Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-03
A ..Cocoanut Company, in Court.

ARREST OF THREE ALLEGED COLoRED swINDLERS
A telegram to the \. Y. HcTGId from Norwich.
conn. FEB. list, SayS:--''A COcOanUt case OF
great interest came up to-day in the police
court. The parties inCriminated are coored
hom Boston, and give the names Of Professor
Alexander 7. Ash5ourne, superintendent OF the
Nauonal neSslcated C0cOanut and Spice Ship
ping Company, Boston and Washin, ton: Dr.
William c. Lane and Henry Taylor, agents.
Ihese three appeared in court to-day and
pleaded ''npt guilty to charge OF Obtaining
money under false pretences. Several cOlOred
people IN this city have been rictimiZed in the
aggregate to several hundred dollars. Shares
were SOlQ them at 81 each in the company and
interest or ten per cent. was guaranteed on the
investment, some OF the deIuded ones taking
MY shares; Negroes only. no whites were
allowed in the meetings. The latter consisted
OF lectures on cooperation and phTenol0oy,
Whlcn usually wound up by selling seyera'
shares or c0cOanut stock. AShb0urne in court
produced letters patent Oh processes for making
nalr pomade, Ink. tooth powder and culinary
article, all invented by him. made from cocoa
nut; me last patent was granted hin il Oarn-
land, Cal. in 1917.
VISIT TO TIE MANUFAcToRY.
The Mandatory ana machinery in the Cam
bridge shop was eXtolled greatly by their agents
in selling shares, and Captain Whaley. in deiec-
uycS disguise, called yesterday at the shop.
where be found, instead OF the score OF hands at
work, an aged darkey, who gave his occupation
as general repairer." The premises warranted
his assertion, Tor the building was in a dlapi-
dated state. nearly ready TO t0pple over A
stove, cider press, coffee mill and a b0ttOmiesS
chair comprised the bulk OF machinery, Which
the agents priced at S10,GG0. The concern has
an Office in Hanover street. Here the officer
found Rev. John d. Bagwell, secretary OF the
company, awaiting returns by mail from the
agents.
THE ALLEGED swINDLER'S STORY
AShoOuTne appears quite Wen educated. and
told his story fuently to-day on the witness
stand. He Was. he said. born in Charleston. s.
C.; had Travelled in South America, China a1d
California. AT the Centennial be had exhibits,
a ON in- itI-tl lar
as here, giving the reporters stare) The com
pany have been operating in Virginia for two
years, and at the present have agents in New
York, Washington, New Haven, New Bedford,
Boston, &c. The real assets OF the $4,000 com
pany are virtually nothing but printed crcu-
lars and cards, and lectures have led thousands
OF poor color ed people to be deluded, having eX-
pllclt confidence in these
"ARTFUL DODGERS"
Of their own race. The ''cocOanutS'' obtained
several hundred dollars here and left for New
sprung on them, and their little game exposed
The case has occupied the courts attention all
day, ana is not concluded. Their operations
were conducted under the cloak OF religion, the
meetings. all being held in churches of that
people. The Rev. Mr. Bagwell preached ser
mon some weeks ago. and told his hearers that
The National DeSsicated Cocoanut Compan nv
was the stepping stone to Heaven. Those VINO
invested were told that their money would be
refunded any time ON writing to Washington
and they would also receive the ten per cent,
as the company was 'patent righted.''
IN THE SCHOOL ROOM, Tom used to pinch
Hannah black and blue, out OF pure hatefuiness.
knowing that she was too high-spirited to
scream or carry complaints to the teacher. Now
Tom is the hOnOred preacher OF metropolitan
church. and sports one OF the ShOWieSt plumeS
On denominational parade days; but you could
no more induce Hannah to hear him, or to be-
lieve in his professions, than you could coax
her to trust hyena. And when he used his
influence to displace neighboring pastor, she
was certain that he acted in the same hard and
hateful spirit as when school boy. She knows
ter.