The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-07-07
A SLICK NEGRO.
Darkey Mr.. 3. E. Julien Was Called to
Savannah to Identify-Raised
Money Orders.

In the last issue of The Herald
and News it was stated that Mr.. B. E.
Julien had been called to Savannah to
/ identify a negro who had purchased
| two Is cents money orders at Helena
and had raised one of them-on Way
nesboro, Ga-from Is cents to $3.50.
The following dispatch from Savan-
nah in regard to this negro and his
actions will be of interest:
Savannah, July 4.-Lewis II. Wag-
ner, alias Evan P. Harris, a South
Carolina negro who has been troubling
the postofice department for quite a
while with his clever money order
operations, has, confessed series OF
his crimes to Inspector A. ]. Knight.
Harris told the inspector that he
did not commit the crimes for the
money he realized upon his operations
but that he might, break into the fed=
eral penitentiary where he would
have the facilities for perfecting an
invention with which compressed air
has to do. He is an educated negro
and is one of the most cunning opera
tors the inspectors have encountered
in the colored race for some time. -
The case against the. man has been
practically complete for more than g..
week, but it was not until this vls1e
Of Inspector knight that, the prisoner,
TThh5 was last week committed by
United States commissioner, to be
held for the federal grand jury, would
admit his guilt, When Mr.. knight
confronted Harris with newly dtseov~
cred proof, including the prisoners
real name, he Immediately changed
front and expressed desire to tell the/
truth and have it get into the news
papers. +s'' ''.:..*.:> ";
| Story Of an Invention. i:
Whether his motive is q. correct one
or not, the man talks about it in a +
convincing way. He says he has been !;
! working on an invention, but has been
unable to complete it for lack Of facili-
ties. Some one told him about the
variety Of tools and assortment of ma
chinery the government has in the
penitentiary, and he says he came to
conclusion that if be were prisoner
there he could let his inventive in
clinations have full play. .s.
There is probably not bit Of sense
to this part Of the story, though
he is able to discuss his idea in an in
telligent manner He will very likely
have an opportunity to Investigate the
inside of the prison in Atlanta, as In
epector knight intends prosecuting
Harris both in Georgia and South Car
olina, as he has been operating in the
two. States. The first case will be
made in South Carolina, when the
federal grand jury meets. Later an
indictment will be found here, and
the inspector does not expect to have
any difficulty in obtaining convlc-
ton in both instances, as he not only :;
claims to have absolute proof besides
the confession, which was made in the
presence of Jail Guard Cohen.
In addition to being clever money :,
order crook Harris is slight -of-hand
performer and has reputation In
several counties where he has given.
performances. He maintains an Ella
borate wardrobe and keeps trunks in
several towns where he visits en- tour.
He is a lightning change artist. He
has been known to appear at a post
office wearing overalls and old cloth
es. with dirt-begrimed face and hands,
and present money order within ten
minutes after public appearance in
the street where he was dressed as a
dude.
Inspector knight has proof of one :
case where Harris raised a 19 cents
money order to $S8.19 and cashed it
At Cheraw, S. c., and where he pre-
sented, but didn't cash, another at
that had been raised from
Is cents to sSS.15. Harris admits that
le has several other orders he has not
ried to cash. They are in Waynes-
,oro in his grip. He gave the inspec-
or the name of the woman with whom
le left the grip and also an order on
Ter for the grip, and Inspector knight
will go there for it.
The aviator who races with an ex-
,ress train knows full well that the