New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-19
d DEMENTED NEGROS CLAIM,
TRYING TO COLLECT $500, 100000 FROM
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
CARRYING CHECK SIGNED BIZ A PRACTICAL
JOKER WHO PERsoNATED MR. ADAMS
NOT 10 BE CONVINCED OF HIS
pr rrrranArH TO TIE TRIBUNE. !

rBr TErEGRArH TO THE TRIBUNE
Boston, Jan 1s.-A candidate for . lunatc asylum,
Rufus Jackson, Q patriarchal darkoy Of enormous
stature, Is in town trying to mako Charles Francis
Adams pay him $500 100000. The affair is through
out 60 supromely ridiculous that the whole city Is
laughing over it The old fellow lives in Putnam
Conn, where he says he was appointed missionary
to 90 West and convert the heather.
They" who thus appointed him. gave him two
trunks and barrel Of gold 30 use in his praiseworthy
undertaking The gold, which was $500 100000, was
stolen from him after he had 1t three days. He was
thinking how he could get up TO Boston to claim It,
and was telling his difficulties to three men In the
station, when OF them said that Charles Francis
Adams was In Putnam and would give him check
for tho lost $500 900 and that he could got It
cashed at bank in Connecticut without going to Bos
ton.
And,' added tho old man, thoy took me. TO q
man and he give me dc checkS
Finding that he could not collect the money IN
Putnam, he refused 10 give up the check TO the bank
there and walbed to Boston to follow up hs claims
against MT Adams On reaching the city. the old
follow went at once 10 Charles T. Mcdonald and
offered him onethird Of the amount II he would mako
the collection He did not 90 to Mr.. Adams because
he said he afraid he'd cheat him out Of IT. Nc
Donald learned that tho old missionary had reached
Boston with only cents in his pocket but by virtue
of ta check In his possession taken In by colored
people at the West End and treated like Ethiopian
prince. They promised return the next daJ at 10
O'Clock. In the meantime Mr. McDonalds who BY
this time had entered heartily into tho Joke, called at
Mr.. Adsms's Office and told him about tho negro and
his bogus check, and appointment was made 70
tho following morning The scene In Mr.. Adams's
Office was amusing The president OF the Union Pa
cifc and his brother, John Quincy Adams. vore to-
gcther when tho old and the lawyer entered
He hobbled in on hls and stood looking az the
group. Mr.. Mcdonald said:
%You say some man named Charles Francis Adams
gave you this check in Putnam, Cenn.f'
Yes, sah.'
aCould you tell this man II you saw hiinYS
Yes, sab, could.'
(which Of these two gentlemen Is Mr AdansT
"Neithcr of dem is Mr.. Adams,' no said, prom-tty,
Shut hold ona he added as he looked them over more
carefully Then ho walked to c T. Adams and taking
that eentemans head between his hands, leaning over
to peer into his tace he repeated ' sSms gTGssss
gracefully. Then standing back, he slowly SAID
aDats dc man, dats de man. HoInling az Sh@res
sYes sab. Pse sur5 Of IT."
Whore Was Mr. Adams when he gave you this
checkis
In Putnam, Conn-'
How long agoi"
aTwo months tyo-'
what he doing at the time he gaze you this
Workfn' with the pick an shovel on de railroad.
Yes, pso found you Say, boss, arc you going 70
pay dat air chcokp
Mr.. Adams and his brother and tho whole group
there several gentlemen presentwere convulsed
IN the old negros disappointment when Mr.. Adams
demonstrated that he was the wrong man and the
signature of the bogus check was wholly unlks his
own handwriting.
You had better tear this check up he SAID as
no held 81 IN his hand The negro darted across the
room, grabbed his precious paper in his trembling
fingers and SSt tA,st i swsy a. N a h .g g.s crying No.
he refused 70 be convinced ot its wortllossnoss
The at last persuaded to leave tho onice pro
testing fat he would End another lawyer TO collect
tho BIN II Mr. Mcdonald could not