The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-23

Gold Mine.
THE gullibility of the average negro
woman is something which no fellow can
understand. A clever and plausible scoun-
drel may rob them today, only TO make it
easier for an equally clever scoundrel to
rob them tomorrow. Two years ago hun
dreds of them were victimized by brace Of
black, plausible rascals named Willborn
and Calhoun. This worthy couple organized
an alleged benevolent order of the secret
variety, and, after bleeding the members
for year or two, skipped off with the
Doodle. Both were caught and convicted
and one served term in the penitentiary.
The other, Willborn, appealed to tho SUI
preme court and got oil on technicality.
The society organized by Willborn was
called "The Seven Stars" One might
imagine that such an experience as
that above recorded would have served to
have clouded the Seven Stars in perpetual
eclipse. No such thing. The eclipse was
only temporary, and the Seven Stars now
shine brighter than ever.
ID. l.. L. Banks gathered up the irag-
ments dropped by Willborn and placed
them together, and is working the Stars for
all they are worth. Who is d. l.. +.
Banks? Esteemed reader, u. l.. +. Banks
is n candidate for the Legislature on the
Republican ticket, and was placed in nom
nation by a black, apish-looking little
negro who said that ID. l.. L. stood for De.
votion, Love and Friendship. ID. l.. +,
Banks is n tall, very dark, broad.should-
cred negro who goes about preaching Ia
the negro race that the white man is per-
pctually striving to put him down, and
that his only chance Tor elevation is to
elevate himself by means OF commerce
and trade. They all take kindly to that
sort OF talk, and when Banks asks them Ia
enroll themselves under the banner OF the
Seven STAR, they all do it, especially the
women, 10 whose elevation Banks deyotct
especial care and pains. THE Seven
Stars" come high, but the colorcG women
are bound TO have it. Tho initiation fec
is 81 aud the dues 80 cents month.
There are 1900 members, 10 that
the man who handles the Doodle handles
5000 a month. ID. l.. +. Banks Is the
grand master OF the order, and, in the Ian
guagc OF prominent colored politician,
"hc has got q mint" One Of his schemes
is 10 start corner groceries, at convenient
places in the city, run and managed by Ne
groes, ut which all the members ol the
Seven Stars are pledged on oath 10 do their
trading One OF these stores is situated at
the corner OF 81. Martin and Elliott. The
] gF...L = KHnlttuI At aisnnf AnJn unI a. ttNfl
il two persons are cmploycd-D J.. L.
Banks, general manager, and u colorcd TO-
male assistant. The cOlored female assist.
ant does the work, and both Of them draw
salary. The money 10 run the concern u
drawn from the treasury Oi the order.
The order is divided into seven sub.
ordinate lodges called numbers, aud some
of the numbers are again subdiyidcd into
minor lodges. They al have their officers,
aud presumably all the officers draw
salaries. The subordinate lodges, OF course,
all report 90 the grand lodge, which ];
Banks. There is no doubt that Ranks hos
not only got mint but a bowling picnic,
But Hhat do the poor members get? Just
this: They are allowed every night 10 20
10 lodge meeting aud occasionally Goa
| tribute TO a new scheme gotten mp In thcil
| behalf. They are lccturcd ON the elevation
OF the negro and 90 home cnthused Will
| the idea that they are benciiling some
body. They are; they are bcneiitini
| Banks aud the horde OF toadics VIII,
follow him and help him deyOur the llcsl
pots lac knows 30 well how 30 gather
/ Some day the inevitable smash.up vii
come and The Seven Stars will disappear
in endless space. TuE ArrEAL desires (,
give It's colocd readers warning in time.
nANKs' RECORD.
The following from Yesterdays Scimiir
shows that Banks is dishonest aud who'll,
unreliable:
A iNcimiidr reporter learned that Banks
record was none Of the brightest, and tool
/ the trouble To investigate. With the hell
of Mr.. j. Mclirooks, now assistant attorney
general, the first clerk Of the Bartlett cir
/ cult court. be obtained the full facts, whicl
are laid down today for the enlightenment
Of the voters, Republican ~ we'll ~ Demo
cratic. Of this county, as 10 the utter disrc
gard the leaders OF the Republican part
eyince rs 10 the character VI the men the!
put forward for Office.
Such are the men that the Tciormcr
would rather have elected 70 represent thi
county In lhc legislature than the Demo
cratic Aud such are The men for whom
they are consciously indirectly working.
hut as 10 Banks, page Of minute hool
No. 4 Of the Bartlett cirruit court, show
that u. l.. Banks was tried on the chars
Of grand larceny and found not guilty 4
1871.
Page ~ Of the same book shows that ID
was charged with larceny again, and thi
time found guilty aud sentenced 10 ~
months in the work-housc.
Page n Of the same book has a rccor
for sentence Of iniamy passed upon hin
The record iurihc; shows that on payincn
Of the amount taken Hanks Nas rclcusc
from tho Imprisonment and turned over
McCallum, Who had charge Of the convi'
farm.
II was further learned that Banks WI
at one time committed 10 imprisOnmof
for stealing chicken by Squire Mason.