The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-22

Alexander Shanks. a negro. 101 years
old, was arrested yesterday afternoon for
witchery.
He was found by policemen IN q little
shoe shop at 11l9 Ninth street northwest
cutting piece OF leather 20 NJ the sole
Of shoe. They took him to the Second
precinct station and locked him UP in
cell. The charge against the dusky pa
triarch is being an unlicensed fortune
teller.
Huddled in a corner OF the cell. his
hardened hands grasping an ancient cane,
the negro sat throughout The night. some
times muttering to himself and then fall
ine into a doze. To policemen who looked
through the bars the negro told bits OF
weird stories. His hollow voice. sounding
far OF and strange in the dim-lighted cell
room. combined with the meaning OF HIS
words. produced a peculiar effect. and the
sight Of the bent form against the cell
wall seemed uncanny.
Witchcraft in WashinEton.
witchcraft in Washington? Impossible
Believers in spells? Absurd. But let
the skeptlcal listen 20 old Alexander
Shanks as he murmurs nominations and
shakes his hoary head from side to side.
Let the unhelievers stand before the
cell. as did policemen AZ The Second pre-
cinet and. like the policemen. the unbe-
levers viii say. Let. me get out OF here
Rnd see a street car or an automobile. I
feel creepy"
The policeman who spoke those words
expressed what every one Of the small
group felt. After listening TO the aged
occupant OF the cell talking in HIS slow,
uncanny way. the hearer felt chill feel
ing and a desire 20 escape from the tomb
like room to the noise and light Of the
streets, where he could shake of the
strange. overwhelming feeling
IF old Shanks IS not a scorcerer. he is
the best imitation ever discovered in
Washington. said one OF the patrolmen
In appearance he looks like a relic Of
slave days. Above the medium height, he
IS slightly bent. leaning forward on a
stout stick which seems so necessary to
his support that 81 appears a part Of the
decrepit figure. He wears a worn. shiny
brown suit. with patches and mends
which correspond with the scanned face
and clawlike hands. The red OF a ban
dana Handkerchief about his neck sur
mounts the white Of shirt which seems
remarkably clean and stiff
The snow white OF the shirt is rivaled
by bush OF wavy hair which curls about
his head beneath the wide brim OF a d.
lapidated black SLOUGH hat The hat COW
ers the bald spot on his head.
Standing before the desk sergeant in
the station giving his name. age. occupa-
ton, and other facts and figures without
hesitancy,. the man showed he was re-
markedly well preserved FOR his century
and one year. He did not appear wor-
ried about MS arrest. and seemed to think
al would be well in the end
Reaped Golden Harvest.
II Is alleged Shanks has been reapinE
a harvest Of gold by telling fortunes
removing spells. and giving luck in his
little shoeshop. Men and women or all
races Fand creeds visited the aged negro.
paving from 50 TO s. to have their futures
unfolded. a curse removed, and 10 be en-
dowed With luck.
Sharks practiced several methods. but
he usually ed some sort Of charm or
voodoo. Miss Jenny was his principal
aid. She Is a dummy figure about the
size Of a small doll. made Of chicken
bones. FISH bones, and other symbols of
luck. and clothed In red flannel
shanks did not deny 10 the police he
had been telling fortunes. He seemed 70
think he had done no wrong. and felt
assured he would not suffer for a wrong
not committed