Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-26
believes HIMSELF
UNDER NEGRO SPELL
Strange Influence OF Colored
Man Over Frank Johnson,
ofSomerSet County, Md.
Spirits" PLACED
MONEY IN TREE

CRIsFIELD. Nd. Aus. 26.--on a.
warrant sworn out by Mrs Frank
johnson. wife OF farmer who lives
about ten miles from Crisheld. John
Fisher coiored. was arraigned before
Justice T. s. Lawson, Monday after
noon. charged with disorderly conduct
and being public nuisance He was
sentenced to one year in the House OF
Correction
A story of the strange power which
the Negro had over Frank Johnson,
the husband Of the complainant was
brought out az the trial. According
10 the statement Of Mrs Johnson,
they reside on a part Of the Aurelius
Long farm. In the Marumsco neighb0r-
hood and the Negro had been em-
ployed on the farm for about three
yearr. Shortly after his arrival. the
wife began to notice the peculiar ac-
tlons OF her husband and the fact
that he seemed TO be under a hyp-
motto spell OF tho colored farm hand.
From that time until last Tuesday
Johnson became more and more the
willing follower OF tho Negro. sought
his advice on all matters, and gave
over to the Negro the control Of the
farm and the regulation OF the home.
The Negro was permitted TO cat at
The same table with the Johnson fam
lly. and. several months ago. Johnson
vacated the bedroom which he had
been sharing with his wife. and took
IN his bed with the Negro. Tho
woman was compelled 10 endure in
suits from the Negro. When the wife
complained Of these things 10 her
husband. the husband was apparently
driven closer 10 the Negro. One Of
the most pathetic incidents Of the
woman's story related TO her little
daughter and how the Negro, aided
by her husband. had stolen the child
and secreted IL at a farmhouse sew
eral miles away The mother ex-
perienced many difficulties and was
compelled to ask the assistance OF
neighbors in securing the return OF
her child.
Some months ago the Negro and
Johnson created considerable excite
ment I'm the neighborhood where they
resided. when the white man demand
cd that the Negro be accepted as a
social equal by other white residents
OF the community and that he be bap-
TIED and accepted in membership at
the RehobOth Baptist Church. The
refusal Of the church officials TO ac-
cept the Negro in the white religious
organization led to threats from the
Negro that every man in the church
should be subjected to "coniuring
spell"
The Negro claimed 10 possess the
power OF hypnotism and to have been
inspired by the spirits TO so forth In
The land and lead in the upbuilding
OF new religious sect His strange
antics during the three years that he
resided in the Johnson household
brought three or four other white men
II that neighborhood under his inhu.
ance and aroused many Of the resi-.
dents OF that community.
A few weeks ago the Negro com
manded Johnson to 60 TO a certain
stump In neighboring woods at mid
night on the first full moon, and L
secure from the stump $3.50 which
no had compelled the spirits 10 plao
there lt was understood that the Ne
gro should receive $500 and johnson
should keep the other $3.50. On III
first night OF the full moon johnson
and the Negro visited the stump an
when the white man thrust his han
In the stump his fingers closed on
roll Of paper money. Upon countln
n IL was found that $3.50 was cor
tanned in the roll The Negro the
commanded Johnson 10 bury his pal
in a tin box under a fence corne
while he. the Negro. buried his at m
side Of an old walnut tree Both LOT
Of money were buried. but whe
Johnson returned 10 find his treasuI
few days later II was gone.
The story Of the Negroes ability
locate money in old stumps soc
spread through the neighborhood an
brought him two other white follow
ers. who were anxious that he loca
money for them. Skeptical whit
residents. however held no belief
the Negroes power. but could not M
ierstand the source from which u
money came Since the arrest Of n
negro, however. the fact Is recallg
hat an old woman was attacke
brutally beaten and robbed by a N
gro a few miles from the JohnsC
place several months ago. and tn
the amount taken from the woma
was slighhly in excess OF the amour
which the Spirits placed in the tr'
stump at the Negroes command.