The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-02-11
FILM FLANl GAME
----- q- .'.,.,,
Worked on the Ministers Of At
Ianta a Few Days Ago
BY A SMOOTH ARTIST.

OT ~ OSVbWUBBu JAIN NSaOB
The Fellow, Who Admitted With
Great Flow of Tears, That He Had
Been All Kinds of Rascal-TOok
Up a Neat Collection From the
Ministers.
Atlanta, Feb. 10.-The Journal
says a shrewd beggar with his
trionic ability in general and OF
of humanity in general and of
preachers in particular, left Atlanta
last week, taking with him contri-
buttons from the majority of the
local ministry In all, he secured
fifteen or twenty dollars, a pair or
trousers, and an Overwhelming num-
Der of handclasps and assurances OF
help.
He was weakened little man with
a wall in his voice. Rev. H. A.
Atkinson found hi m on the thresh-
old of his study last Wednesday.
He pointed one trembling finger at
the minister.
II am a forger," he said.
That was his Introduction to the
ministers of Atlanta. His story was
dramatic. He said his name was
Henry Mckenzie.
For twenty-five years was in
Sing Sing for forgery" he told DR..
Atkinson. Then l was parolled,
and I came to South Carolina to try
life over again. 1 got job. was
living honestly, then they found out
my past and was fired. Since then
it has been the same thing over
again. My story follows me every
where. Once l get work and life
begins to promise something, some
one hears of it and 1 am discharged.
II forged one check for $4,000
on ]. Pierpont Morgan in my bad
days and got it cashed. That was
only one of the terrible things l
did. My life was black. But I
want to put all that behind me now
and live new life, but the world
won't let me. 1 have paid my debt
to society and still it demands
more"
DR.. Atkinson gave him two dol
lars and the pair of trousers. He
also set about getting him work.
The following day, the man all
atremble, came to Rev. E. D. Ellen
woods study.
81 am a forger," he said again.
Then his fingers began to work
and the tears to roll down his face
And God help me, morphine
fiend, too," he cried. But I have
determined to make a new life of
it,"
He snatched a box from his pocket
and threw it into the fire.
81 shall never touch morphine
again"
DR.. Ellenwood gave half dollar.
After the man had left he took the
box from the stove. In it were some
white powders, which he showed to
a druggist. The druggist said they
were not morphine powders at all.
When he asked DR.. Ellenwood for
money, the later offered to buy him
any food he might wish.
But you must trust me, doctor"
he said Trust is what 1 need
Trust and confidence"
He said the same thing to DR..
Atkinson.
Then he paid visit to Dr. C. B..
Wilmer, from whom he secured sew
eral dollars; dropped in to see DR..
Pise, called upon Bishop C. K.
Nelson, and saw Rev. E. H. Pea
cock, of the Baptist Tabernacle.
BY Thursday DR.. Atkinson had
secured him position driving d
wagon with gang of convicts. He
came to the minister with tears in
his eyes.
Don't you gee that I can't do
such work as that" he said. II
couldn't endure to watch those poor
black men in chains, after the hor-
rible Imprisonment l have gone
through myself.
1t was al emotion too commend
able to be sco1fed at 1t showed that
his heart was tender and throbbing.
All he needed was further loan.
He made another round of visits and
told his story all over again. He
told Of the horrible twenty-five years
he had spent at Sing Sing, and he
told of the agony he had since suf-
fered when his story would follow
him from place to place.
His wall was Il have paid society.
Why can't my debt be canceled?"
He was a very slight, pitable look
ing man, and the sorrow of his voice
was deep.
More contributions came in. Then
he went away. 1t is believed that
he is now In Columbus. 1t is i'm
material to the Atlanta ministry