St. Landry democrat., 1879-11-15
How u COlOred Church was
VictiniZcd.

On last Saturday night the cOlOrcd
Baptist church of Opelousas held quite
i; rivival, during which collec-
ton WAS taken MP for repairing the
church. Among the congregation there
was one who seemed to have religion
Every stroug.' He was q young colored
gentlemen known by MANY names, to-
wit: August alias Louis alias Thomas
Anderson, &c, who for several months
had boen living near Opelousas on Mr..
Villcneuve Bordelons place. After the
first collection, which amounted to about
thirty dollars, the gentleman in question,
walked out of the front door for the
purpose of getting u little air. He
wandered carclcssly around to the back
of the church, opened q window and
went in the vestry room, where the
money which had just been collected
was kept in a tin box, which box was
locked in a trunk. Anyone to have
watched him would have supposed that
he was about to offer up a prayer as he
knelt beside the trunk, but alas! for
human nature, the temptation was too
strong, and in q few minutes the lid
was oft, and the shining dimes and
nickles were transferred to the pockets
of our gent of many names. He re-
entered the church and soon foremost
among the mourners, tooE7 his
lowly position before the altar. His
voice was loudest in proclaiming bis
sinfulness and unworthiness. :. As the
preacher called upon those who were
claritably inclined to step forth and
place their mite in the contribution
box, our hero lead the list by putting
a dime in thatb box. Five different times
did he walk up and put in a dime. He
did it SO often, that many were tue mur.
murs of appreciation which reached biz
ears from the members. "What a goot
brother" remarked one sister, "hil
clothes are in rags and he don't lool
like lie has had square meal for Z
year, yet, he gives with liberal hand,
"He who siveth to the poor, lendeth t.
the Lord" spoke the preacher, ant
once more our hero stepped forth ant
handed Ills dime. This thing of givin,
was getting nonotonous with the gen
tlenlan, 90 with the remaining twenty
, nine OF thirty dollars in his pocket h
took his leave and wended his way to
charitable fair, given for the benefit @
some lone woman, where bc generoasl.
treated seyeral dnsky maidens to tn
Il tune of tws OF three dollars. In th
, mean time, when church was Qypf, til
trustees OF same, went In the. Festfy t
count the new subscriptions and pu
= the same in the trunk, but what wa
their horror to find the trunk broke
open aad the last dime gone. Constef
+ nation and disiaay gas upon the coun
tenance of all. They did not ka0T wh
: to suspect. Each one constituted him
self a committee of one to look for tl
thief. The Sheriff was informed of til
robbery, aud from what he could gatht
suspected the generous stranger, act
had no aoaeg seheR he first acent to chnrt
and before the evening Was oyer VIZ
dealing it out with a lavish hand. Z
had him watched and on Monday morl
Iiag he was seen to enter the store
Messrs. Bloch e. Isaac, where be Du
chased himself fine suit OF cloths
from hat to shoes, giving in paymel
nothing but dimes and nickles. BY tt
time the Sheriff was informed of Il
purchase, the man of many names hf
put on his clothes, and started for
Marys' parish. The Sheriff started
his buggy accompanied by, Mr.. Hem
Thomas, who knew the man, and owe
took him few. miles from town. !
denied the charge with look whi'
was cllildlike and bland, !" but the lot
!" wore oft before he was confronted wi
his accusers. He now plays "cheeke
with his nose " in the parish jail, al
will after next court have a fine oppe
tunity ofsrefecting upon the evil OF |
ways within tho four walls OF t
penitentiary Or working free gratis
the railroad. ..s..e