The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-25

AFRICAN AGENT
WAS CONVICTED
He Viii Not Tell Of His Colonization
Scheme
FOR SOME DAYS TO COME
ViCtimized Hundreds Of Negroes on His
SWindlinS Scheme.
PROPOSED CARRY THEM TO AFRICA
Fer Small Sum of Fifty Cents Per Head
Had "Conjure Zone" Which He Used
to See if Negroes Could
Stand the Voyage.
FOR SOME DAYS TO COME
PROPOSED CARRY THEM TO AFRICA

R. H. stricklan. the negro who was at
the head of the great African colonial
ton scheme was convicted in the GRIM
inal court yesterday on the charge of
obtaining money under false pretenses and
of carrying concealed weapons.
Some weeks ago Stricklan was arrested
on charges preferred by people of his own
race who had been victimized. 1t is sad
that Stricklan represented himself a
native of the Congo Free States and stated
that he was a Baptist preacher engaged in
missionary work. He visited the negroes
of the mining district and from the pulpits
of their little churches he urged them to
return to the land of their fathers, paint
ing a glowing picture of the Elysian fields
of far off Africa
Took the Role of Moses
In the exuberanee of his earnest solicit
tation? for his .down-trodden people, he
proposed to act as the Moses for his tribe,
and lead them out of t:le land of bondage"
lie proposed to run a grand excursion to
the Congo Free States at the munifcent
cost of 80 cents per person for which a
badge was to be delivered at Washington
which would serve as a passport and
ticket to the chosen land" The excursion
was booked to leave over the Southern
railroad on May 20 and he soon aroused an
interest among the credulous negroes,
many of whom in their eagerness to take
advantage of the opportunity, sold their
household effects at great sacrifices pre-
paratory to leaving
The Moses Didn't Show Up
On May 20 at several stations on the line
of the Southern railroad these negroes
began TO gather in droves, and after wait
ing for about twenty-four hours it began
to dawn upon them that they had been
badly duped
Strdcklan put in appearance at Irondale
about this time and his presence was made
known to Chief Deputy Sheriff Warnoek,
who happened to be in the neighborhood.
Mr.. Warnock started for the station, and
on arriving found that Striclzlan had skip
ped, going in the direction of Shelby coun-
ty. The officer, together with several of
the victims, started after the man, who
was overtaken just beyond the county line
and placed under arrest He was SUISSE
quenty indicted by the grand jury.
When the case was called yesterday the
court room was crowded with negroes,
many of whom had been victimized.
The state, through Assistant Solicitor
Hugh Morrow, offered a circular advertis-
ing the scheme to which Stricklans name
was signed.
Several witnesses were examined who
told of paying over to Stricklan the sum
of so cents each forsa badge" which he
represented would give them free passage
to the Congo states.
Conjuring Bone
A wishbone, which was in the possession
OF Solicitor Morrow was identified a
bone which Stricklan had said he used to
0aIx To
certain whether not they could stand the
voyage The bone was also used, according
to the statement of some of the victims.
as "conjure bone,' and in the hands of
Stricklan, is said to have welded a most
wonderful power.
Stricklan took the stand and stated that
he was a Baptist missionary engaged as
an agent of the missionary society which
transported the negroes to the Congo
States. He said that several excursions
had been successfully carried over and
that in some cases the fee had amounted
to only 30 cents per person. He proceeded
to give detailed account of his dealings
and denied that he was trying to beat the
people who had paid him the money
After hearing the argument Judge
Greene adjudged him guilty. He asked
the prisoner if he had anything to say,
and told him that he did not believe he
had ever been to Africa, and chastised him
severely for having deceived his own peo-
pie. The Judge also told him that he felt
inclined to give him twelve months for this
offense, but cautioned him that If he ever
appeared before him again he would get
the full limit.
In the concealed weapons case he was
fined $50 and cost. Pending an appeal the
execution of the sentence was held up I'M
til Monday.
Stricklan was released from Coalburg
only a few weeks before the Congo scheme
was worked, where he served term for
assault with intent to murder.
...rn.ttH ntNAIN