Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-02
SMOOTH JOSIAH THORNTON.
A Plausible Colored Rascal Reaps Har-
vest of Sheckels Among Alabama


A Plausible Colored Rascal Reaps Har-
vest of sheckels Among Alabama
! Negroes.
"A genuine piece of the African dude
of mature years appeared at Tuscaloosa.
and went TO a hotel whose accommoda-
tions are strictly for colored people. where
he registered under the name of REV
Josiah Thornton, Philadelphia. After
getting his dinner, he sent the porter to
a livery stable with an order for the finest
turnout to be had. The porter stated
that IL was for colored man, and the
stable owner did not take much trouble
to pick out fine rig, but sent one with
instructions to collect in advance. The
Rev. Josiah did not like the one sent, so
returned Il with $40 bill, and told the
stable boy TO tell the ''boss"
that he wanted something nicer
and for him TO help himself out Of the
bill. " The boss" thereupon helped him
self TO 81. so and sent a nee turnout, and
few minutes later the Rev Josiah was
driving out the pike at rapid rate with
a cigar between his teeth, and bright,
shining silk hat on his head He drove
at once to Fosters Ferry and conducted
his operations in that neighborhood for
two days. To all the colored men he met
who appeared TO have little money on
hand, he unfolded the details Of big
scheme which was designed to make them
all property holders. and place them in
the possession Of all the money
they wanted ON which to con
duct their farming operations He rep
resented himself TO be the agent Of a
Northern syndicate with boundless re-
sources, whose sole object was TO place
the colored men on better financial foot
ing. His company was composed of big
hearted and wealthy man. who had their
eyes on the down-trodden negro in the
South, who had to buy his supplies on
credit and mortgage his crop TO pay for
the same, and they had evolved the idea
Of making the colored people in Alabama
independent Of their white task.
masters They would, therefore, buy
homes for them and the deeds
would be made out in the names Of those
who desired to purchase, the company Sc
curing itself by taking mortgage on the
property, and only charge them per
cent. for the use of the money instead OF
demanding big share of the crops, or
big money rent. If the tenant did not
wish to purchase they would rent the
property to him at the same rate. In
other words, If piece Of property cost
them $500, the yearly rent would be SIS.
He further stated that TO a tenant who
was making a crop, an advance would be
made on this crop Of 5000, payable when
the crop was made and at the same low
tate Of in terest.
II is needless to add that the 6 per cent
proposition went straight TO the average
negros heart, and when an advance Of
$40 ON each forty acres purchased was
demanded as guarantee Of good faith
on their part, a large number paid the
amount without suspecting that anything
was wrong During the two days that
he spent in the Foster Ferry neighbor-
hood the swindler took in over S400
from there alone. At the close of the
second day the negroes grew suspicious
when they saw the amount of money
he had collected, and when he
went to Tuscaloosa in the even
ing two men were sent TO watch
him. He got wind Of the fact that he
was being watched and took the night
train for the South The next day re-
ports began TO come in, showing that he
had victimized other localities. II Is es.
timated that the rascal has worked the
racket to the extent Of 50, 500 near here
One Of his victims in describing him
said that Thornton could answer ques
tions faster than they were asked him
and that it was this fact that disarmet
suspicion. Some Of the victims mort
gagged their household goods and stock Il
get the money 70 pap the rascal. Louis
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