, 1866-03-02
Il BIG SWISDLE.
TWO Young Hen, Named George Alien
and l.. r. metca1fe OF Paris tIll.},
Leaders In the vlAzIny-A Chicago
Lawyer Ono OF The Victims.

TWO Young Men, Named George Alien
and L. II. metcaife OF Paris tIll.),
Leaders in the vlAxIny-A Chicago
Lawyer One OF The Victims.
An ingenlous swlndle, which cost Hughes,
Denver q Peck, OF Washington CITY. General
Davis, Of New Yosk, and Others, S36,0oo, has
been made public. Two young men. George
Allen and L. X: Metcalfe. Of Paris, IL, con
cocted the yllllaIny, The former visited
Washington City, and assuming to be Con-
federate aud wealthy cotton planter, Induced
the firm to obtain q pardon from the Prcsl-
| dent Allen then informed Messrs. Hughes,
Denver and Peek thnt he would not forget
their services He said that, in addition 10
his five plantations on the Red River, be had
1000 bales Of cotton on stora ye at Little Book,
and that he wou1d give them Chance to
| make something handsome on the cotton he
/ would let them have the 5000 bales at 20
cents pound, or about half the price. They
told them they would consult with their part
ners In the cotton trade-Gen. Davis and Nr.
stand for time He promised 10 wait on
them, and on leaving Washington City d.
rected them to negstiate with him at st.
Louis. Allen then returned to st. Louis, and
put up at the Southern Hotel, awaitlnsss des
patches"
In short time despatch came, which was
answered by bis confederate Mescalfe, who
telegraphed him that Allen was Oh on a
pleasure excursion, and that he would notify
them of hts return, at the same time assuring
them That his cotton was still in the market,
and they would have no difficulty in regard
to making fair bargain with HIM. In the
course Of week Matcalfe telegraphed them:
as Aliens agent or private secretary, md
stated that Alien had returned, and that he
had authorized him to say that they could
have the cotton at twenty cents. Two or
three days afterward judge John C.. Walker,
Of Washington CITY, arrived here with power
ofattoEney from Hughes, Denver T. Peck, to
have d sixth interest in the profits. The
Judge fonnd Alien 1t the Southern Hotel, and
concluded, as they had a matter Of such I'M
portanee to talk about, It would be as well
Tor them just to take u room together for
convenience sake. Allen was willing, and
they accordingly took rooms together ut the
Southern, each e1deayoring' to excel the
ether in genial hospitality which vents itself
In small matters, such as cigars, champagne,
etc.
Af1er two or three days spent In telegraph
ing. backward and forward from Washington,
Judge Walker received despatch advising
him to advance twenty thousand dollars on
the cotton to close tho bnrgufu and to draw
on them for the amount. The Judge nccord-
iDgly paid over to Allen the sum Of twenty
thousand dollars, aud they were to leave In
the course Of two or three days for Little
snm Of Sl50,C00 or cash enough to pty for
tho cotton on its delivery into his possession.
Allen and ,ietcalie, having received the
money, lett at once for Paris, Edgar county,
Illinois, where they completely surprised the
natives by tho amount Of treasure they dis
played. It is alleged that upon the day of
their reaching Paris. they took Into their
confidence a third party, to whom they oticr-
ed the sum of $10, 900 ID cash to accompany
them to Little Rock with Judge Walker, with
view of getting possession Of $3.50 900 he
was to take with him.
The young man understood them ~ limiting
that It would be necessary to murder the
Judge-Who. they stated, was q notorious re-
bel-and he declined to accompany them.
The young man then went to the Sheriff of
Edgar county and informed him of the plot.
The Sheriff at once camc to St. Louis, and iu-
folued Judge Walker of what be had learned.
The judge, but an hour or two aftes receiving
the warning, and learning that the men be
had been dealing with were gwinalers, and
that they had conceived the Idea of murder
ing, came face to lace with Allen ut the desk
Of the Southern Hotel He had not, however,
the courage to arrest Allen, but ran into the
street and hunted for Policeman Upon en-
tering the hotel again, Allen and his confede-
rate had taken the hint Of danger and fled. It
was afterward discovered that they Lett the
city on the same afternoon for Canada. Moth
Ing has eInce been heard OF either Of them.
The st. Louis Democrat says that Metcalte
has since been arrested, and gave bonds in
go, Geo to answer.