The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-09
AT THE MUZZLE
OF A FARMERS SHOTGUN.

Thief Ate Five WatermeIons.
Abe Cohen, the condemned murderer
of Susie Rogers is a product of Glynn
county and, although not at all inclined
to boast of the fact, the Brunswick
News tells some rather interesting
things about the negro. Abe's reputa-
ton on his native heath for honesty
was not what could be called even fair.
When Abe was about twenty years of
age, says the News, he was working
on Hon. John P. Lambs farm; in fact
Mr.. Lamb raised Cohen from a small
boy and he used to express it, ABE
is hard proposition"
Abe liked watermelons, strange that
a negro should, but it was really the
case with Abe. He was so fond of the
luscious, juicy fruit that he would
never figure on who the melons be-
longed to or the consequences or any
thing, for that matter. All he want
ed was the melon, the consequences
were something else.
For years Mr.. Lamb knew Abe had
been playing havoc with the water
melon patch, but Abe was hard to
catch and he did not want to punish
tain that he was the pilferer In 9TH
er words, he wanted to actually see
Abe stealing the melons. Early one
Sunday morning, in the month of July,
when the fruit is sweetest, Mr.. Lamb
caught Abe. For months he had been
watching and his labors had been re-
warded at last. Abe looked at Mr..
Lamb and Mr.. Lamb looked at Abe.
We'll, Abe, l have caught you"
a'YpSSpr VOuSe got me and I amt
goin' to lie bout it, cause desc melons
looks too sweet to burn up in dis ere
'ot sun"
Abe thought he had made a grand
stand play by confessing and he con-
tinped to think so for an hour after
wards, and then he realized that lie
had made fatal error. Mr.. Lamb
acted as unconcerned as possible. He
told Abe to pick four or five melons,
go under a big tree in the yard and
eat to his "gineral satisfaction" as
Abe expressed it.
The negro gathered five of the best
melons, carried them under the big
tree, and with the song: He Certain
| ly is Good to Me- and with the mel
ons he seemed happy. Mr.. Lamb saw
| him eat one, two, three, and then Mr.
Lamb got in his work. Going home he
returned with a shotgun. Abe looked
| up. Coin to kill a hawke" said the
negro. mo-" replied Mr.. Lamb, II am
| going to persuade you to eat a few
| more watermelons."
Abe told him that he had had just
about as much as he wanted. but at
| Mr.. Lambs earnest solicitation, he
opened another and made away with
| it.
81 sho got huff now" said Abe.
| ooh, no. eat another"
81 amt got room for il; Ise sho full
up"
Slowly raising and cooking the gun
Mr. Lamb said: IF you think any,
thing of your life, Abe, you'll cut that
melon and eat it,"
Not until that minute did Abe catch
| on. He knew the old man meant bust
| ness, so picking out a small melon he
cut it and proceeded to get away with
il but il was hard work.
cut another melon Abe" said Mr..
Lamb.
Use glad you goin' to eat one, cause
dey is sho good
Eat it Abe" commanded Mr.. Lamb.
Abe hesitated He told Mr.. Lamb
"he would sho buss" if he ate any
| more, and he further stated that he
would rather be shut than to kill
himself eating watermelons. but this
argument did not go with the man be-
hind the gun and Abe knew he meant
ed and yelled. but the melon had to
go and Abe was expected TO be at the
going. He gave Abe an hour TO get rid
of the melon, but there was more
| trouble for him.
Eat another" said Mr.. Lamb
BY this time Abe was about the size
of the Texas fat boy. He said he could
not eat another mouthfull: he fell from
the bench and pretended to be taking
his last breath. He gasped. threw up
his hand. told Mr.. Lamb goodbye. but
even these parting word, prayers, etc.
did not move that other melon. Mr.
Lamb got Abe up again. He even cut
the melon for him. and actually was
kind enough 10 assist Abe IN showing
IL down.
When the last melon was finished
Abe couldn't move. he said he ex-
pected 70 live only few minutes.
But Abe didn't die. He got enough
watermelon. thags All
For several years after this occur
renee Abe worked for Mr. Lamb. but
the watermelon stealing stopped IN
fact Abe didn't like melons 10 how. ("