The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-18
FORTUNE TELLER
 IS BEFORE COURT
Negro Boy Wonder" Offers to
 Prove His Ability
USES CARDS AND CHARMS
Judge Feaaln Listened to the Nearo's Claims. But Fined Him for Vaa- rancy-court Delivers Lee
 ture-Fine Remltted.

Judge Feagin, can tell you how many clothes you have, every stick of furni- ture in your house and anything else you want to know. will pay for a special car to carry you to my office and show you that I am the greatest fortune teller in the world. if you will only come. can tell you about the past, the present and the future"
 Such was the talk of a negro, F. g.. Sharp, the Boy Wonder" who was be- fore Judge Feagin yesterday on a charge of vagrancy and who was fined s25. He offered his state certificate and license to practice fortune telling as evidence that he worked. He paid his fine and then in- vited the judge to his home in North Birmingham to demonstrate his ability.
 Judge Feagin, after hearing the evi- dence, told Sharp that he would remit the fine if he could demonstrate his won derful powers, and it was then that Sharp made his proposition to Judge Fea- gin.
 The negro said to the court.
 Ills Cards ana Charms.
 T have to be in my office in North Birmingham where my charms and cards are, and then I can tell you anything. I can read the future, the present or the past, and there Is an old negro in jail now who will testify that I can tell for tunes. He lost 80 and l told him who stole 1t and he went to the negro and the negro admitted that he stole the money and paid 1t back at once.
 T can tell every stitch of clothing every man fin this room possesses, but they must come to my house in North Birmingham. l bought my cards and charms from peo- pie in Chicago and New York, and all these niggeps in town that have tried me will swear that am fortune teller"
 Judge Feagin had the o.I negro prisoner produced from jail and he testified that he had $9 stolen from him and went to "The Boy Wonder" snd was told who had his money. When Judge Feagin gave Sharpe the chance to show his ability the negro put him off from time to time and was unable to "produce the goods" He gave Sharp a chance to go to North Bir- mingham and get lis charms, but the ne. gro failed to produce results.
 The judge in talking to t.le negro said:
 Judge FeagIn's Remarks.
 You inherited that from the banks oi the Congo and superstitious negroes dc not know any better. You work on theiI expectations and set money out of them 1Ae last legislature should have made il a penitentiary offense for y.u to practice fortune telling. They have put a license any good
 People, white and black, believe that you have the powers you claim and they pay you money to Ill them things. know how you Yorn somo of these schemes. Take for instance c negro who has been robbed. By questioning him you fortune tellers find out whom he suspects and then you tell him that is the right party. Then he goes to the negro he sus- poets. tells him that the fortune teller has sworn he stole the money and 1t scares him so badly that he gives up the money for fear of being arrested. It Is the same superstition that made you worship idols in years gone by. but 1t is more or less educated now"
 Mayor Drennen a. .erwards remitted the negro's fine. He prom.-cd to tell Mayor Drennen when he would b, married and other things besides. In court yesterday Judge Feag.n asked him to tell a news paper reporter how many suits of clothing he had. but this was too easy proposi- ton for the fortune teller and he would not attempt 1t.