New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-03-05
Magnificent Cotton Swindie- -shrewd Opera
ti1ns of n Couple Of Country Kogues-Ar.
rest of a Suspected Party, etc.


lions of q Couple Of Country Kogues-Ar-
| rest Of n Suspected Party etc.
From the Chicago Timesl
| A most Ingenious daring and successful scheme
of robbery, by which a wel-known firm of Wash
ington City, Messrs. Hughes, Denver Peck
together with other interested parties Gen. Davis
of New York city, and R. G. Williams, were swim
died out of $40 900, at the Southern Hotel in this
city, two months since, was brought to light on
Wednesday by the arrest of Henry S. Metcalfe, u
well-known stock dealer of Paris, Illinois, a bro
ther of one of the alleged swinders, who was ar
rested on suspicion of completely with the robbers
on bail by Judge Primm, Capt j. G. Daggett, of
the Dry Dock Company, becoming security for
him in the sum of $4,000. The details Of the
swindle are related to us by parties cognizant of
the facts in the case as folows
Some three months ago, two young men from
Edgar county Illinois, who had served for a time
in the Union army, Geo, Allen and i. R. Metcalfe,
hit upen grand cotton swindling scheme, in the
development of which Allen visited Washington
where he figured as discharged rebel colonel
seeking his pardon. He called upon Messrs
Hughes, Denver & Peck, attorneys and lawyers,
and engaged them to use their influence with Pre-
sident johnson and work the pardon through for
him. The President read all his forged letters and
papers, concluded that he was thoroughly re
pentant rebel, and signed his pardon. Allen then
informed Messrs. Hughes, Denver Il Peck that he
wonld not forget their services He said that in
addition to his five plantations on the Red River
he had three thousand bales of cotton on storage
near Little Rock, and that he would give them
chance to make something handsome on the cot
ton; he would let them have the three thousand
bales at twenty cents per pound or about half the
price.
They told him they would consult with their
partners = in the cotton trade--Gen. Davis
and Mr.. Williams-and asked him to let
the matter stand for a time. He promised
to wait on them, and on leaving Wash
ington City, directed them to negotiate with him
at ST. Louis. Allen then returned to this city, and
put up at the Southern Hotel, awaiting dis
patches" In short time dispatch came, which
was answered by his confederate, Metcalfe, who
telegraphed him that Allen was off on pleasure
excursion, and that he would notify them of his
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 a fair bargain
with him. In the course of week Metcafe tele
graphed them as Aliens agent or private secre
tary, and stated that Allen had returned and that
he had authorized him to say that they could have
the cotton at twenty cents. Two or three days
afterwards, Judge John G. Walker, of Washington
City, arrived here with power of attorney from
Hughes, Denver Peck, to purchase the cotton
for them he himself to have sixth interest in the
profits.
The Judge found Allen 1.-THE Southern Hotel, and
concluded that as they had a matter of such i'm
portance to talk about, it woud be as well for
them just to take room together for convenience
sake. Allen was willing, and they accordingly
took rooms together at the Southern, each en-
deavoring to excel the other in genial hospitality
and that kind of open hearted generosity which
vents itself in small matters, such cigars cham
pagne, etc. After two or three days spent in tele
graphing backwards and forwards from Washing
ington Judge Walker received dispatch advising
him to advance twenty thousand dollars on the cot
to close the bargain, and to draw on them for
the amount. The Judge accordingly paid over the
sum of twenty thousand dollars and they were to
leave in the course of two three days for Little
Rock, the Judge to take along with them the sum
of $50 900, or cash enough to pay for the cotton
on its delivery into his possession. Allen and Met
calfe having received the money. left at once for
Paris Edgar county, Illinois, where they com
petely surprised the natives by the amount of
treasure they displayed. 1T alleged that upon
the day of reaching Paris they took into their
confidence third party, to whom they offered
the sum OF $40, 900 in cash to accompany them to
Little Rock with Judge Walker, with view to
getting possession of the Sl50,000 he was to take
with him.
The young man understood them as limiting that
It would be necessary to murder the judge-who,
they stated, was notorious rebel-and he de-
cllned to accompany them. The young man then
went to the sheriff of Edgar county and informed
him of the plot. The sheriff at once came to St.
Louis and informed Judge Walker of what he had
learned. The judge but an hour or two after re-
ceiving the warning, and learning that the men
he had been dealing with were swindlers, and that
they had conceived the idea of numbering him
came face to face with Allen at the desk of the
Southern Hotel. He had not, however, the cour-
age to arrest Allen, but ran into the street and
hunted for policeman. Upon entering the hotel
again, Allen and his confederate had taken the
hint of danger and fled. 1t was afterwards dis
covered that they left the city the same afternoon
for Canada. Nothing has since been heard of
either of them.
The arrest Of Metcalfe's brother at Paris, on
Wednesday, was made at the request, we believe |
of Mr.. Williams, of Kentucky, one of the losers BY
the swindle, and who has been on visit of a
week or two in this city, having left for home yes
terday afternoon. Henry s. Metchalfe is young
man in excellent standing in Edgar county, and
tracts, and it is difficult to conceive that he was
guilty of any completely with his brother and his
brothers confederate in their wicked enterprises
He is respectfully connected in this city and his
friends youch for his character He had no diff
ticulty in procuring the amount of bail required
by Judge Primm. He will appear before the
Criminal Court upon the coming term, when he
viii probably be tried upon whatever charges
there may be against him.