Arrested There.


Until Captain Boardman hears from the
Alabama authorities he will not know
whether a member Of his staff will go to
Eufaula today to bring back Samuel
Franklin Murphy, also known by the
aliases of ]. Thornton, Capt ]. B. Hamil-
ton and James L. Douglas, the alleged
bogus evangelist, who is wanted in this
city on charge of passing worthless
checks.
The uncertainty is the result of the at
tempt of the Eufaula authorities to knock
down the prisoner to the highest bidder.
1t appears that Murphy Is wanted not
only in this city, but in many other
places.
With the announcement of his arrest,
which resulted from a descrintiye circu-
lar sent out by the Washington authori-
ties. containing a picture of the man and
a facsimile of the check he passed in this
city. came an enquiry as TO what reward
was offered for the man. The police were
disinclined to offer reward. But one of
the alleged victims, John Breedon, of
Remington. Va, stated that he would
give $25 for the satisfaction Of seeing the
man brought to justice. This informa
tion was telegraphed to Eufaula, and
response is expected at any time.
Murphy is a suave talker; Is usually at
tired in a Prince Albert coat, and has
turned as many tricks on the police every
where as he has visited cities both East
and West. He is wanted in the far South
and in Virginia, where he posed as a min
ister of the Gospel.
At Finleyville, Pa. he is accused Of
robbery and desertlon, and Mrs. Sarah L.
Dill has come forward as his accuser. She
declares she was married to Murphy, and
that within month he deserted her and
robbed her of $500.
On the night of November the accom-
plished Murphy was in this city, and he
passed worthless check for $125 before
his departure. The check was endorsed
by one Iohn Griffin, furniture dealer, who
met Murphy casually through John Bree-
don. merchant, of Remington, Va. The
check was cashed at the Washington Loan
and Trust Company and proved worth
less. The fraud was not discovered for
several days, however, and Murphy was
then not to be found.
Even before the local police heard of
Murphy, who cut a clean swath through
Virginia towns with his ingenious swind-
ling operations, Mrs Dill bobbed up at
flnltyVIIle, IA, 10 uenOunce hlm- She
had written to the police of Glasgow,
Scotland, whittier she learned that a man
supposed to be Murphy had gone.
II developed that Murphy had not been
in Glasgow for ten years back, yet the
police of that city notified the authorities
here in the regular course of procedure
that Murphy was wanted in Pennsylvania
A photograph of the fugitive was sent
here, as was his description, the same
that Mrs. Dill had forwarded some months
ago to Glasgow.
that Murphy operated in the far South
In the guse OF an evangelist, during Sep
tember and October, he spent much lime
in Georgia, visiting Linthonia and other
towns, gradually making his way north
ward into Virginia. He stopped for Tseeks
at Remington. There he held revival
meetings by the score, drawing crowds
Among his listeners was one Jchn Bree-
don, OF Remington, Va, v 40 formed an
attachment for Murphy. md finally fol-
lowed him on his departure from his own
town. Murphy stopped 20 a time at Ma
nassas, Va, preaching The 1.Aile the doe
trne OF the brethren, t. lie was wont &c
style his remarks.
Murphy, at Remington, p-oyed a draw
ing card for the fair Sc. Many women
fiocled around him. and from his congre-
CATION he picked out a pretty girl, the
daughter of & wealthy merchant. He be-
came engaged to this young woman, whom
he was to marry early last month. The