The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-06-23

Jim Burns, one OF the negroes WHo
eluded the postoffice inspectors for sew
eral years, was on yesterday sentenced |
to FIVE years at hard labor in the
United States penitentiary in Atlanta |
for securing money on raised money
orders. Burns plead guilty and this
no doubt caused him to get lighter
sentence than if he had gone to trial.
Postoffice inspectors who have beer,
in the Southern states during the past
. two years often had cases reported to
them of raised money orders being
/: passed by two negroes. The swindlers
managed to escape arrest until lnspec-
tor Bucks was put on t he case ana
after some hard work he succeeded IL
rounding up the pair of the negroes
who proved to be Jim Burns and Ed.
Smith. Smith was arrested in ken
tucky, was tried at Covington, KY,
and sentenced to three years at hard
! labor in the Z. S. penitentiary at At
lanta.
The inspectors often got on the
negroes but they never got close 70
them until they worked their scheme
on several Wilmington merchants:
The orders passed in Wilmington had
been raised from very small amounts
tC $50 One was passed on Mr.. K. r
Hamme. and one on Mr.. |. Shrler.
When the negroes left Wilmington a
hundle was left at the house of an olC
, colored woman, where they stopped
while in the city. with instructions &c
y send it to Atlanta. 1t was learned tha1
!, | this box had been left N Wilmington
> and when it was sent from wilmington
!, irsnectOrs in Savannah were notified
- to watch for it's arrival, which was
- done. When it was delivered to tn
address given a pOstOffice inspecto
;, went in the express wagon and III tLl
ranner Jim Burns was captured III
was held in Savannah for severii
months and was then brought to WI
arlington on account Of the case
o. against him here being so strong as {
IN leave no chance of his escaping pun
:, ishment. Burns will be carried TO Al
" Ianta as soon as the Federal court at
Is jGurns.
!, Rurns is one of the negroes Wh
- broke Jail several weeks ago anu " Il
came so near making his escape VI
.. was arrested just as hire started acfos
Ill the Hilton bridge. If he had not Det
ir convicted in the Federal court
1e would have been tried by the state d
oi thorities for Jail breaking
., Other cases disposed OF yesteroa
- were as follows: Nelson Toon, toiui
r- bus county, retailing; Judgment S"
v; pended. count
e; G A. Hodges, Cumberland count
tn retailing: Judgment suspended
his David Series, of Cumberland couh'
~. retailing; 80 days in Jail, $loO hhe a'
i,a the cost.
n.1 John Jackson, Robson county,
ad failing: Judgment suspended.
,t- William Kicker, Cumberland couh'
tel retailing: 80 days in jail, 500 hne
rs the cost
ro f. NJ. Dees, Cumberland county,
failing: jury could not agree ana Ju,
ION was Withdrawn and mistrial order
Oh Rufus Smith. Cumberland coun
ratailing: 3 months in jail, fine >
ant and the costs.
at william Priest. Robson couh
I'VE charged with shooting into rurai
ht- livery mail box. This case was cal
Die. NOT long before court adjourned
lay the day and the trial will be resui'
ma, ma, today. 1t is one of the most llhl
rth tant cases being tried Mr.. Johi
',,I Shaw. Jr., of Laurinburg, Is fiio
10. | aftOrnoy