The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-23
BAD NEGROES PROSPER
POLICE SERGEANT HEARS STORY
 OF DIsCoNSOLATE BLACKS.
The Good sum of $295.5Q Gathered In By Negroes From Members of Their Own
 Race,

The good, round sum of s295.50 was gathered in yesterday by persons of the negro race, who make their living by their wits. Their victims were fel- low racemen, tillers of the soil, who came to Montgomery to sell their cot tLn and incidentally to see the circus
 The days of the walnut shells and the elusive little ball in front of the circus tent are over. Wise circus man. agers saw to 1t that their patrons should be protected from this form of robbery, but the men who make money by taking a few chances, contrary to the peace and dignity of the State of Alabama, still find prolific field by travelling along with a circus. and s295.5o was added to the bankroll of two slick ''coons' by 3 o'clock yester. day afternoon.
 Scott Grant, negro farmer, and Scott Grants wife. came te Montgomery yes terday from their bucolic abode on Dr. Walters plantation on the Mount Meigs road. In their wagon they had a big bale of cotton and in their hearts they had longing to see the World Wracking Wonders. the Sequence of Scintillating and Shimmering Surprises, the Dare Devil Doings and the Thrice Thrilling Things of the Great Ring ling Brothers Combination.
 The bale of cotton was quickly mar keted and in the empty wagon. Scott Grant and frau secured a place of yan- tage from which they could view with unconcealed admiration the alarming approach of the preposterous parade.
 The trumpets sounded Down the street they heard the batter ot a my riad horses hoofs. They turned their earnest eyes to the direction of the sound. But soft From their wagon seat Scott Grant saw a negro clothed even as the hero Of the modern ''coon" song Is clothed. sto,p and pick from the pavement a juicy looking wallet and at the same time he heard anoth- CT negro person of attractive dress ask Did you see that nigger pick up that pocketbook?"
 ! T seed him pick up sumnn," said Scott.
 Here. there. nigger," yelled the stranger, whats that you picked up?''
 The finder of the treasure turned. He cautiously approached the wagon and softly said: "Ssish. Hits a pocket book, and if you don't tell no white folks Fse got it. I'll give you half"
 Scott Grant could not resist the song of the siren. He tumbled gracefully. Les see." he murmurea.
 Less get out of thAs crowd" sug- gested the lucky finder, where we con divide the money"
 Grant followed the pair. "It's a hum dred dollars" said the finder on open ing the purse. "Golly." gurgled Grant.
 Look here, old man." suggested the finder. How much money you got7"
 Forty dollars" replied the embryo victim.
 Oats all right" said the finder. You give me dat forty and you give mo dat ten." he said to his companion, then I'll take dis to the boss man and get 1t changed and when comes back. you gets $73 old man, and you gets s43 young feiler and I gets S33"
 Grant was delighted then. But he wore a different face when he stood in front of Desk Sergeant Gladden. Harri- son at the police station and related his tale of woe.
 T stood dar three hours and dat nig- ger amt never came" he explained.
 "He-yah," laughed the faithful but ever sunny spouse of Scott Grant.
 Aaron Bromster and Mat Walker, mo- gro farm hands who work on Colonel Willis Brewers plantation, were vic- tims of the same two artists. the same methods being used. They were ''stung" for $79.
 Ed Dixon. negro farmer of Lowndes County, was unfortunate enough to leave a wallet containing $90 on the counter of a dive for negroes. He Is now shy $90.
 Other negroes were victims of the two quick-change men to the extent of $48 and $3S.50 respectively.
 The "con" negroes are described as one being tall and slender and the other short and stocky and both of dark ginger cake color.