The New York herald., 1870-07-22

An Imaginary City in West Virginia Soio out
in Lots by New York Myth-five MIL
hon Dollars Worth Of Real Estate
in This and Other Cities 0hered
at One Dollar a Chance.

This cl,y Is proverbialy the seat OF the greatest
number and the greatest swinders OF the country
All sorts OF schemes for ext0rtlng money from the
unwary are concoced here. Many OF these have been
heretofore exposed IN the columns Of tho daily papers,
nut one Of the most stupendOus frauds ever known
has escaped detection up to this time. It is land
scheme, or brace OF schemes whereby one in
ventive genius here. named T. T.. S,udlfofd mas
realized large fortune within u few months. And
the way ne did 1t was ths:--
Taking advantage Of The interest awakened among
the working people throughout the country on fhe
subjects of coolie Importation cooperation, la1d
moDopolies and local colonization and klDdred
topics, this man Studiford ADVERTISED him'
self very extensively In the country papers
east west, north and SOUTH as the owner OF
beautiful tract Of land in and surrounding the
charming ''City OF Virginia." in Cabell county,
state Of West v-E:nia. TtS land he had divided
into building lots, which were selling like hot cakes
in winter at prices varying from $3.50 TO $500 per
lot according to location. or course everybody
wanted lot and a homestead In such delightful
locality. Maps and circ uars setting forth the
physical and @sthetcal attractions OF the place were
literally distributed and for while Mr. Studiford
did rushing business. Each lucky purchaser OF a
lot 25xlo0 feet at once despatched his deed to
the Cabell county clerks ofIlce, in the town
OF Barboursyllle. to have the same duly recorded.
But then came the surprise and the exposure
OF the swlndle. According to the manifesto Of Mr..
g. W. Burnett, County Clerk there exists no such
town Village or city in Cabeil county nor in any
other county IN West Virginia, as the city Of vir-
gpia," and no such man as T. T. Studiro rd, OF New
YORK, owns q loot OF land In the State. And be-
sides no such name a. his appears in the New Ork
Cry Directory.
TnIs was a terrible set back to the poor men who
hal 80 coniidingiy paid out their money for imagi-
nary lots In an equally imaginary city. The deeds
were made out In legal form. witnessed before Jonn
New York, whose place Of business is at SO Wall
street, ana by him duly seated. They were also
stamped, each with fifty cent revenue stamp, ami
were thus transmitted. as Mr.. Burnett declared,
IN immense numbers 10 MS Oice but the duDes
II rs believed that studlord has, by this swindle
realized between $4,000 and S5oo,o0o, and perhaps
much more.
The other land scheme surpasses The above i'm pre-
tension and promise ol ultimate gain, but carries
lts lace the marks OF dccention. 1t IS u lottery
OF chicago. III 1868, and subsequently transferred
New YORK, as being safer place TO consunnate a
one million dollars In gold aud four MILLIONS one
hundred and sixty-nine thousand dollars worth OF
real estate. The tickets FOR this lottery scheme
sold usual, at one dollar EACH Messrs. Bradford
Co. excuse tue long delay in their lrst drawing,
nd In THIS, their second enterprise, as they call it
by assuring the thousands whom they have cheated
that they were Obliged to leave Illinois, where 1t IL
Illegal to have lottery drawing. They, however, au-
ticpate no trouble in New York city, where, they say
they had drawing In James Carter & Co. IS banking
house on the 2sth OF last February. Tnoy and their
customers were SO we'll satisfied with the result OF
shat scheme. Virgins. Bradford e Co. have deter
mined to benefit much larger number OF poor but
worthy Ancrican9 by this their present plan which
rs to be conducted alter the manner OF Havana Oi.
tciies before committee appointed by the ticket
holders so as to guard the latter .against any posi-
be chance OF IOul play !" The drawing Ior tnis
magnificent lottery land swlnde Is to take place as
alleged aeSsov by y, ., me movers IN the scheme in the
the 9th instant when and where an immense gath
eriog OF INTERESTED spectators Is expected Inquiries
made at the Academy show that that place is not
lei Tor the Goth instant, and that In any event t
wonld not be LIT for such o purpose
The cash prizes VIII number 6,O2S IN sums rang
Ing rom 5000 00J-the capital prize--tO $40. OF the
zeal estate prizes there are eleven residences on
Fifth avenue, valued at $4,000 each; fourteen ON
the same avenue, worth S5, 600 each ten Twenty
fourth street, worth SIS 900 each; twenty -four on
Forty-sccond street, worth $4,000 each, and the
same number. OF equal value on Forty-1fth street.
The sum total OF these prizes Is $,460,00o any
Oh which can be had by chance with only one dol
lar. Besides these there also offered ia resi-
aenceS In the city OF Boston, Mass valued at from
5000 10 $ls 900 each, and worth in the aggregate
$64,C00 There are also eigny yeight houses IN Pitts
burg Pa, valued at s52s ,0yo twentyiour dwellings
In Baltimore Nd, worth ss50 900; forty in Cincinnati,
valued at S579,O00; -eyenty-Sx In st. Louis, NO.,
estimated al $3s2o0o, ana only three IN Chcagoihe
at 100000. The total value OF prizes offered is,
therefore. S., 900. discount OF twenty or
thirty per cent Is made all purchases OF tickets
from six to 5000 and the public is informed thar
James Carter * Co., bankers, OF No. 632 Broadway,
have kindly consented TO act receivers OF oil
moneys connected with this magnificent enterprise,
''fhe largest that has ever been inuugurated IN the
United States" careful inquiry at $50 Broadway
bbOw5 that there Is no such firm at that number,
nor is there bank Of any sort kept there, unless
indeed a faro bank may be hidden away. And this
Is the way unwary countymen are hooked IN daily
by city swindles.