New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-07
A FAMILY OF SWINDLERS.
SHE ELIAS CROWD AND THEIR RASCAL
TIES

TEA AND COFFEE COAPakI-IilE GENEVA
WATCH SWINDLE.
Further investigation, made yesterday by
TRIBUNE reporters demonstrated that there stll
NAMED other schemes OF fraud concerted by the Elias
crowd no less extensive and hearess t1an those which
TIE TRIBUNE has already exposed.
The first floor OF Is BOndst consisting Of two large
parlors Is ostenslbly the Office OF "Grea5 Git Enter
prise" which, according to circulars sent 10 al parts OF
the eountrv Il, bcnevolently designed for the benefit OF
the wives and children ot Cuban patriots who, M the
hands Of yalmasedas Spanish soldiers. have suffered
untold hardship. and. in many instances, horrible
deaths" The man vino manages the affairs ~ the ON
Is Jno L. Constantine, with many aliases ana a~ oi
"sawdust fame at No 81 Canal-s De ~ also Jhe R'h-
eral agent for Ellis II. Elias. the phllanthrop't' "o
under the modest disguise OF Mason MOTEL"
& Co.. conducts the EmZrant Protective
Agency The circulars which are disseminated
after drawing a narrowing picture OF tue
suheriBgs OF the Cuban patriots wives and children
appeals in affecting language 10 Cuban sympath GERS or
AID in carrying out the Efforts TO assist Tue -us
The appeal proceeds say that fOr the price OF 81 the
holder OF ticket may only be entitled TO listen 10
concert given by many Prima Donnas who have Yo'un
teered their services for the the concert to De
held on the lst of April next" suggestive d1y)
"at the Academy OF Music but also oe en-
titled 10 draw one Of many prizes, some OF
which are valued slOOOO and at the same time eeI
that he il contributing largely the Liberation OF the
Cubans from the Spanish yoke This enterprise IA nom
inaly presided over by Sonora Elena Aama all efforts 10
communicate with whom however have thus far proven
unavaing In using the above name the snrewdnes7 OF
these rascals il again exhibited The name OF Aldaha
the Cuban leader whose estates worth Millions were con-
f.cated by the Spaniard, instantly fires the Cuban pa
trots heart, and by writing the name Of the reputed
Sonora like That OF Albania. with the omission OF singo
letter which might not be noticed be esteemed ~
pOgra phica by the rcdder Elias endeavors 10 CON
vey the impression that the famous PATRIOTS w' l. Tie
great mover in the enterprise and calculates That money
viii accordingly pour ill.,
The hack paror occupied, Yesterday. 10y persons
e4cfsed in sending circulars ot the CITY, wbue the
front room was reserved fag Mglr5rs after tcAt but
the revelations N gHL sBUSL caused the occupants to
act very 6e0 Isy and refuse y sell tickets at
me office. They offered however forward hem to any
place out Of town upon receipt by letter OF money SEM
by any person to whom they had addressed circular
i The Elias crowd about engaging in additional
fraudulent enterprises such project for paying The
EIeuef war debt, and other schemes when IL VIII De
the future duty Of THE TRIBUNE 10 cAposc SJc OF iher
past operations are detailed below
In former times the Eiascs operated in the western
States Cincinnati was their headquarters The lat
one LETT that January, 1870 after sWndns the Ia
habtants out about $4,000 by means OF mos impn-
| dent eft enterprise. A younger brother Of Ell, II.
Elias had at that time ieTery store on West Fourth
ST. Cincinnati In November 1863, be advertised txteu-
sivey n the Cincinnati papers that he intended to retire
from business and wOud dispose OF his yaiuaoe St"cr
which everybody was invited to inspect, by means OF
cifr concert, which to come of az Mozart Hat on
the 18Th of January 1870. Tie tickets Tor I'm. concert
were 20 81 ana the purchasers were entitled beside
chance IN te draW M, winch 81, 10 De h"a az ile
end OF the concert In Ms adYert1sehehtS rms I'M
pudenty referred 20 number or prominent ,ILtlhLa-
tln- FOR the probity u his character Athou-A y wa
speedily 8sccrtdIned that none OF me persons %,
knew anything about him, the tickets s0id rap's ana
on the day OF the drawing Lias had SOFA III s.erpt
about 1000. The drawing TOOK pace, j." on" uIs"
pre- and, the following day Ela- hrd win -
/ whole stock 10 NcwYork The indgnar9n Of the GIN
cmnJtian was Intense aud me '0"W,Ft"H "'-'tf I'M
oireg Times and Chr0HCle denounced the rascal ih III
ON The i9l OK Novembc-. ls7O Col Whitley detectives
arrested Joseph Cisco, James Wilson. samuel Florence,
Adolph Mart, charles L. dcGll. Charles brui' GeorS.
