Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-13
How Solomon Lost His Greenbacks

HOW Solomon Lost HIS GHeen00CkS
NOT AS WISE AS HIS NAHBsAKB, HE Is TAKEN
IN BY DOCTOR FROM SAVANNAH, THE SON
OF IAN UNCOMMON SMART NAN"
The well-known old cOlOred FISHERMAN, Solo
mon Hunter, siXty-five years old, and his wife,
both industrious and honest, live in Goat Alley,
between 9Th and 9TH and and NJ streets north
west Solomon has been pedl1ng oysters from
bucket for several years, and says that since
the police have ''shet down on his horn toOttn =
ne has not done much, barely making bread for
the two, while his wife, a servant In the fam "
OF Senator Blaine, has managed to lay by So
Police headquarters this morning, looking very
sober and detected, and told his story OF troubles
to Detective Miller. He said that dandy
looking colored fellow called at his house last
saturday and asked If he had any rooms for
rent, and receiving negative reply, said he
would call next day. He came on Monday,
about II O'Clock, and entered into converse
ton with Solomon, stating that he was doctor
from Savannah, Georgia; that his father was a
slave but an uncommon smart man, and that
he made great deal Of money by his learning.
which. at his fathers death, had been left to
him; that his father had instructed him in all
the knowledge OF making mOnej and how to
impart good luck to others. One OF the means
he employe ed In bringing good luck was that of
You a piece OF load-stone would YOU Know
what to do with it?' Solomon answered
frankly. that he would not, as he had
heard OF such 1hng as
the profession" said the DOCTOR Z" How much
money have you got in the house?" Not
dollar. except some small change from my oys-
ter selling1a few quarters, In silver" sad Sol
CmOn. "Silver will not do" continued the
Nordoo man; "you get me some greenbacks,
al q III loan you dollar myself; 1t shall all re-
ain In your house, and none OF 1t shall be taken
away, and Ill bring you such luck that you'll
have plenty Of money, when you can return NY
collar and pay me my fee. Now" he continued,
what do you cali money!" solomon replied
q md Toll
some five hundred dollars, and others less than
that, but as for him he called fifty dollars or
sixty dollars money. and even less than that.
Right" said the doctor; 81 see you've got the
right ideas: now get me some greenbacks y
solomon said he knew that his wife had cOlD!e
OF so bills and two 81 notes. so he thought he
would try his luck on the two ones. and went
and got them. The doctor folded them careful
~ up, lengthwise, and took out of his pocket
DOCK l1tlle package, which he said was q
piece OF Maidstone Sewed up In red flannel
the load stone, with certain mysterious passes,
and then all wrapped In red flannel, which both
assisted In sewing up with strong thread.
Now SAID the VOudOO, hesitattng, 81 must
have another s. greenback." 81 haven't got
it. said OlomOn "Let me look at the inside OF
your left hand can tell" said the man. solo
looked it all over. "Oh, ho.' says he, II see
how 1t Is, you've got more greenbacks In the
house aid ale trying to deceive me; do you
think can bring you good luck when you don't
Try FOR II yourself? Now go and get me more
g1eeEbacks; | tell you I'm not going to take
them away. They are to remain here with my
dollar which | loan you wrapped up here
solomon says he felt "juberOuS' when that
fellow looked at his hand, but the argument
that he couldn't expect luck unless he aided in
bringing 1t sort of got to him. and he went
and got the two ten-dOlIar bills and handed
them over, taking good care not to let his eyes
get oil them. The man took the notes and
fo-dtd them around the package already sewrd
up, ire loadStOne being in the center, and then
WraEned another piece Of red flannel around all
and handing them to Solomon told hiRa to sew
them up strong. then and there, in his presence
so there could be no mistake about it, which he
did. The FOud1O man then took the package
and rubbed 1t over SO'OmOn'S head, telling him
TO shut his eyes while he did it. g Now he
SAID, take and put that away carefully In your
trunk and let 1t remain nine days. Let me see
you put it away, and I'll come back on
SoiomC look the package OF money and
loadStcne and went up stairs, followed by the
doctor. who saw him put it In the trunk and
lock IL up there. Soon after he left, promising
TO IetuTn, as stated. Solomon says he at once
started out to collect very bad bill which was
owing him for oysters, thinking he'd try his
luck ON his Dad debts. AS usual, he trfpped on
the collection, and his eyes then got sort OF
open, and he went straight home and went for
that package, which he tore open, and 10, there
wasn't cent in IL. He sunk right down, CRYING
out: "Oh, Lord. oh, Lord" He thought of his
wife, and what she would say to him, and it
mace him stark crazy. The man and the money
had flown, and he now sought the aid OF the
detectives to replace the money before his wife
Knew OF 1t. Ii is needless to say that there Is
no nope for him, as this is evidently a strange
sharIer, WnO Is lying quiet or has left the city:
but the Off GERS promised to do all they could 10
assist him.