The Richmond palladium., 1874-12-23
A Wheat Raiser.

The raising of this cereal is pro-
gressive-takes time and labor, and
even when the utmost pains are taken
to put in crop, unless the season is
favorable, disappointment awaits the
farmer A labor saving rocess, in
raising" wheat, having been practic
ed to a considerable extent, without
the usual dillatory process of plowing,
sowing, &C., by one Jesse Woods, a
colored fellow citizen, who resided Tor
several years at Newport, and more
recently on small farm, near Bloom
ingsport, Randolph county, cot which
he is the ostensible owner, the ankle
ty of his. ..neighbors was rdisei to ascer-
tain the secret, and even a vigilant
and active society, formed for the pur-
pose of unraveling the mysterious
raising of full grown horses with
out the trouble and expense conse-
auent on breeding them, was called to
this new field of Investigation; but af
ter spending all their energies for not
less than two or three years, the task
was given up as hopeless. About
eighteen months ago detective John c.
Page, Esq. Of this city, was employed
and after diligently taking diagnosis
Ct the case-inding the mill books Of
every grist mill, within a scope of
twenty miles around Richmond, dot
ted all over with the name of Jesse
Woods, and from four to ten bushels
of wheat placed opposite his name, as
the dealer in that article but he new
er could find out the secret of the
manner in which Jesse had 'raised"
it until Wednesday night of last week
when he ascertained to certainty
that Jesse plan was very simple and
effective one, and that night was the
time he ''raised' the wheat
1t seems that Jesse had heard of
wheat turning to cheat, and if SO. why
shouldn't wheat turn to clover-seed?
When nights sable mantle covered
the earth, Jesse hed him to Thomas
Cooks barn, about three miles from
Richmond, and having sacks of $ his
own, he emptied sixteen bushels of
clover.seed therein, and then filled
Mr.. Cooks sacks with wheat from h
bin and placed them in the same posi-
tion occupied by the clover seed, and
then went on his way rejoicing i'll the
possession Of SO good crop. He
hauled it to the depot and shipped it
to Dayton, This was on the 10Th, and
on the 18th, Friday last, detective
Page, found Jesse trying to dispose
! of his clover seed at Dayton, Ohio,
and at once brought him and the clover
seed to this city-took him before
Esq. Thomas, ON Friday night, when
Jesse waived an examination and in
default of $1,000 bail he was commit
ted to the care of Sheriff Smith.
During all this time, Mr. Cook
throught himself the happy possessor
of as nice clover seed as ever grew,
and, on Saturday morning, Mr.. Page
went to see him at his farm, and en-
quired if he had any clover seed; be-
ing assured that he had, Mr. c. invit-
ed him to the barn to examine the ar
ticle. After feeling it through the
sack, Mr.. Page expressed his opinion
that it felt more like wheat than
clover-seed; when Mr. Cook also felt
it--turned pale, and, sure enough he
found on a closer examination, mys.
terious transformation had taker
place-all Of his clover seed had turn
to wheat 1t was only then he miss
ed it, and Mr.. Page quieted his nerve.
by giving him the details OF Jesse.
secret that had been sought for 81
long.