The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-30
AIwarning TO southern Landowners

4 4 ~ hoDA4 .ss,.... :.APRlL 30, 1858
AIWarning to osouthern nLand-owners.
4 To The Editorof the World: zssgl.sL - ~. !,
| My attention has been drawn within the
last few days, professionally, to- q swindle,
which understand is being extensively
4 praetised, and which seems especially di-
| rected against the southern people, who are
at present the least able to bear it. The
nodus opera1adi seems to be ais follows
4 Agents who pretend to be employed by
large and respectable houses in this city are
sent out to represent that they are autho-
rized to purchase a large quantity of south
ern lands, which, are needed for the pur-
pose of encouraging foreign emigration,
and that for well-located lands, when good
title can be given, excellent opportunities
for exchange will be offered. The PROPOSE
tions offered are something to this, effect ::
The agent pretends that the firm in New
York which he represents are the owners of
a large quantity Of liquors in bond which
are worth at least three dollars per gallon !;
that the duties, expenses, &c., upon
them amount to about 1925; that on
the delivery Of the deed of the lands
ne will give to the agrantor an or
der from the firm; in New York for the
delivery of the number of gallons agreed
l upon on receipt Of the 81 rs for duties, SC.
The contract being signed, an agreement is
:. sent out by the New York house to the effect
that they will deliver to the grantor (narning
him) at any time within three months so
many gallons of sherry or port Tor what
ever wine may have been contracted for),
worth three dollars per gallon, on receipt of
the deed and the one dollar and t,oenty.tue
cents duties, etc. Upon receipt of this,
the owner of the lands is induced to part
with the deed, which is Immediately sent to
| be recorded. Computing the amount he is
to receive for his lands BY multiplying the
! number of gallons by the difference between
| the value Of the wine and the amount to be
/ deducted for duties, etc., and believing that
! there will be no difficulty in inducing the
/ large house in New York to pay the duties
and deliver to him at the reduced price, or,
if they should decline, that he would sbe
able, without very great sacrifice, to raise
the required amount on the goods, in bond
the gentleman from the rural district be-
lieves that he has made good trade. He
1 visits New York and calls upon the firm
with whom he is doing business, and is re-
ceived most handsomely. He would like
the order, but is politely reminded Of the
| little matter of one dollar and. twenty-five
cents, and receives the regrets of the capi-
talist that his means are so largely invested
abroad at this time that he does not feel
able to make the advancement for the du-
ties. The gentleman from the country
would like sample, so that he can 60 into
the market and negotiate loan. This, of
course, is conceded, and small boy (the
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 an 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, and he is told that
the question as to the value of wines is q
very nice question, and that he has been
misinforned ! but is assured that nothing,
of course, can be done until the 81 .25 has
been paid, and then, if his wine is not as
represented, he has his legal remedy. 4
Should the gentleman from the country
be able to make the payment Of S1.25, and
demand the order for the goods, the mer-
chant would then go to- some importing
house and buy the amount requiredin bond,
worth, perhaps, roc, gold, and pay the 80
per cent, gold, duty. This order he would
make over, and thus actually make some
thing out of the Sl.25 paid to him, besides
becoming possessed of the land. In fact,
the gentleman from the rural district pays
the respectable firm in the city for taking
possession of his farm. have alluded to
respectable firms in the city which are car
rying on this business. 1t is proper to say
that but one instance has come to my i1di-
uidual knowledge, but this firm is unques-
tionably carrying it on extensively.
The gentleman who applied to me is from
Virginia, and is highly intelligent and
respectable person, He, lost everything
during the war except his land, and a bogus
firm have left him with a large family with
out any resource whatever. / say bogus
firm. because it is represented by one ipdi-
vidual only, though pretending otherwise,
and he is q man who has not only been in
dicted for crime, but he is, well known in
this city, and especially in Ludlow=street
jail, as of notorious bad character, My
client, finding that no. entreaty could move
him to make restitution, took the law tenn
porarily in his own hands, and administered
to him a fogging, which will serve at least
as q temporary balm in his misfortunes.
Respectfully, . J. Z. D..