The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-02
A Great Swintile.

An ingenious swindle, which cost Hughes,
Denver Il Peck of Washington city, General
Davis, Of New York, and others twenty
young men, George Allen and l.. Il. Metcalfe
of Paris, Illinois, concocted the viilainy. The
former visited Washington city, and assuming
to be q Confederate and wealthy cotton plan
ter, induced the firm named to obtain par
don from the President. Allen then informed
Messrs. Hughes Denver & Peck that he would
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 a chance to make something
handsome on the cotton he would let them
have the three thousand bales at twenty cents
pound, or about half the price. They told
him they would consult with their partners
in the cotton trade-General Davis and Mr..
Williams-and asked him to let the matter
stand for a time. He promised to wait on
them, and on leaving Washington city di-
rected 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, VINO
telegraphed him that Allen was OF on plea
sure 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 fair bargain with him. In the
rs Aliens agent or private secretary, and
stated that Allen had returned, and that he had
authorised him TO say that they could have the
cotton at twenty cents. Two or three days
afterward, Judge John g. Walker, of Wash
ington city, arrived here with power Of at
torney from Hughes, Denver Peck, to pur-
chase the cotton for them, he himself to have
a sixth interest in the profits. The Judge
found Allen ut the Southern Hotel, and con-
cluded, as they had matter of such impor-
tance to talk about, 1t would be as well for
them Just to take q room together for conve.
nience sake. Allen was willing, and they ac-
cordingly took rooms together at the Southern,
each endeayoring 10 excel the other in genial
hospitality, and that kind Of open hearted
generosity which vents itself in small alters,
such as cigars, champagne, etc.
After two or three days spent in telegraph
ing backward and forward from Washington,
Judge Walker received dispatch advising
him to advance twenty thousand dollars on
the cotton to close the bargain, and to draw on
them for the amount. The Judge accordingly
paid over to Allen the sum OF twenty thousand
dollars, and they were to leave in the course OF
two or three DAYS for Little Rock, the Judge
TO take along with him the sum of one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, or cash enough to
pay for the cotton on its delivery into his posses
sion. Allen and Metcalfe, having received the
money, left at once for Paris, Edgar county
Illinois, where they completely surprised the
natives by the amount of treasure they dis
PLAYED. It Is alleged that upon the day OF
tNclT IedcNluS 4 dTlS, tncy IOOh INV tuch wi
fdence third party, to whom they offered the
sum Of ten thousand dollars in cash 10 accom-
pany them to Little Rock with Judge Walker,
with view Of getting possession OF one hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars he was to take
with him.
The young man understood them as limiting
that IL would be necessary 10 murder the
Judge-who, they stated, was notorious
rebei-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 came to st. Louis and
informed Judge Walker Of what he had
learned. The Judge but an hour or two after
receiving the warming, and learning that the
men he had been dealing with were swindlers,
and that they had conceived the idea OF muT.
dering, came face TO face to Allen at 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
entering the hotel again, Allen and his con-
federate had taken the hint OF danger and fed.
IL was afterward discovered that they left the
city on the same afternoon for Canada. Moth.
ing has since been heard Of either OF them
So. Louts paper.