The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-27
NURRAY'S FALL DUE
TO EXTREME GREED
Former Negro Representa-
tive 0verreached Himself.
HEAD OF LARGE ENTERPRISE
Forged Deed to Obtain Advanced Price
for Land Due to New Rail-
road Station.

The news of the conviction in South
Carolina of former Representative
George Washington Murray. colored. on
a charge of forgery, has aroused wide
interest in Washington.
Murray was well known here for his
active residence of several years during
his service in the House and his con-
teS- for a seat when defeated by the
Democrats of South Carolina He was
much in evidence as an orator. was
regarded By his fellows and himself as
an exemplar to others of his race, and
was looked 20 for future leadership In
advancing his fellow-negroes.
When he went back to South Caro-
lima to stay he resumed a calling which
his native cleverness had already made
profitable.
Helped Negroes Get Homes.
Long ago he had made up his mind
that what the Southern negro most
needed was a home Of his own. with a
sense Of independence. and that the
man who could furnish suSn homes
might make n lot of money in tine
process So he took his own earnings
anil what other capital he could scTspe
tosether and command. and bought by
degrees between 1900 and 5000 acres of
AGRICULTURAL land when the old planters
who owned it were in need Of cash and
willing 20 sell cheap.
This area he cut up into small hold
ings and planted negro colonies or
them. In the choice of colonists he
showed a good deal Of intelligence and
a thrifty spirit. taking only those OF
fair reputs and industrious habit. and
trying. wherever practicable, TO keep
relatives together. The little farms
were Of a size which could be cared for
by a man and his wife and children, If
they all turned in and worked hard.
From the head OF the family he took
a series of promissory notes aggregating
the full price fxed for the farm, the
notes representing equal installments OF
the purchase money, and maturing far
enough apart to afford a reasonable as
surance that the makers would be able
to redeem them when due unless some
unforeseeable misfortune should occur.
The plan worked well. Murray &C
cumulated something like 5000 acres
Then came the crash.
Prosperity and a Crash.
A railroad set up a station near q
farm sold to two grossly ignorant but
industrious negroes. The added value
Of the ground tempted the promoter be-
yond his endurance
The testimony at his trial indicated
that he forged a new bond and substi-
tuted 1t for the original changing the
conditions 50 as to give him and not
the purchasers the benefit of the ad-
ventitious profit In the course Of a
lawsuit last year he had occasion t
put this forged bond in evidence, 81
that thereafter there was no retreat fol
him. the record being final proof OF hi
perfidy. In due time he was indicted
and at his recent trial he was con
victed. and will probably have to serv'
q term IN the penitentiary.
In Washington the general trend o
the comment is that TO Murray tn
moral aspects Of his trick were prob
ably clouded over by the practical posi-
bilities OF gain; that he had becom,
hypnOtized by his success. and the pass
ing opportunity drew him along