The morning times., 1896-03-23
BUHcO MEN lUR[D THEM
Negro DeaC0ns SHindIed by the
Green Goods Game.
THEY CAME FROM ALABAMA
In New York They Met Their Man
and Gave Up S4G0 for box of
Paper-DiScovered Their Loss Here
and Appealed To the Police for
Redress and Restitution.

deacons from Alabama at police head
quarters last night.
The story which they roured into the
ears of Detective Sergeant Perry differed
in no essential detail from the story which
has been told ana retold 10y green goods
victims almost since tame was.
This time the victims are John Kersey
and Henry Green. OF oxford, Ala. Both
men are deaconS of the oxford A. NJ. f.
Church. both are Sunda. school teachers.
and both can preach the gospel OF honesty
and truth, and often do. But if they had
practiced as they have preached they
would not have come to Tolice head
quarters last night and complained of
having been swiIdled or SlCO ia cold cash
in their effort to buy $500 in counterfeit
money.
The only reason why these church dea-
cons wili not rob their fellow men in Ala
bama is that the men who cheated them
Were no more Eones.' than the deacous.
GREEN GOT THE CIRCULAR.
Henry Green received a mys terious
circular two weeks ago. He drew ii from
the little LostoffiCe al Oxford. AT first
he did not understand its import He hed
himself te has little cottage on the banks
OF the winding ChattaEooche and studied
the mysterious circular.
SLOWLY i+e caught on. III was The thing
he had dreamed OF for years and years
1t was the key that would unlock the cave
OF Ali Babe; II was what the alchemiSts
OF Old had striyen Tor 1t was that which
would uanSmute brass TO gold; il was the
sign post which would guide him 10 FL
Dorado, il was the way to the great
hac~sIsir>: i, was green goods circular.
He would lay down the shovel and the
hoe. Cast.es lCse IefCTe his daZZled eye
of a .ls.f
a. '.t \. al. Ait tAe ILatJahoOcEee
nppled on.
lie liu not have The money with which
10 purchase the counterfeit, so he presented
tue pTOposltCn TO his irCther deacon, John
Kersey. John was not offended. He,
TOO, had dIcamcd that the time ouid come
when he would Bot have TO hustle for his
quail ANA mama. Here was presented TO
him a wand with which be could strike
riches with one stroke.
With S460 ycouldbuy SIS, 3,0G0inmoney
which would bafile the best trained eye.
They would try. ,lohn could raise 500
on his place. Henry could get the same
amount together. The proposition was
placed Beiorc EOme OF tier friends. No
one took offense. They formed syndi-
cate.
There was something suggestive in that
word. All the syndicators sworc an iron
clad and corper-rivctcd oath 10 secrecy.
POOLED THEIR SAVINGS.
pool Of S4OO was made. To the people
who contributed this fund that sum meant
months OF Ferspiration, months OF priva-
ton. weary months of toll amidst cotton
and tobacco. Some OF the contributors
mougagcd their humble homes others
sold their stock, and all went to the bottom
or tie stocking that lay hicuCD under the
hearth.
The syndicate delegated Kersey and Green
10 make tie speculation. They were to go
into the frozen North and bring back the
frca.r r,y were Ire ia sons who were
TO come home laden with the golden fleece.
kersey and Green left oxford by an early
train last Wednesday They circulated the
report that they were going North to take
po oSsesSion CT an inheritance left them by
a kinsman al New York. All the members
OF the syndicate were at the little station
to see the sons of fortune take their leave.
Many OF tie citizens clustered round and
bade fond adieu.
at Atlanta the spectators telcgra phed
John Comas. care OF Pacific Hotel, Beth
lehem. Pa. The text OF this dispatch was
We'll be wild you
At Bethlehem the speculatprs met Mr..
Comas. lie was one of the most delight
full gentlemen the spectators had ever
encountered. He was actually princely.
so liberia so well dressed
The SPECTATORS were charmed. Mr..
ComaS spent good deal OF money. He told
the spectators il WAS his own make. He
claimed il was superior TO the inartistiC
stuff printed AZ the government job office
on Fourteenth street, Washington. The
spectators believed this. They would
buy only SO, ,0Ge on the first order. tut
after they had disposed Of that they would
renew their order. They saw greenbacks
in their dreams.
COMAS WAS CHARMING.
Mr.. Coraas conducted the spectators
to New York city. They were inspired
with awe.
At the city halt the trio took the scarlet
cable car that runs along the Bowcry and
out Third avenue. The spectators held
their breath. 1t was so noisy compared
with The gentle ripping of the winding
Chattahoochie.
At No. 1888 Third avenue they got Off
Mr.. Comas inducted them to the factory
aud introduced his partner, Mr.. Jere Nc
Kendrick. He, too was nice man, so
we'll bred so well dressed.
Money was lying on thcfloor. Money was
posted on the walls. i printing press was
in back room. ana there was Shamrock
colored money around it. Ali Baba's cave
was not in it. II beat a trip to the Treas
ury vaults.
The eyes of the specula tors bHlged out.
Their mouths watcred. The appearance OF
that room beat water melon patch in
August.
Mr.. Comas packed a tin box with crisp
greenbacks. The spectators saw him do
it. Indeed they did. Then he sealed the
box with red tape aud blue scaling wax.
Mr.. Comas handed this box 10 the specu-
lators That is, the spectators thought
lnH hnx Mr.
Comas cautioned them not TO open the boX
till they got home. for il the New York
police 81 W them with so much money it
might be diffienlt.to explain just how they
got it.
THEY OPENED THE BOX.
He escorted them 10 the Desbrosses street
street ferry. and as Mr.. Green was broke
as To personal bonds. his benefactor, Mr..
Comas. bought his ticket TO the SOUTH
bound. This was yesterday morning.
The spectators were seized with an over
weenng desire ia count their cash and
determined 10 stop over at Washington.
break that blue seal and see the sights.
They reached this city in the afternoon
and went to the Philadelphia House, kept
by Pete Meredith They were shown to a
room. They locked the door. The seal was
quickly snapped. The red tape was reeIed
Off. The tin box was opened.
Glorious! The display of wealth was
ravishing. The deaoon Offered up prayer.
A stack or livid green money laid before
them. a fresh. clean. crisp. beau-u-u-tiful
one dollar bill was on top.
The rest of the package was real green
paper.
HorrorSi Cold sweat Spangled their
81 bic brows. PoiiceI The deacons rallied
10 headquarters.
They told this awfu! story. No kindly
q 81 lean in AN,ss no hC
on duty there.
The snn1s,laanrs sna rchad In r-ain for