Middletown transcript., 1868-03-14
oarrespe,.dssee ., ne Maal.tern rre,..erip,

MEssRs. EDIroRs. Having not as vet
written anything for the columns of your
worthy paper (the 1roascript;) I thought
would make mention of new feature in
the swindling business, as practiced by
some deceptious person, who, upon close
observation would pass for white, but OF
rather a. dark principle, as will be seen
from the following statement. On Sun
day night, February 23rd, the black
population Of Sandy Branch, were thrown
into great excitement, by the appearance
of white man, claiming to be their Mo-
ses, in their midst, who as he stated was
authorized to furnish them with checks to
the amount of from four hundred to four
thousand dollars piece, payable at the
Citizens National Bank of Middletown, ~
the writing or characters on said checks
resembled some ancient Hicroglyphics or
signs, that the man himself or no one else
could make sense of, however, his fee for
the same being from one to five dollars
each, whercupon he succeeded in getting a
pretty good sum, besides watch or two,
and after so doing he has left for parts un-
known, to the great astonishncnt of said
Sandy Branchcrs. But, before leaving
them, and still farther to increase his well
filled purse, promised to build church
and school house The building of the
same, to commence on the following Tues
day, provided they would raise from their
-neighbors and acquaintance, certain sum
whcrcwith to purchase piece of land, for
which he would pay one hundred dollars
per acre, and also have the privilege to
build where he saw proper, without ask
ing consent of the owner or owners. Now
the simple block-heads, had no more sense
| OF forethought than to do as they were bid
and at present find to their sorrow that they
have been duped and cheated out Of some
one, two, or perhaps three hundred dol
lars On Saturday night last he again
made his appearance, but taking good care
not to visit the same house at which he
stopped the Sunday hight beforc, but cal
ling upon an old colored man by the name
of John Robinson, asking for lodging foI
the night, John unconscious of his bust
,ness received the swindler under his roof
next morning Johns visitor proposed to
pay him his bounty money (some three
nuhuiSu uoiiars, IL JOnH Woulu lrSb give
said swindler three dollars, the required
sum was handed over and in exchang,
John received an old stocking, sccurcl,
sewed up, with the request that it shonlt
not be opened unit said swindler had left
Johns curiosity being at the highest pitch
proceeded after some time to examine hi,
supposed pile of greenbacks, John turn.
ing to his better half and saying g bresi
de Lord marse Lincum has gone and don,
it at last, frow marse johnson under d,
bench, and give US dc gemmen what max e,
money for de colored pussuns," but her,
he was sadly disappointed, for instead o
bounty money, Lord bress you honey,
pair Of dirty stockings and the rusty fran,
Of an old portmonnaie. We'll, John was
sold for three dollars cash, and he wishe.
to see dat gen,nen once more before h,
, dies. Now we may take the foregoing a
an act of kindness as practiced to grca
extent during the last few years, by thos,
who profess to take so great an interest il
Sambo's welfare, using him as screen
from behind which the country and hel
rights are gulled AMI cheated.
n - JOHN THOMPSON.
!, Sandy Branch, .Mlrch 4th, 1868.