The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-25
UNIQUE METHOD TO COLLECT.
A Grocer Worries n Debtor with n
Brigade Of Negroes.

From the Atlanta (Ga) Journal.
Broyles Bros. are grocers at the corner
of Cooper and Glenn street DIR. A. p.
Ebbert is a well known physician, who
lives at 10 Pulliam street. Both are prin-
cipals in the most extraordinary suit
which borders closely on the criminal.
Three months ago the physician bought
"a worth of groceries from Broyles, and
for various reasons has never settled the
account. The method Broyles Bros. have
adopted to collect this amount is decided
ly unique.
After weeks of fruitless dunning in the
stereotyped way the grocers came to the
conclusion last Saturday night they must
adopt a new method. They deemed the
courts powerless and determined they
would dun DR.. Gilbert, until from sheer
ry, the money might be forthcoming. AS
succeeding developments will show the
game was tried, but did not work.
Last Saturday afternoon about O'Clock
the grocer summoned about forty negroes.
All were commissioned as collectors, and
sent to the Doctors residence with curt
notes requesting a settlement.
DR.. Gilbert welcomed the first five or six
collectors civilly. But, much to his aston
ishment no sooner would he turn one
away from his door, penniless, than an
other would make his appearance on the
same errand.
About 10 O'Clock that night, it is said,
lulFty-nNe OF the collectors had appeared
at the physicians door. Finally DR.. Eb-
bert grew desperate, as the game the
grocers We're perpetratng dawned on him.
Aiming himself with a pistol, he waited
the next mans approach, fully determine
ed to teach him a lesson that would pre-
vent his returning in the future
In a short while another negro put In
his appearance. The physician, frenzied
with anger, rushed at the collector with
his pistol and chased him a block. The
negro had 70 jump a fence to escape his
DllrSunr. a f,fa
his neck, and his leg was nearly broken
in the IA on the other side. He has been
laid up ever since.
The collectors continued to come until
II O'Clock, and each met the same recep-
ton. Mr.. Broyes finally gave up the Job
for the night, and Diminishing ali his COL
lectors pro tenn, went home determined
on renewing hostilities the next day.
All day Monday the doctors residence
was beseiged. But DIR. Gilbert felt he was
being imposed upon, and determined not
70 be whipped in the fight IL a million col
leetors We're sent.
Tuesday afternoon, about 4 o'clock MIR
| Broyles sent out several MESSENGER hovs
| IN the city to find all the mean-looklne
| negroes he could find. In an hour thirty-
| fve were standing in front Of the grocery
store patiently awaiting their turn on The
| errand for money.
The first one was started about 8 o. clock.
| lie returned With the same ansver-no
| money Another was immedia tely started
| with the same result. BY O'Clock abous
ten mad returned. all giving graphic ac-
| NV ivy hdA btti run from the
| door with a pistol.
At o'clock Mr.. Brandon who lives In
the same house with DR.. Gilbert. determln.
| ca 10 put stop TO the nuisance a nd
| telephoned Mr.. Broyles TO please cease n s
/ hostilities, that his wife was IN and that
| she could not stand the worry
i don't care. replied the grocer. 81
/ am going TO send my collectors there eli
| night until that money Is paid. / have cot
/ about thirty boys at my store here now
/ ana az fast as one returns / am going TO
/ send another. / will collect that money
\ II u takes me century and costs ~ 900 -
\ Seeing there was no hope Of D discou-
! tnuance, Mr.. Blandon determined 20 sock
/ the aid Of the police. lie. therefore, ex-
1 planned matters Of Chief Connolly. who de-
Il tailed Ofhcer Cochran 20 watch the house
ana 20 arrest every negro thai put In an
| appearance with a dun Mr. Igroyles was
| notified Or the move, but be- claimed there
/ was 20 law prohibiting him from dunninr
! pr. EbberL ana continued 10 send me-
/ duHlfy collectors.
/ About 10 o'clock Cicero Wlmms an
] ptarsd az the house on The came erraui
| tle hhd hsnfd Of plsioi1 ana boot heels
] from The Others, and ringing The door bcll.