Mitchell and Patrick Dave, on the charge o, OLrruI
counterfeit money for sale These men stouty dr:ned
neai to esrbiish fine corpus dsIict Cisco and wilson
we're osensibe chiefs, but really acted under the
order, ant direction ~ their principal Ellis IT. Ehns
They held examination, and ban was qured IN
10000 Ellis H. Elias was forced 10 appear ~ he feared
mat Cisco ami Wilson would squeal" or. IN other words
disclose all the facts OF lbs connection Win ne 1usln
| IT. accordingly went 70 wellknown livery ,t4L.e
keeper AID urged him to become oail Tor 'lsco ana ar
rem, offering ~ me came 1mt 10 Sc'uIe nm - !" &c
! po,t OF $1,000 in Government bonds The gentle
man applied to rrfnsr' bnt E..4' y aner%arI,
person who furnished the bail required Al me per gs
been seen. Tie bail M, ureu iori'led an 'uL H.nrN
las b.n unable 10 their attendance for tr al The
United states detectives that Elas ana ls brother.
r, connected with all the socalled saWdust cme, IN
|
The bogus iewelry fraud is similar in origin to the
! Geneva watch game Elaborate advertisements ana
hauIug circulars are distributed inviting thc h'thloh
Of The credul0us OF jewery M rates ruuOuS 10
legitimate trade. either the result ot banuptcT or
! based upon equally plausible reason The Milton
iewelry trade o this SORT and numnerr-s people
were humbugged buying worthless articles, utterly
| unfit for respectable people 10 wear. . -
| The ',awdust game" Is based Nor i is stu
carried on on autographed circuar In which counter
felt money is offered for sale. The country is Hooded
with these circulars. and many persons are found who
one circular ~ this kind forwarded 20 this city yester
day. and handed 10 q TRIBUNE reporter purports to
| come from George Harrington, AT No ~ Broad
way who j. said by the United states ON
cia' to he Elias under an a.ias. Thi7 Grui ar
70 Sioc ccordinS 70 amount ordered Tie victim after
forwarding The advance payment receives IN due time
box when tine remaining CHARGES are 70 be pad m
delivery This box l.. either filed with sawus
talns sealed envelope. InclOsed In the latter is note
requesting the recipient not 70 be discouraged as ths
| proceeding Is .only blind" and this course Is
done 10 drude the authorities" and asserting that
! a. shield the purchaser from danger, an empty
different manner will notice OF the receip, OF
box. This explanation Is generally SATISFACTORY out
after long waiting II the person NctnItu ue'.cs I'M
patient and threatens, he receives reply stating that
liar he has rendered himself amenabe % the law and
that his name and all the circumstances will be- made
public II he does shut up" THIS threat suihces
| and the swndler retains the advances made
| The smuggling circular swndle consists In sending
| Fbicb tbrough collision with the Custom house OF
through other means, has succeeded IN getting into
/ the country Tree OF uhil' ih' "
stated together with the price and the recipient OF the
circular Is solicited send his money and designate
ms IoOis which will b. duly forwarded by express In
many instances the money is sent but the goods
/ follow.
! Another swindling concern, styled the Merchants
| American Ten. Coffee, and Spice Company OF NO. 81
Iibery--t New York has lately been distributing en-
culars, accompanied by prlccisr To country m-rch-
/ ans This Company offers to send samples Of Us
! goods for So which Is represented ~ the
/ net cost To the Company. The price-ist l.
| remarkable for its lOwuerS. and IL attractions
| are enhanced by the orer OF On exclusive
agency sale Of the goods The country mere htnt
afer seud.r ms $40 hears more Of the money the
goods. and realizes too late that he i, III vicUm