The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-03-23
SAD REVERSE OF FORTUNE.


loss of property and its attendant comforts, APP
peal more ieelingly 10 the sympathes of our ma
ture, than the followng-the particulars OF which
have been recently communicated to us by a
friend conversam with the circumstances, which
are thus stated:--
An aged gentleman named He2ekiah Mosby,
who owned large plantation, with slaves, &c.,
near Richmond, Va, some three years ago, be-
came anxious to emancipate his slaves, and ex-
pended money in educating and fitting them for
their contemplated freedom. Some time in 1885,
he sold his plantation, and was offered some $780,
900 for his negroes-but he preferred giving them
their liberty. He furnished them with money
to bear their expenses to this State, and person
ally accompanied part of them, for the purpose
of seeing them well and comfortably established
where they could be earning support. He sue
ceeded in procuring situations on farms for all
the males but one; providing them with provi-
sions, implements of husbandry, and means ne
cessary to cultivate their farms. He likewise de-
voted much time in visiting and advising them in
their pursuits. They had been devoted to him,
and he was much attached to them
The remaining male, named Charles, with a
family consisting of his mother, sister, and four
children, were brought by Mr.. Mosby into this
neighborhood, and finally settled upon farm on
Grand Island, leased of free colored man resi-
ding in this city, who had formerly lived on an
adjoining plantation in Virginia. Mr.. Mosby in
tended remaining with them short time, as the
man Charles was not very capable of conducting
affairs, and he wished to aid him by advice, &c.
In the fall Of 1887 Mr.. Mosby and f" Charles
had occasion to to this side of the river,
to obtain provisions, leaving none at home but
the children, the two females being also absentat
the time. "Chares" proceeded to this city,
while Mr. Mosby, in consequence ola high wind
which rendered crossing the river somewhat dan
gerous, remained all night on this side, at the
house of man named Ephraim Knight, who
did not come home till past twelve o'clock. Du-
ring the night, some person went to the house
upon the Island occupied by I" Charles" and
stole Mr.. Mosby's trunk, containing $4,000 in
dollar pieces, which was all that then remained
of his former wealth.
A person living on this side of the river, op-
posite, was taken up at the time, on suspicion Of
the robbery, but discharged, there being no evil
dence of guilt found against him.
Thus stripped in moment, of the means he
had reserved to carry him comfortably through
the few remaining days his earthly pilgrimage,
this phanthropc but unfortunate man was thrown,
in his feeble old age, upon the hard necessity OF
obtaining a support by the labor of his hands
mites of age but lily fitted him, and it diff
cult even to obtain such employment as his
strength would enable him to perform. To add
to the burtnen the only female of the family able
to assist much in their household, was taken sick
and died, leaving her aged mother and the help
less children dependent on the precarious support
which might be cleaned by the labors of the old
gentleman and his former slave Charles.
AS if their deplorable condition was not already
sufficiently ptiable, the colored man in this city
from whom the farm on which they lived was
leased, came to the house while all the family ex-
cept the children were absent at work, on this
side of the Island, eight miles distant from home,
and on the heartless pretext that "the house was
his,' turned the children out Of doors, and fast
ened up the entrance! leaving them exposed in
the bitter and inclement month of November,
1887, without shelter for their heads! They,
however, remained about the house, and put up
two boards against the building, which served as
partial protection from the weather, while some
refuse vines gathered from the garden, strown
upon the frozen earth, was all they had to sleep
upon. In this situation, these poor children ac-
tually remained more than week, with nothing
to eat, except few beans and vegetables, which
had been left on the ground in the garden, and
which they ate uncooked!
On the return of the adult portion of the fami-
ly, they could only procure log hut, nearly
roofess, and otherwise uncomfortable, upon the
Island. In that condition, without bed to lie
upon, have this old gentleman and his former
slaves since remained and he has been himself
compelled to make splint brooms to obtain the
food necessary to avoid absolute starvation!
Suspicion having lately fallen upon Knight,
the man at whose house Mr.. Mosby staid on the
night Of the robbery, he was last week arrested,
and after protracted examination of five days
before T. w. Woolson, Esq, Magistrate at To
nawanda, was committed to the Jail in this city,
charged with the crime. The facts against him
appear to be-.hat he has within some twelve
months past paid out nearly $500, to various
persons, in dollar pieces, for the purchase of
stock, &c. Some sixty of these pieces, paid to
one man, had clay adhering to their Surfaces as
if they had been buried and then dug up. From
these, and other circumstances, enough was esta-
blshed to authorize his commitment. 1t is sur
missed that he has purchased farm in Chatauque
county, with part of the money stolen; and if
that be the case, it is hoped that it may be COM
muncated by any one who may be aware of tho
fact, so that some portion at least of the money
may be restored to the rightful owner