Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-02-27
lSPECIAL no THE BANNERS

~ Rev. Ralph Paul Russell, the BLACK
Moody or ''The Swamp Angel" as
he SO terms himself, certainly pull
ed the wool over the authorities eyes
in Beverly, but he did not do it else
where. D to an investigation con-
Quoted by Officer Thomas w. Hol-
land, word has been received, togeth-
er with several clippings from Elmira,
N. Y. papers bearing Russell's pic
ture, and stating that he had served
sentence of one year in the Monroe
County Penitentiary after he had
been found guilty Of petit larceny.
1t seems almost impossible that
man in human form could live the
life he has lived with the name of
Reverend. When he came to Bever-
ly, he hitched his engine to the
wrong train, he became acquainted
with Rev. Lee Hicks and according
to Hicks he heeced him, after which
warrant was sworn out, Russell was
arrested, brought to Beverly from
Wilmington, Del, and tried in the
court of Judge Thompson, who held
Russell on $1,000 bail and finally re-
Tented and cut the bail down to $500.
This suited some people but some
it didn't. Russell went around living
this kind of life, making debts and
leaving them unpaid everywhere he
went. Finally he drifted into organ
izing band of singers through the
North having been down South to
the Jenkins Orphanage to get his
idea. He fooled people everywhere
with the singers, claiming he was re-
presenting the Orphanage. Finally
he appeared in Elimira, N. Y. and
young lady was kind enough to in
quire of the Jenkins home about Rus
sell. She received an immediate re-
ply, Russell is fraud" Before the
answer 'eached her Russell was ar.
rested WATERFOWL Conn, carried
before { q courts and sentenced to
one year II the State penitentiary.
Russell was il sentenced to one
year in the entiary at Elmira,
N. Y. on the ea c charges brought
against him in early every city he
has struck. For several minutes be-
fore the sentence was imposed on
Russell, Recorder Gardner engaged
the self-styled minister and evangel-
list in conversation. Finally after
several questions, he said: Russell,
/ might just as well get to the point
now. In my opinion, you are the
meanest imposter and fraud I have
ever seen. You have not only swim
died people of means, but poor people
as well, who thought you were in the
work Of God:
In fact the stories you told and
the rainment you are wearing were
only used by you 70 trick everyone
into believing you were minister of
the gospel. could if ] desired add
a fine of $500 and inasmuch as you
have no money left out of the hun
dreds you practically stole, you
would have to spend 500 days, beside
the year in prison. However, if the
time you spend in prison does mot
reform you, nothing ever will" At
torney Newman, Russell's lawyer
said, 'The only thing can see left
for my client to do, is to plead guilty
and take the consequences at the
hands of the court"
This happened on May 7th, 1928,
nearly two years ago, and still Rus
sell is up to his old tricks Though
it is hard to make some people be-
lieve it.
Before Russells trial in Elmira, an
other chapter was written about his
life when he was faced with a COM
plant from Freehold, N. j., charged
with kidnapping. He was charged
with having "enticed girl under
the age Of l6 years, and had hidden
her from her parents for period
Of nearly three years Detective
George w. Curley, Of Freehold, N.
]. arrived in Elnira, on the morning
Of May 9Th, 1928, with the complaint
and desired TO take I'll 'Black
Moody" as he termed hirsself back
with him. When told of The conn
plant, RusseIl's air Of cas- was not
shaken In the least,