National Republican., 1876-03-27
IMPOSING UPON SENATORS AND MEM
BERs.
Mrs. BsEkst's Frauds on Co,grsssmsn-a'T
She Onsratad.

bne UpefaSsu'
During the present session Of Congress the
members Of both Houses havs tesn considerably
annoyed by the frequent appeals made TO them
for sid and assistance. In mIny instances the
parties soliciting aims were total strangers, and
could not establish their Identity or honesty
with the honorables, bat vera given something
as the quickest mode OF getting rid Of them. In
other cases there were deserving applicants, and
they generally received due consideration at the
hands Of those able to bestQw, StIu the inpos.
tiers outnumbered the needy and deserving "by a
SO BOLD and frequent as to attract the notice Of
Capt. Blackford and his officers and they deter
mined to break up the dishonest practice. Nearly
every day within the past month q little girl has
been noticed at the Capitol before and during the
sessions OF the two Houses, circulating among
number of letters. When unable to meet them
in person she would use the doorkeepers as mes
seDgers to convey the missIves inside the Cham
6ers, and as they were begging letters she often
On one occasion within the past fortnight she
put 10 m an aPpestrnce a. Usual Win t01r letters
Congressmen. The recipients, by some means,
became aware in a short time Of their having
similar letters for the same object in their pos:
session, and. after a short conference, concluded
have 1t looked into.
mittee for the occasion, and to him the letters
were turned over. They were all OF the same
date and signature, Dut Qluerent, as Will DC seen,
in the body of the Communication:
Hon. Mr.. -. NJ. q: Will you please send
me $40 by my little girl. My little boy broke his
arm and am IN great distress; and and know Of
18th Of this month. Hoping you will do so, as
will ever appreciate il, am, yours respectfully.
MRS. A. BARKER, No. 52S Third street.
Hon. Mr.. -: VIII you please send me SO by
my little girl. On the 18th Instant will call and
pay you without fail. My little child broke his
ruFfhn nnt fai m Saa vOT1 last
winter, and you will remember me when you see
me. Please do this favor. will ever remember
you, &c. Yours, respectfully,
Mrs. A. BARKER, 523 Third street.
The third was to Representative Of the w est,
and raising the figures TO $40, fer the purpose, as
she says, to enable me to go to the bedside of my
dying sister in Connecticut" her mother having
teIegrsphed to her to come Immediately.
The Senator's letter, who, in response to an ap.
was as follows: my child is dead and am in
great distress, or would not ask this. You will
know who am when call, or would not send
this" No amount is asked for, though few
days before the Senator had received the "broken
The little girl was sent home by Capt Black.
ford, and that officer afterwards paid visit in
person to the woman calling herself Mrs Barker,
but she not only declined to see him, but gave
peremptory orders that he should net be admitted
From subsequent inquiries made, the fact was
developed that Mrs. Barker has recently
opened boarding house at No. 52S Third street
northwest, and that she is still running it, The
merchants and trades-peOple in that locality
seemed to be impressed with the notion that she
desires to avoid them, and they md 1t difficult to
secure settlement for contracted debts. The
person in question, who is represented as being
the author of the fraudulent letters, under the
name of Mrs. Barker, is said to be young
widow, rather comely and prepoSsesslng IN fea-
ture ard ngure, and was tormerl J Miss Moca-
bee, residing in East Washington. However
mysterious her means OF securing q livelihood
may be- 1t Is said that she is great for style. and
supports her private carriage. II is to be hoped
that all similar cases OF imposition will be brought
TO lig ht and exposed. aad thus remove the preiu-
dice existing against the honest poor and desery-
ing classes