The commonwealth., 1903-07-02
A SMART THIEF.
=
How q Greensboro Negro Was
Buncoed In New York.
fH. c. Bryant in Charlotte observer.l

III. E. c. Bryant in Charlotte observerJ
TOHN KELLY, tho faithful and capa-
y ble head-waiter at the Blue Ridge
Inn, at Mount AIRY, is a negro OF the
fioest type is polite, obedieDt, reliable
and energetic, and has gracious smile
and pleasant word for every one. To
guests and strangers 1t is: "Colonel,
how'll you have your eggs, and shall 1t
be tea, coffee or milk?" The casual
observer will see nothing but peace and
happiness in John Kellys handsome
mulatto face, but the student OF human
nature readily detects faint trace OF
sadness, made by some sudden misfor-
tune many yeala before. His nature
seems to have been perverted; the
smile that should have been sweet is
bitter, and mis- cheerfulnese Is forced.
He wears the countenance OF Person
who originally and naturally trusted
his fellow man, but who, from bitter
experience, has learned to trust none
but God. At one time he was the
genial, frank and trustful John, but
to-day is suspicious, secretive and skep-
,ical. It is a sad day in any mans life
when he loses faith in mankind. His
disposition is forever warped. He con-
siders every man a rascal until he finds
nut for certain that he is a gentleman.
That Is not the Christian way.
John Kelly had . substantial start
in life and was doing we'll until a
scoundrel undermined his foundation
and rushed him into a sea of troubles.
lie was making money and accumulat-
Ing property by running a stall in the
Greensboro market. His own story IL
interesting. shall let him tell 1t:
Eyes, sir, colonel" he said to me the
other day, II had good business in
Greensboro fifteen years ago. / was
young and active then, and money
seemed to come my way. The white
reople and the niggers liked me. Twas
putting big wads in the bank every
day, and life was just as sweet as it
could be. I bad no kick at ali. But
tie Good Book says that the thief
comes in the night while you sleep,
ard 7 balieve il.
"One day, in 1888, I received . letter
from a man that never heard of he
tre. He wrote from New York and
said that my name had been sent him
by a mutual friend who wished to see
me do we'll. The letter contained also
five-dol]ar bill. took the money to
he bank with my deposit and the
teller accepted 1t without word. I
never told him where it came from, OF
anything about it, but would not have
oeen surprised if he had handed il
back and declared that it was coun.
lterfeit. I wrote the feller letter and
thanked him Tor the money, and 1t wal
cot long before I got a second letter
containing money, that time $50, all
In ono piece. The man said in thai
letter that he had taken hiking to me
sad was going to put me In a way te
make money fast if would only listen
That was just what I wanted. had
s me idea of being a millionaire. ]
t ok the iftydollar greenback to thu
INK and watched it 60 through liks
ne five-dollar William did. I thank
Il my unknown friend again and toli
aim that I was Dick at the wheel wher
i: came to making money fast. Well
. r, before had more than mailed my
letter good an answer came back. An
,,her fifty enclosed. That letter urget
,1e to 90 to New York and take severa
houeand dollars. I got two package
t thousand each together and se
ut for the big city.
"That was the time that was ricl
igger for Greensboro. was on my
~ay to get fortune. Nobody knew
, ny secret, tor, to tell you the truth,
cared that some teller would get ahea,
fine. / took my luggage and set ou
,sithout telling any one of my purpose
II had the biggest time any nigge
yer bad. New York caught me righ
N the go. But, after all, I did notse'
.luch of it tor I didn't stay there long
was in hurry to get back home an,
! >well around with my thousands. Blu,
, shen I landed a fne-looking, we'll
: dressed man met mo at the station an,
2 carried me up the street in . grea
surrey with big horses. / felt Ike
was the chief of police OF the city. w
vent to dandy hotel, where whit
: folks and niggers stopped. I was pu
in room that shined like gold.
sure was . beauty. Every time
touched bell boys came running t
$50 what 1 wanted. I ate fine ration
and drank good wine. The TELLER VII
met me paid for everything. cigars an
! all. That seemed to be the time q