The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-31
GREEN GOODS
A SWindler Gets the Fest Of
Farmer Perkins.
THE DUFE AND THE CITY SHARP


old fellow! How are all the folks in Lancas-
ter?"
They are all right, 1 guess; but I can't re-
member you"
why TIN Rogers of Charleston; I'm in
business il this city now, Come, let's get n
drink"
The handshaking "green-goods" man met
his dune i'll Canal street, not far from Earle's
hotel December 26 last, when the above greet
ings took place. After several rounds OF sour
mash had been disposed Of, Asbury II. Per-
kins, farmer, and one of the township COM
missioners OF Lancaster county, South Caro-
lima, believed that he had met Rogers years
before, and the pair were fast friends.
Perkins, who was veritable "greeny," tall
and lanky, with hat as big as an umbrella
aud a navy revolver OF large proportions in
holster dangling from belt about his waist,
told Rogers his secret. He said that he had
left his home ON Christmas eve to deposit Lam
caster county bonds worth $2000G0 with the
Loan safe Deposit company, on State street,
Boston. He also said that he was en- route for
his home but he had made mp his mind to stay
in New York for a day or so and see some
sights in the metropolis.
Rogers volunteered to act as his guido
and he kept rubbing in the fact that he was
also South Carolinian and that he did
not wish any friend of his, especially
g
sharpers. The swindler had no difficulty in
sizing up his companion as an easy victim.
lie took Perkins into dry goods store which
he said he owned. The farmer said il was an
immense establishment. Rogers then told his
victim to pick out any piece of goods he fam
cied. saying that he would make him pres
ent Of it, The South Carolinian did So and
atterward the pair took stroll about town
and had more drinks
Later on Rogers said that. besides the dry
In D1 L.,
ness, This admission scared Perkins a little,
and ne said that he wanted to go back to his
hotel. Rogers assured him. however, that
THE GREEN GOODS BUSINESS
was all right, and said that high government
officials were stealing millions yearly, and if
they could do SO it was not improper for plain
citizen to make as much money as he could.
The farmer declared that if such was the case
he had no scruples in the matter, and believed
that lie could easily pass money printed from
stolen government plates at his home. Rog-
ers escorted the farmer into what looked like
shipping office. The swindler said that it
was his fathers place. There was a large safe
there, and Rogers opened il and took out
large package of money, which he handed to
Perkins TO examine. The South Carolinian
said that he was not an expert, but the money
looked all right to him.
"Why shouldn't it?" asked the city sharp.
TITS genuine in every sense of the word,
printed upon stolen government plates upon
otSiOll SONt4llliCIlt paper with stoieu SONcIIl-
ment ink. It's good stuff, / tell you. and
there is no difference between it and the money
you are handling every day"
Perkins eyes glistened as lie declared that
he wanted some of it, sure" The farmer
was only too eager to get possession of the So
called counterfeits, but there was a serious
draw back. He had 10 money to buy with,
and Rogers wanted 500 for 81 900 worth OF
his green goods" Perkins was heart and
soul i'll the scheme, and believed that he
nC1Il1 N,,,f-n IL
He said he would hurry home,
raise what money he could, and come back and
buy some of the counterfeit money. Rogers
replied that there need be no hurry, and eau
toned his dupe not to tell any one about the
proposed transaction. Perkins said that no
one would hear from his lips anything about
the scheme.
On Sunday night last the Lancaster county
farmer returned TO this city with $500, more
than half Of which was in trade dollars. He
rival was joined by Rogers. The pair were
seen talking together by Detective Seroeants
McCloskey and Mulholland
THE DETECTIVES KNEW ROGERS
as green-goods' operator, and suspect
that the tall, lanky southerner was victim
Rogers and the countyman were shadowed
The swindler and the farmer were seen to-
gether on Monday and the latter afterwards
sent messenger boy to the sub-treasury with
$50 i'll trade dollars to be exchanged for bills
noon. Perkins settled Lis hotel bill and left
with his gripsack.
AT the corner of Broadway and Canal street
the farmer and township commissioner was
Joined by Rogers. who carried q small black
hand satchel. They went to Codanes saloon.
at the southeast corner of Grand and Sullivan
streets, where they remained for an hour TO-
sether i'll the back room. The detectives were
on the watch on the outside, and rode on the
same car with tic swindler and his victim TO
the DebrosseS street ferry.
On the way Rogers handed Perkins So.
saying that that was his commission, but that
lie did not want to take it from - brother
southener and especially q friend from Lam
caster county.
Upon reaching the ferry, the detectives ar
rested the swindler and the farmer Rogers
drew revolver and attempted to shoot his
captor, but the weapon was knocked out Of his
hand and il exploded on the pavement. The
par were brought to the police central Office,
and when Perkins gTipsack was opened, to
the surprise of the farmer the bundle which
he believed contained $4,000 in countcrleits,
consisted OLA few genuine greCnbacks, and
hundreds of sheets OF worthless paper
Perkins could not believe his eyes when the
fraud was exposed to him, and thereupon
made full confession concerning the whole
transaction.
On Rogers 1856 was found, which Perkins
said was the money he had given over, less the
SO bonus which had been returned to him by
the sWndler.
The green goods man, finding how neatly
he had been trapped, also made confession,
and declared that Perkins was the "greenest
greeny' he had ever had dealings with
inspector Byrne ordered Rogers and Perkins
locked up. Rogers at one time kept drug
store IN this city, but, rs he located in bad
place, he lost all his money in the speculation.
Then it was that he set ont in The business Of
heecing the lmwary with green goods"
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DEATHS OF A WEEK.