Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-05
AN INGENIOUS SWINDLE.
A warming 20 sou1hern Iand-ownerI

WArnAnE 10 SOuibeFn Aanu-DWuefs.
A city correspondent writes TO the New
York World;
My attention has been drawn within
the last few days. professionally, to a swim
die, which / understand is being extern
siVely practiced, and which seems especi-
ally directed against the Southern people,
who are at present the least able to bear il.
The Blodus 0psrandi seems to be as follows
Agents who pretend to be employed by
large and respectable houses in this city,
are sent out 20 represent that they are au-
thOrized to purchase a large quantity Of
ScEthern lands which are needed for the
purpose Of eueJufagiag fareiesf eEigra-
ton, and that for well located lands when
a good title can be given, excellent oppoT-
tunities for exchange will be offered. The
propositions offered are something to this
effect The agent pretends that the firm
in New York which he represents are the
owners Of large quantity Of liquors in
bond, which are worth at least So per gall
Ion that the duties, expenses, etc. upon
them amount to about 81 25 that on the
delivery Of the deed of the lands he will
give to the grantOr an order from the firm
in New York for the delivery of the num-
Der of gallons agreed upon on the receipt of
the 81 % for duties, etc. The contract
being signed, an agreement is sent out by the
New York house TO the effect that they
will deliver to the grantor, manning him,
at any time within three months, 80 many
gallons of sherry or port, Tor whatever
wine that may have been contracted for,
worth three dollars per gallon on receipt
of the deed and The one dollar and tpenh,-fre
cents, etc. Upon receipt of this, the owner
Of the lands is induced to part with the
deed, which ia Immediately sent to be re-
corded. Computing the amount he Is to
receive for his lands by multiplying the
number of gallons by the difference be-
tween the value of the wine and the amount
to be deducted for duties, etc, and be-
lieving that there will be no diff.
Guilty in inducing the large house in New
York to pay the duties and deliver to him
at the reduced price, or if they should de-
cline, that he would be able without very
great sacrifice to raise the required amount
on the goods in bond, the gentleman from
the rural districts believes that he has made
a good trade. He visits New York and
calls upon the firm with whom he is doing
business, and is received most Handsomely.
He would like the order, but is politely re-
minded of the little matter of one dollar
and twenty-five cents, and receives the re-
grets Of the capitalist that his means are so
largely invested abroad at this time that be
does not feel able to make the advancement
for the dnties. The gentleman from the
country would like a sample 30 that be
can 60 into the market and negotiate a loan.
This, of course, is conceded, and small
boy (theo only clerk is privately dispatched
to the nearest wine importers to procure it.
The sample obtained, the gentleman who
has parted with his land makes IN effort in
the street to procure the necessary advance.
He soon learns TO his dismay that the liquor
is worth perhaps seventy cents, gold, and
that the duty on such an article amounts
TO about thirty cents, gold. On meeting
with his friend, the merchant, he accuses
him Of defrauding him, aud he is told that
the question as to the value of wines is a
very nice question, and that he has been
misinformed; but is assured that nothing.
Of course, can be done until the 81 % has
been paid, and then, if the vine is not az
represented, he has his legal remedy.
Should the gentleman from the country
be able to make the payment Of 81 %, and
demand the order for the goods, the mer-
chant would then go to some importing
| house and buy the amount required in
bond, worth, perhaps zoe gold, and pay the
80 per cent. gold duty. This order he
would make over, and thus actually make
something out of the 81 25 paid to him,
besides becoming possessed of the land.
In fact, the gentleman from the rural dis
trict pays the respectable firm in the city
for taking possession of his farm. / have
alluded to respectable firms in the city which
are carrying on this business. IL is proper
TO say that but one instance has come to
my indiridWdt knowledge, but this firm is
unquestiOnably carrying it on extensively
The gentleman who applied to me is
from Virginia, and is a highly intelligent
and respectable person. He lost everything
during the war except his land, and boz
gus firm have left him with large family
| without any resource whatever. ! say bo-
gus firm, because it is represented by one
individual only, though pretending other.
wise, and he is a man who has not only
| been indicted for crime, but he is vel
known in this city, and especially in Lud
low street Jail, IA of notorious bad charae
ter. My client, finding that no entreaty
| could move him to make restitution, tOoB
the law temporarily in his own hands, anC
administered TO him aogging, which viii
serve at least as temporary balm in hi
| misfOTtunes.
Respectfully, j. t. d.