The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-29
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1886.
A Word About Stealing.

a WOrO ADOut SttVilhS.
Within the last week two colorcd mea have
been put in Jail at Abbevillc Court House I'M
der charges of theit-one for stealing horse,
tho other tor stealing hog.
We cannot hope to instill better principles
into man who Is not honest, but we may OF
fer suggestion or two which may make him
700 cautious to violate the law. For this rca
son VIC shall not attempt to deliver
homily on the sin and disgrace attending the
crime of theft. Our purpose is to speak
Of the practical difficulties incident to the ac0
complishment of the act of appropriatine 10
ones own use the goods of another.
The laws OF this country are so framed that
even an honest man may get In the penltenti-
airy, but the negro who attempts to steal
horse or a COW is certain 10 be detected and
punished.
It is extremely difficult even for man OF
Intelligence and extraordinary shrewdness to
make way with horse and then conceal the
identity of the thief No man without accom-
pliccs in distant State can steal q horse In
the neighborhood in which he lives without
being detected. and 1t Is, under any circum-
stances the bllndeSt folly for an ignorant per-
son 10 steal horse. He cannot possibly es-
cape detection and arrest None short of
first class man, acquainted with the ways of
the world, can make O success at horse steal.
ing.
There Is another matter which is even more
difficult than horse stealing, and which not
even the smartest man in America can accom-
plish. We refer TO the stealing of COW, and
the concealment OF the perpetrator Of the
crime That is feat which no negro, nor
q
half as hard to rob bank vault as to steal
COW and then evade detection. The head and
horns, the hide, and The beef itself, Will al
ways tell the tale.
Another difficult thing is to steal hog,
though this can be done sometimes without
detection, but we would venture to advise all
persons Of whatever station in life. and with
.out regard to previous condition, to let horses,
mules, cows and hogs alone.
If the desire to possess themselves Of anoth-
>er's property is SO great that they cannot re-
sst stealing something, we would suggest the
,advisability of our colored citizens sticking to
their own legitimate business OF lifting stray
chicken or hiding an intruding turkey.
Thieves seldom get caught at this kind of
Job, butas certain as the negro attempts grand
larceny he will be caught. A negro may
make a reasonably good thief In small mat
tere, but whenever he attempts grand larceny
he will fall into the hands of the law, and
eventually land in the pententiary. There Is
no escape for this class of offenders.
For the reasons above mentioned we would
urge the colored people not TO steal any thing
more valuable than a turkey. A chicken or
turkey will furnish good square meal for the
hungry thief and his family. With full
stomach and all traces of the eaten game de-
stroyed, he can, like the children OF Israeli
safely trust to Providence to send another
days ratlons. This class Of our citizens will
remember that once in the olden times, for
the children of Israel, mamma fell daily with
the dews from heaven in sufficient quantity
to satisfy their hunger for the day, but when
greedy fellow gathered up big lot OF 1t and
stored 1t away for the morrow's use 1t spoiled
on his hands. AS the children of Israel had
to gather up the mama every day. so ought
negro to steal only enough for one days al
lowance. When he acts the hog and attempts
TO pile up months supply OF meat at one
time, 1t may not spoil on his hands, but 1t will
remain in the house to testify against the
man who laid itup.
We trust that our colored citizens who may
conclude to steal something may reflect on
what we have said. A negro is not endowed
with the natural ability to make successful
thief, and his education at the public schools
has been too much neglected to warrant him
in attempting grand larceny in any form.
His limited education at the public schools
does not fit him for the business of forging
notes and orders to the stores. 1t requires
highly educated person who is an expert pens
man TO do this, and when the forgery and the
transfer OF the goods is complete, the forger
must always leave the country without delay.
1t is utterly impossible for any man to COM
unit forgery on ncighbor without being de-
;tected. The forgers only safety is in flight
from the country.
It is impossible for the negro to steal horses,
mules and cows. He had better open bank
with a crowtar. Or. better still. when he is in
need of something to eat, and is sorely press
cd for the necessaries Of life. he had better go
TO a neighbor gudceon and buy his COW or hog
.on O credit. This can usually be done by
promising to work for him Mt half price, and
at the same time undertaking to give double
price for the needed animal. II his neighbor
will not trust him for the whole, he might
pay a small portion in cash, and then pay the
remainder next summer.