Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-12-29

in the dispatches is confirmed, an,
the particulars have been obtained
4 Five years ago, according TO Tn
testimony before the grand jury o
Shannon county, which ha. jus
closed its session, ring was form
ed for the systematic forging o
| deeds Of lands in northern Arkan
sas and southeast Missouri. The
ring, in addition TO the parties in
terested here, is said to have agen,
cies in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh, Phil,
adelphia, New York and Manches.
ter, England. Some Of the agen-
cies have done an excellent bust
ness and il Is estimated that the
ring has forged and disposed OF
deeds to at lest $4,000. 900 acres
Of land, worth some sa5, 600, 600
or $50, ooO, 600.
Among the members of this ring
were James NJ. Lawton, David Big
ham, and Or. Thomas X. Harmon.
They are all well known in ST. Lou
is, and for a number Of years have
been specializing with various
schemes. Lawton is an English
man, and claims Manchester as his
legal residence. Most Of his time
he has been spending here, or on
the way back and forth. He Is
now supposed TO be on his way TO
this country, and will be arrested
rron his arrival.
The ring plan Of operation was
TO get possession Of the yearly de-
linquen. tax list Of the country.
= rom these lists was obtained in
formation concerning the lands up
on which taxes were not paid, and
it was deemed quite safe to con-
clude that the parties oSning the
land were not wstchfnl OF Their in
terest. Forged deeds were made
TO lands showing titles through
several fictitious parties. The
deeds were ingenionsly drawn,
having the proper acknowledge
neut taken in due form before Da-
vid 5. Bigham, notary public for
ST. Louis county. The deeds were
also properly recorded in the conn-
ties where the land lies, ami have
the appearance Of being genuine /
in every respect. Whenever par
les desired abstracts Of titles, they
them in due form. show
ne the chain Of title running back
through successive parties 10 the
government. In some cases deeds
we're forged 10 lands occupied, but
Is rule the ring confined its OPP
srations 10 the lands of non-resi-
Tents which were unoccupiei. No
attaches to the recorders
# the counties making out the alb
tracts OF titles as they have sim
Ny followed the records as they
ppear in making out the claims of
tile. Besides Bigham they were
ne or two other notaries who took
acknowledgment Of these forged
,apers- One batch Of sixty Of these
leeds were traced 10 a notary in
Pittsburgh. To those who under
itand how sparsely settled and how
'eclnded this section Of the coun-
~ Is, the possibility Of these
rauds viii be easier Of comp-e-
'ension- 1t is well known fac;
hat the greater part Of the land
involved Is owned by Don-residents
rho pay little or no attention 10
heir claim, and frequently neglect
o pay the taxes due on the same ,
or years, and much Of il is yearly
old by reason OF non-payneni Of
axes.
Another fact that greatly favor
d the operations Of the ring is ,
bat very generally in the counties
the territory around, the records !
cre destroyed during the war. :
-n6nown numbers Of these forged :
spers have been sold in Germany :
nd England, Lawton operating as
he agent for the ring. One of :
awton's favorite plans was to or :
anize colonial parties in various !,
arts Of England and Europe to :
title in certain localities in Mis-
'uri, where he represented he 4,
vned immense tracts Of land. He
ould sell off as far as possible, re- T
rving for himself large tract in ]
e proposed settlement After .,
his sales, or just prior N
the time set for the colony TO a,
lrt for their new homes Mr..
II na n