Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-02
A PICTURE IN BOSTON
Explanation Of Withdrawal of
Merrill From Silver City
Bank
SECRET CAREFULLY GUARDED

One strange story connected with
the remarkable history OF the case OF
Moody Merrill uf Boston, alias Chas.
f. Grayson Of Silver City, has never
been told in print. The Optic gets II
on the best OF authority. but refrains
from using names at the request OF
those involved. The incident explains
what has not been known, why 1t was
that Mr.. Gray son happened to be clear
OF all connection with the First Ma
tional bank OF Silver City when his ar
rest in Boston came.
In the late winter Of the present
year prominent citizen OF New Mex
leo was in Boston. He had obtained
a hint that Giayson's right name was
Moody Merrill and decided to investi-
gate.
One day, meeting an old friend who
had lived In Boston for years, he pro.
pounded the question; "Mr. Pynchon,
did yon ever hear OF man named
Moody Merrill?' The gentleman in
terrogated manifestea great surprise.
Moody Merrill?" he said Il knew
Moody Merrill intina,vly. He was
my school teacher. 20 you know
where he Is now? tie is supposed to
have gone to South America, and some
say he died there" Do you know
where ! can get picture of him p
questioned the man from New Mexico.
i rather think in the Rogues' Gal.
lery." was the reply. TN telephone
|to sssss esss-ss - fssucs Ass'sS'Sas
The telephone message brouga
back the reply that a picture of Mer
rilI was In the gallery On the wa.
to the police station the man from
New Mexico head the marvellous
story of the meteoric rise OF the form
er candidate for mayor OF Boston, hi
subsequent financial difficulties an,
defalcation to the amount OF $i0O,0O0
his fight to some far country.
Arrived at the police sia.ion. tbs
New Mexican was show 81 array ol
pictures of men wanted ~ the Off
GERS Without hesitation, 4s placet
his hand upon a certain p..oaa aut
said: lis that Moody Merrlll. fns
answer was affirmative.
After the inquirers had gone oas VI,
Bostonian was given the informa, lo,l
that Merrill was president of banl
in Silver City and went under III,
name OF Chas. T. Grayson. Mr.
Pynchon was asked to keep his infor
nation secret, o request which ht
strictly needed.
When the New Mexico gentleman
returned home he consulted with twv
other leading men In the territory. i
was decided that Mr.. Grayson must
sever all connection with the Silver
City bank In the interest Of the pa
irons and that he must make every
effort To pay back the large sun
which he was alleged to have taken
this ON penalty Of having the matter
made public.
One OF the three men went to Silver
City and told Mr. Grayson Of whai
was known. The banker readily ad
mittcd that he was the Moody Merrill
who had left Boston years ago. He
made a strong plea that he had beer
more sinned against than SHINING III
the matter, and showed that he had
already taken steps to pay back some
OF the money. He agreed 10 close oul
/ all his interest In the bank and To con
tinue the payment OF the amounts LOST
through his defalcatlcn. He claimed
there was no legal case against him.
The three gentleman, who had pos
session OF the facts regarding Mr.
irayson's life. agreed II the latter
should pursue the proper course &c
guard the secret Of his life Mr.. Gray
son did all that was asked of him. ano
no hint Of his double life was given
II was felt that this was the wisesi
course to pursue. An exposure could
only result In trouble for the bank
and In preventing the righting of the
wrong that had been done to indivld
uals through Merrill's defalcation. Ac
cordIngly. when the detection came
1t did not come as through the con
nivance Of the only ones in the wes
who knew the secret, but by this time
the bank had passed into other hands