The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-06-14
TWO RASCALS.
Negro Preachers Convicted OF
Committing Pension Frauds
AND SENT TO PRISON.

The "2ey." Samuel B. Thompson and
the "Rev." E. ]. Williams, Who
Stole tie Livery Of the Lord
to Serve the Devil In,
Caught Up With.
The United States District Court
at Charleston is making it warm 1or
the negro preachers who have been
Illegally prosecuting pension claims.
AS a result Of the prosecution two
ministers, Rev. Samuel B. Thompson
and Rev. E J. Williams, OF Chester
deld county were Thursday sentenced
to terms in the United States prison
at Atlanta, and another preacher
Rev. William F. Shepherd OF Beaufort
was indicted and will be tried at the
next term OF the court.
Rev. Thompson pleaded guilty. anc
was sentenced to one year and a DAY
in prison and Rev. Williams entered
the same plea, as an accessory, aao
was given six months in the Marlboro
county jail. 3 >bert McFarlan's case
was mol pressed, he having turned
States evidence, although it Is under
stood that the pension examiners nae
proved the case on him and were pre-
pared to convict him and the two
preachers with whom he operated
whether he made bis confession or
nos. His evidence was given, how
ever, and he escaped punishment by
doing so.
TIE case presents some interesting
and amusing features, and shows the
use to which many educated" ne
groes put their intelligence. Rev
Thompson halls from Cash's depot, in
Chesterfield county. and is the son OF
q preacher Of the same name. Thomp
son started in the pension business
two years $50 and in this tine ne
fled about a dozen claims, two OF
which were gran ed, and these are
the cases which have gotten him into
trouble with UGcle Sam. The pen.
sions were secured iu the name Of
Robert and Nero McFarlan. The pa.
pers were all properly prepared anc
apparently straight on their face. and
it was only by accident that the de
partment got on to the fact OF tne
fraud.
According to the evidence Of the
pension examiner Thompson secured
an allowance Of 1852 back money Tor
Nero McFarlan. When the vouchers
and other papers were received Dy
Thompson be met Nero by appoint
nent at the bank at Cssh's depot and
there the signatures were affixed,
Thompson directing what Nero should
DO, and the claimant cheerfuiiy and
readily putting bis name to such pa
pess as were presented. The money
came from Washington in due time
and was deposited at the bank by
Thompson. The preacher had liked
things to his satisfaction and profit,
but he had to give some money to
Nero since the fellow knew that money
had been allowed to him, so he drew
8 check for s25 OF, secured govern
nent pension Office envelope, spd then
took himself to Hamlet, n. c, where
he bought a money order 5or tae
amount and mailed 1t to Nero.
He marked on the outside Of the
envelope, "E. J. Williams, Washing
ton, D. c." When Nero got the
money order he went to the pcsto tee
to cash it. He had to be Identified
and the Identification was furnished
by Williams, who was or hand, &C
coroing to the agreement, although
the envelope indicated bis presence at
Washington. Nero was so pleased
with the receipt Of the money that be
fastened to explain to the posts foe
Official that Williams had sent the
money to him, which Williams prompt
II denied. The postofice official con
cluded that something was wrong so he
notified the department. and the "a
yestieatfon followed, resulting in the
making out of cases OF forgery and
false cerclfcation against Thompson
and Williams jointly and on seperate
counts.
The investigation OF the pension ex
sniners showed that Thompson had
secured pension OF SALT for Robert
McFarlan, but that the man hao been
paid only s1o0, having left the rest On
deposit as the pensioner thought for
the purchase OF farm supplies, but
when the time came for the purchase
he found that there was no money to
his credit in the bank. Williams
noting the success which had attended
Thompson's operations, entered the
business on bis own account and put
In claim for one Jet McFarlan, who
was alleged to have died in 1901,
when he had oied in 1868. Thompson
came to Williams assistance in find.
ing one Richard McFarlan as heir to
the dead soldier, Notwithstanding the
fact that Jet McFarlan had never
married a claim was put III for
child, Pauline was the name, who was
alleged to have beer born 10 1890 tt
the man who had died in 1858.
Thompson concluded to 90 one bet
ter and he put in claim for another
child, Della, born in the same year
the child being declared a minor O.
Roman McFarlan. whose mother olee
in 1888. The claim must be entered
before child is l6 years, and rhonp
son saw that the age was safely placat
within the period. A claim OF s24'
was asked for these children. Wne'
Thompson fled the clain for Dell'
she was then married to q man namet
William McNatt and was the mothe