The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-16
TWO RASCALS.
Negro Preachers Convicted Of
Committing Pension Frauds
AND SENT TO PRISON.
The "Rev." Samuel B. Thompson and
the "Rev." E. ]. Williams, Who
Stole the Livery of the Lord
to Serve the Devil In,
Caught Up With.
Caught Up With.


The United States District Court
at Charleston is making 1T warm 1oi
the negro preachers who have oeen
Illegally prosecuting pension Claims
As a result of the prosecution two
ministers, Rev. Samuel b. thompson
and Rev. e ]. Williams, OF Chester
field county were Thursday sentenced
to terms in the United States prison
at Atlanta, and another preacher,
Rev. William E. Shepherd OF Beaufort
was indicted and will be Uried at the
next term of the court.
Rev. Thompson pleaded guilty anf
was sentenced to one year and DAY
In prison and Rev. Williams entered
the same plea, as an accessory, anc
was given six months IN the Marlboro
county Jail. r nbert McFarlan's case
was mol pressed, he having turned
States evidence, although 1t Is under
stood that the pension examiners had
proved the case on him and were pre-
pared to convict him and the two
preachers with whom he operated
whether he made his confession or
not. His evidence was given, now
ever, and he escaped punishment by
doing 80.
Tue 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 s3n Of
preacher Of the same name. Thomp-
son started in the pension business
two years ago and in this time he
filed about a dozen claims, two OF
which were gran ed, and these are
the cases which have gotten him into
trouble with Uncle Sam. The knnt !;
sions were secured In the naTa OF
Robert and Nero McFarlan. The pa
pers we're all properly prepared and
apparently straight on their face, and
; it wEs only by accident that the do
partment got on to the fact OF the
fraud
According to the evidence Of the
pension examiner Thompson secured
an allowance OF 1852 back money for
Nero McFarlan. When the vouche's S
and other papers we're received by
Thompson be met Nero by appoint
ment at the bank at Cash'S depot and
there the signatures were affixed,
Thompson directing what Nero should
do, and the claimant cheerfully and
readily putting his name to such pl
pers as were presented. The money
came from Washington in due time
and was deposited at the bank by
Thompson. The preacher had fixed
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
a check for S25 OF, secured a govern.
ment pension otiice envelope, and then
took himself to Hamlet, N. @ where
he bought money order for the
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 pDstcilice
to cash it. He had to be identified
and the Identification was furnished
by Williams, who was on hand, &C
cording to the agreement, although
the envelope indicated his presence at
WASHINGTON. Nero was so pleased
with the receipt Of the money that be
hastened to explain to the p0stc lli3e
official that Williams had sent the
money to him, which Williams prompt
ly denied. The plStCilice official con
cluded that something was wrong so he
notified the partment aud the In.
vestigatiOn followed, resulting In the
making out OF cases Of forgery and
false certification against Thompson
and Williams jointly and on srperate
counts.
The inve stigation Of the pension ex,
aminers showed THAT Thompson had
secured a pension OF SALT for Robert
McFarlan, but that the man hal heen
paid only 800 having left the rest On
deposit az the pensiOner Thought 10!
the purchase OF farm supplies, but
when the time came for the purchase
he found that tn, re was no money tC
his credit in the bank. Williams
noting the success which mad attended
Thompson's operations, entered the
business on his own account and put
in q claim for one Jet McFarlan, who
was alleged to have died in 1901
when he had died In 1868. Thompson
came to Williams assistance In fad
ing one Richard McFarlan as heir tt
the dead soldier, not twithstandipg the
fact that Jet McFarlan had never
married A claim was put In .Jr /
child, Pauline was the name, who wa;
alleged to have been born In 1890 tt
the man who had died In 1868.
Thompson concluded co go one bet
ter and he put in claim for anothe,
Child, Della, born In the same year
the child being declared a minor o
Roman McFarlan, whose mother dice
in 1888 The claim must be entered
before child is 10 years, and rhomp
son saw that the age was safely PLACED
within the period A claim of S24'
was asked for these children. WneI
Thompson filed the claim for Dell;
William McNatt and was the mothe
OF one child and instead Of being l.
years, she was at least 81.
These were not all tie claims which
were filed by the preachers, who fount
time In their work Of salvation to en-
gage In the prosecution Of pension
claims. Among the other claims wa
one for still another Mel lrlan, Wht
was alleged to have served In the ON
Hundred and Thirty fifth regiment o
engineers and who Is still a resident