The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-07-19
EVERYBODY DID HIM.
Nj L,NOHOLY STORY OF j. -. CROOKS
OF WALTON, q. q.
Ho Writes to the Governor Of Virginia
Concerning II Board Bill Contracted In
Richmond During tho War-It Wor-
rlcB Him,

Nlchmond During tho War-It Wor-
rlcs Him.
Tho following ia takon from the
Richmond Times. Tho pamphlet
roforred to wasprinted in Tho Horald
and News Office and Mr. Crooks is
we'll known to many Of our people:
Governor Tylor receives great
many unique letters and requests
from all over tho country, but one
camo in yestordaysthat easily lcads
all tho rest" 1t was from j. B.
Crooks, postmaster at Walton, s. c.,
and asked that tho Governor collect
by subscription, sum Of money
sufficient to settle board bill with
Mrs. Tabb of this city, contracted
by Crooks during tho Civil War,
and turn tho samo over to the 'good
LADY," provided she is still a resident
hero.
Accompanying the letter is thir-
teen page pamphlet, giving the ups
and downs of tho writer's life, and
entitled "The Autobiography of
Man Who Always Got Loft, and Was
Lucky in Being Left"
III have beon sort of cast off all
my life, and my father was 80 before
me-" tho pamphlet opens up.
Crooks says, going on with his
life's story, that ho WAS born in Un-
ion county, S. c., in 1883, and is tho
twentieth of twenty -one children
born to his parents, all of whom save
himself are now dead.
"At the age Of nine,' says, ct
was fire. maker, and am yet. In 49,
40 my father owned five slaves, and
was doing pretty we'll. In 1850 we
made 43 four, horse loads of corn.
"In 81 my father fell out with
kinsman, and soon all our property
was destroyed by fire. Father never
got over it and mother died shortly
afterwards.
WAS IN THE ARMY.
"When the war broke out I went
to Columbia and joined Kershaw's
Brigade, Third Regiment South Caro-
lima Volunteers. We woro sent to
Richmond, and I was in the first
battle of Bull Run. l WAS in eleven
battles in all. 1 wished to be "gal
baby" about that time. I was shot
through the right arm at Frodericks-
burg. My last fight was Gettys-
burg, aud here was taken prisoner
and sent to Fort Delaware, where I
was released. I returned to my house,
where trouble awaited me. 1 had
my ups and downs and lost moro
than I made till I was appointed
postmaster at Walton twenty-five
years ago. 1 am still going down."
A FEW DEAD BEATS.
Toward the end of the story,
Crooks, in his pamphlet, says: 81 will
now mention few of the 'deadest
beats that I ever had to deal with
The first one borrowed $40 from me
in hotel in Richmond during the
war. He is now rich and Pm poor.
He says ho has money, but can't get
it out Of tho bank. [ have written
him repeatedly, but he neither pays
attention nor the money. When
about to meet me he lodges.
"Another fellow took twenty. five
years to answer letter. 1 bought
$40 worth of corn from him. He
was to deliver it. He 60. my money,
but never got the corn. He now
writes he is still broke and can't
pay up.
81 sold another fellow a horse for
$40. Another was to do the paying.
I finally sold his note for pair of
boots. I gave another fellow my
Winceester rifle to soil, and told him
he might have all over $40 he could
get for 1t. He got $14 but died be-
fore co11d aaa him T ao,u hia naxt
kin, about six months after his death,
and was informed that there was no
money in hand after paying funeral
expenses.
"The next fellow that did me
owed me $50 I could not show an
account for more than $780,. the other
having been put down in pencil writ
ing on my books and rubbed out, 80
II lost the $50.