The Helena independent., 1892-04-25
A BIG CHEROKEE CHEAT.
The Impositions Of a Clerical Fraud
on the Good People Of
California. =
low He Created sympathy for
the Troubles of His II
People.
The Rev. Felix NIayes was a Stranger
and He Took the Trusting
.W brethren in.

Tho Kew F0l1N MRye6 was 0Lr3nX0r
and He Took the Trusting
.a brethren In.
About two months ago, ut one of the
weekly mSbtings Of the Baptist ministers,
there appeared on the scene IN aged. dark
complexionea man., with long black hair
and piercing dark eyes. who introduced
himself as Rev. Felix Mayes a chief of the
Cherokee tribe Of Indians and AN ordained
baptist minister, says the San Francisco
Chronicle. ms
The unsuspecting Christian brethren were
inclined to welcome the stranger, and ln-
vited him to address the meeting. The in
yitstion was accepted, and during the
course of his remarks. when he aliuded in
touching terms to his own conversion to
Christianity and eloquently told how he
had been brought from darkness to light,
tears stood in the eyes OF many OF those
present, and they were ready to receive
him with open arms.
When the meeting was concluded the
pastor of the Hamilton-square Baptist
church invited this ckieftain to speak in his
church, and the following Sunday Rev. Mr..
Mayes again stood before an audience. He
told how he had come out here to interest
other Christians in his people and how they
we're in need Of money to buy Bibles and
tracts for the Sunday schools.
OF course. as in all well-regulated
chunchss collection was taken up. but
this time it was 10 be devoted to spreading
the gospel among poor Indians, and 80 the
sympathetic congregation went into their
pockets even more deeply than usual.
After the service was over Brother Mayes.
az he was familiarly called, was introduced
to several Of the leading members Of the
congregation. One of these gentlemen be-
came greatly interested in the brother"
and volunteered 10 take him about.
The Young Mems Christian association
was visited, ard Rev. Mr.. Mayes was in
vited to speak at some of its meetings.
This he did several times, not failing each
time to get collection for the benefit OF his
benighted brethren.
Nota shade of suspicion that the aged
chieftain might be other than he appeared
had as yet crossed the minds of any of the
brethren. lie told wonderful stories of his
own wealth, representing that his stores IN
'White Horse town would compare with
those OF San Francisco, that he was part
owner of the rich gold mines in the Navajo
reservation. and other tales equally WILD.
day or two after his address at the
Young Mons Christian association. he
called, in COMPANY with his new friend.
at the office OF q we'll known attorney here,
whom he had met at the Baptist church.
To this gentleman he talked very yolubly
and made some very glowing propositions.
One of these was that he was greatly in
need Of a good lawyer to attend to his af-
fairs in the territory, and If he could IN
duce the attorney to accompany him home
he would guarantee him salary af $50, OOO
q year.
but both gentlemen began to smell small
mouse, and it occurred to the attorney that
It would not be a bad idea to find out
something of this wealthy Cherokee who
was collecting money for his heathsn coun-
trymep.
He quietly wrote several letters TO we'll
known people living in the same part of
the territory that the chief hailed from.
Meantime. from some contradictory stats
ments made when questioned, and from
hints dropped from the man himself. it be-
came evident to the attorney that Rev.
Felix Mayes was not all that he represented
himself to be. Nothing was said, however,
exceIt on one occasion. when the dusky
Baptist preacher WAS found under spiritual
influence. One of ths brethren remons-
trated with him for his conduct, and
gravely pointed out that such proceeding
was hardly in keeping with bis character as
minister of the gospel.
Brother Mayes hippantly replied as he fa-
miliarly slapped his counselor on the back
.'Neyer mind, brother; we're on the top yet,
old boy!''
There was another thing that aroused
suspicion. When speaking to an audience
the aged warrior would frequently refer *
his mode of expression, saying: Me M
understand Englees. Ne no speak good
you excuse this. 1t not my fault. Whit.
man drive my people away. No give sohoo
or help him any,"
until it was discovered that when littl.
excited or when off his guard his yernaculal
was as good as any ones, and the man,
slang expressions which he was master O
proved that he understood 'Englees" bette
than he pretended.
While here he spent most of his time i,
Oakland, and consorbed over there chief.
with the negroes. He boarded In the fam
lily of respectable oolored people, and sool
had their confidence and sympathy. Anon!
his other qualifications he claimed to b
"heap big medicine man." and in proof o
this statement he recited u list of herb
which would certainly have killed. off th
whole Cherokee tribe it applied.
This became noised about. and during
his stay in Oakland Rev. Felix was be
sieged by people from all parts who wer
eager to test his medical skill. lie preached
in several of the colored churches in Oak
land also. and as usual collected money TO
the heathen Cherokee.
Matters went on this way until last Wed
nesday week, when the aged and swatth
preacher suddenly disappeared, omittin
the little trifle of paying his board bill, an
forgetting to state his destination or men
tion the time of his return.
As result OF inquiry among his co-lab
orers in the good cause it was learned tina
probably the attorney could supply the so
luton of the cause of his sudden disaE
pearance. The hint was taken and the law
yer was visited. Ia the inner sanctu1n @
his Office the attorney cautiously unfolde
the result Of his inquiries and told how tn
$4,000 salary had vanished into thin air.
The letters which he had received froE
Indian territory were very much to tn
point. They stated very plainly that tn
Rev. Felix Mayes was fraud. 1t wa
limited that 30 far from being able to min
lister to mind diseased, he was nor even
genuine medicine man, but an out and on
quack.
The Baptist ministers are puzzling them
selves to find out why Rev. Mayes shoul
have chosen their particular denomination
on which to practice his wiles, but the re
port of their present Investigation ma