The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-17
MONEY SOLD AT Low RATES.
Found by Little Black Boys Who I'm.
derrRfed Its Value,



Three small negro boys created more
than mild sensation at the Gilliss Opera
House, at the corner of Fifth and Walnut
Streets last night. They were selling
$50 gold certificates for 10 cents each.
When they couldn't get 10 cents they
gave them away. 1t is fair to say. how
ever, that there was a steady demand for
the currency. In fact, it was a scramble
the like of which was never seen at even
a bargain-day sale. 1t is needless to say
that the negro boys had no idea that the
notes they were scattering about so rsck-
lessly were of any value. They believed
them to be merely picture cards gotten
UP in imitation of money to advertise
some patent medicine. The police reeov
cred $40 from the men who bought the
money of the negroes, and the police be-
lieyc that they can recover 800 mere.
Some of the purchasers were imprisoned
for time before they would surrender
Zip the money
Dnk Lightner sold out his saloon in
FL Paso, Tex, last week. He arrived in
Kansas City last Monday with some
thing like 81 500 in his possession. This
he carried in three envelopes in his in
side pocket. While in saloon at the
corner OF Fourth and Walnut Streets he
took out his money in order to give his
brother 800 note. In putting the money
back in his pocket one of the envelopes
containing $3.50 missed his pocket and
finally working out from under his YES.
dropped on the sidewalk in front of Sass
restaurant, on Fourth Street almost di-
Eectly opposite police headquarters. Au-
gustuS Tarwater, ten-year-oid negro
boy, kicked the old envelope as he passed
by the restaurant in the footsteps OF
Lightner half an hour later. Then he
picked up the envelope and opened 1T.
The contents looked like money to him.
He ran hastily to his aunt. Mrs. Rhody
Brown, who lives at II West Fourth
Street. To her he showed his find.
Go way; don't poster me. exclaimed
Mrs. Brown. Dat amt money. It's one
of dem advertiser white folks get up to
tell about medicine. Dem pitchers is men
dat has been cured of the shakes. Run
along now and don't DOdder me"
Young Augustus Tarwater ran. To two
Of his playmates-James Steele and
"Dago" Smith-young Tarwater gave a
fair share of the bills, twenty-four of
them, gold certificates OF the value of
$50 each. But 10 these boys they were
simply picture cards. They went to the
Giliiss Theatre. One man bought five Of
the notes for 10 cents. IL was the most
rapid sale ever witnessed. In less time
than ii takes to tell 1t the notes had
vanished. Among the purchasers were
two or three ushers, a commission man,
and n cigar dealer. Finally a man who
represented himself to be a United States
detective scared the boys b. telling them
that he would have them arrested for
passing counterfeit money. He got the
last four notes. with the exception of the
one that Tarwater retained.
The excitement caused by the simple ex-
hibitiOn of what he supposed was adver-
Using cards scared young Tarwater and
he went to police headquarters and showed
his last remaining note to Lieutenant
Weber. That official gasped in surprise
when Tarwater guilelessly told him that
he. had given away twenty-three bills just
like the one he was showing him. Officers
Fhelan and Huntsman were detailed to re-
cover the money. They worked rapidly
and expeditiously. The cigar dealer re-
turned four of the notes and one or two
Of the ushers gracefully surrendered
lew. Seven men were summoned TO poiice
headquarters for supposed connection III
the transaction. Two of the men had to
be locked up before they would disgorSe
and one man is now confined at police
headquarters who Is believed to have two
Of the notes. The man who personated
the United States detective was induced
to return the money he secured He may
be prosecuted for impersOnating an om-
GER. With the exception OF the two or
three men confined for refusal to give up