The Monroe journal., 1921-05-17
YORK NEGRO FELL FOR
CENTURY OLD SKIN" GAME
Nah Wealth "Detector," salisbury
Man oi Color Got $50 Out OF
Hard Working Farmer.
THEY THOUGHT HE WAS INSANE


No. ), probably never in all of his life
heard OF the late z. +. Barnum. but
he probably agrees with Mr Bar
mum famous declaration TO the ei-
feet that there is sucker horn ef-
cry minute. says the lorkNilie En-
quirer. King i ont more than SoV rs
a result OF an experience with
smooth. colored brother who gave ms
name as J I. Moore and whO said ne
hailed from salisbury. n {. julie not
anlA Il out III his money, but he came
very near to landing in the state hos
lital Tor the insane down m Columbia
arI he did spend ali q. last Monday
H. s-v in Nark,iile Bite here Is how
II I'D came about ana officers say II
ls bout the smoofhcst confidence
ua = thai has been worked IN many
y a1y
4 smooth talkin- negro Who said
ms name was } T. Moore came %
.inls's house III the sutton Springs
nsighhorhood one day last week.
I is treasure prospector, ne
cNplained by way OF introduction,
sand | hear as loW YOU owns Ncuf
own farm. There might De some hid
don treasure on YOUR place and then
again there might not be. II you
amt got no objection Ill Jest prospect
around with my divinin rod tor to
see what | could see.
III | don't find nothin' it don't cost
YOU nothing, and if | do Ill take
commission out of the treasure. 10
show YOU am all right | would like
for YOU TO look over this check.
Old julie looked AT the check ana
the smooth tongued negro and ne
forthwith invited the visitor IN. Aunt
Nancy. Jules wife. was also quite Ia
Vorably impressed and the visitor was
given the best bed and the best there
was 10 eat in the house.
The talk that evening went IN the
direction of gold and precious stones
ana fabulous wealth and there were
vivid pictures painted before the eyes
u. julie and Nancy of great stores oil
hidden wealth left by ancient Indians
and others on Carolina farms.
Before going to bed the visitor
from Salisbury advised his hosts TO
say nothing about his visit-"well. IL
would be best that all the folks not
know If we find anything, don't YOU
know"
The next morning bright and early
Prospector Moore was mp aud around
the place looking things over lie eX-
plored the creek. the wood lands. the
fields-all around.
There were no evidence OF buried
gold. julie spirits fell. SO did Nan
cy's. But not for long.
With his instrument in his hand,
Moore found spot around winch ne
was sure there was gold. II was out
in a field and to eyes OF julie and his
snouse looked like many another spot
on the little farm where cotton and
corn grew.
Use shore we have located II. ex-
planned the prospector. Il am going
70 draw ring around this place and
now we will begin to dig. NOW
don't want no talking WITHIN TINS
rims because ii won't do
The pick and mattock were brought
into play -
after digging at some depth, four
bars and a bracelet were found
~.Nou before takes them up I've
got 90 deordorize them, explained
fhe prospector. He had sulphur ana
kerosene with him and also a supply
of cotton.
The negroes were advised to put
the cotton to their noses lest they pe
overcome by the fumes.
Then the sulphur and ketosehe
were ignited.
The bracelet and the four bars pre-
senting a trrnished appearance were
taken up.
Julc was allowed to handle them.
So was Nancy.
An inscription on one of the bars
stated its value was $4,000 An
other bore the figures S2O,Oo0 me
two others were valued at $lo,ooo
each according to chiseled lnserlp-
Iions on each.
The bracelet was a beauty ana
Struck the woman's eye.
Now" explained the prospector'
t.we got to send this treasure 10
Washington to be turned into cash'
Then you and ! get go to Column
bia 10 the custom house and to see
Governor Cooper for identification.
"Them customs people in Columbia
gets $50 for making the transfer. the
money is to be sent to them from
washington. We sends them $50 IN
advance for their services. Wen see
Governor Cooper Saturday morning at
Q o'clock for Identification and then
we gets the money. You gets most OF
II and I gets a commission.
you'll have to pay that $50 Zee
because | amt got my check cashed'
The alleged gold bars and bracelet
were placed in box and presumably
sent to Washington.
Julie had a COW which he sold Tor
s2s and he borrowed the rest OF the
Zoe from MI. william Mcclure.
Julie and the prospector started TOT
Columbia last week via Rock Hill.
In Rock Hill the $50 was given over
to Moore who claimed he was TO bring
II TO Columbia.
The two got in the capital city FRI
day night. Moore promised to meet
julie at the state house Saturday
morning.
He hasn't been there yet.