The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-02-18
CAUGHT IN AN OLD TRAP.
AN INDIGNANT FARMER NARRATES
HOW HE WAS SNNINDlEO.

More Proof that 1t is Cheaper in the End
to Buy from Some Reputable Merchant
than to be Cheated by Pcdlers.
CFrom the Carolina Spartan.]
On the fifteenth day of December
there came a man into my gin house
where we were ginning cotton. I was
standing at the foot ofmy gin catching
the sheet Of lint rs it came from the con-
densor, the cotton being fine. This man
came to me, calling me by name, as
though he was well acquainted with me,
introducing himself as Thompson, said
he was from Greenville. S. G., was run
ming livery stable there. He then
stated that, very recently there had
come two young Frenchmen to Green:
vile to build and open an enormous cot
ton and woolen mil. ~ The young
Frenchmen had brought, with them five
hundred thousand dollars aworth- OF,
French dry goods. Two. days after their
arrival at Greenville. one ofthe brothers
fell dead on the side walk, leaving the
other with this euormons stock on hand,s
and he being green Frenchman could
not speak one word.in English; neither
could he understand word spoken to
him in English. The ;Frenchman deter.
mined to sell his immense stock MS soon.
as possible, and at any price he could
get for them, and carry the remains Oh
his dead brother, back to France. Inc
surviving Frenchman had hired him
(Thompson) and his team. Us he could
speak French and interpret Tor the
Frenchman. Thompson insisted on me
going to my house where the team and
t'renchman were with the goods. urging
me to go and see for myself the finest
goods for a mere nothing. At last 1
concluded to 60 10 the house and see,
Thompson talking in gallop al. the
time. was trying to. wcig h him, but
he never got steady enough for me to
find him ont. When we got to the
house Thompson called at the wagon tor
his man to introduce him. TO me. SAID
he. Mr.. Alexander. 1 introduce you to
Mr.. Lepeare, Qfhls name was lepeare.)
He resembled buck monkey fully as
much as he did a Frenchman. The So
called Frenchman commenced whidling
and whadling. l have got.a little fast.
Thompson, at the gin house told ME he
had sold $3.50 worth of goods to j. n.
Holcombe; $3.50 worth to Mr.. Benz.
Montgomery; $3.50 worth to S. B. Poole;
$3.50 worth to Mr.. Burke DeShields;
$3.50 worth to Elijah Lanford; s2OQ
worth to Ivy Darby; $50 worth to
James Carrell;. $500 worth "to John
Todd. He told me he stayed the night
before with old Mr.. Simpson Drummond.
After getting to the house and introduce
inc, me to the so-called Lepeare. Rhom9s,
son gathered a turn from the wagon and
carried it into the house. He united the
bundle. saying to me he would sell these
cheaper than any before, rs this was the
last. He commenced throwing out piece
after piece, all for one hundred and ten
dollars. I was trying my best to keep
up with him. lie could talk as fast as
YOU could listen. I told him did not
have the money to spare to pay Tor so
much. He said he would take my nole
for part, or for all. I was fearful he
was rotten and tried to keep aside. Final
" I told him would pay him fifty dol
lars down. give him my due bill for sixty
dollars, payable in llfteefl or twenty
dav. lie said: "All right" He. filled
out a blank note for sixty dollars. pay
able to J. Thompson, or bearer. l
struck out ''or bearer" making it pay
able tn him and no one else. l knew he
would let some one else have my note,
| if it was transferable. My idea was to
see him again. l perhaps could hear
something about him. II he was a~ras-
cal, 1 could s,oeeten him. My oldest son
was present. He spoke to me and said
::Pa 1 have some money" l was sorry
he said so. Then the buck monkey
looking, so-called Frenchman slid up to
me, slipping five silver dollars Ill my
hand abiding something. Thompson
asked me if understood him. I said,
s'no." He means giving the five silver
dollars as present, if You will cash the
due BILL did cash it and am sorry !
did. About Christmas 1 saw Mr.. John
Darby, son of Ivy Darby, He told me
that lie never sold any goods to any ol
the named gentlemen at all, that they
never stayed all night with the old man
Drummond. They stayed all nlghtwltll
Elias I.anford aud left their bill unpaid.
hear that before these. two rascals
came to me they told the people that the
so-called Frcnchman's brother fell dead
on the street at Newberry, S. G. When
they left me they said they had sold the
last to me, left in i great hurry to get to
Grecnvlllc that night, SO that the: living
FrencEman could start next morning
with tho remains Of the dead brother
Two hours later, after leaving. they
were at II. II. Turner's inquiriny lol
! Miller OTIS and ID. y. SwitEer's. They
went towards Switzcr's. Next | heard
of these same rascals, uiey were at Pcy'
/ ton Balcngcr's. They were driving &
pair of good horses. AS soon as l. hcart
! that they did not 90 to Grccnyllle. as
they SAID | knew they were IL par o
/ practical rascals. warn the people ii