The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-12-30
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

While residing in the West, some years
ago, | became acquainted with some Cir
cumStances, that, in connection with sub
ssquent history, interested me much, and
may excite some thoughts in the minds of
some of your readers; and, if any of them
that are read in the law can see "a case y
in this instance, or suggest a remedy, they
would benefit ong-sutfering community.
If you have any general laws in your
State, intended to meet such cases: or if
any Elkton lawyer would undertake a case
on the terms of some doctors mo cure, no
pay. he might do well to look up this bust
ness, and there is not much doubt that the
business men of the tow could be induced
to form a league for their own protection,
and guarantee the funds necessary to insure
success: for, if the information be correct,
there is not man in business of any kind
in the township that has not suffered, and
many in the cities within two hundred
miles have been tleeced badly.
\ man was the nominal owner of farm
when the war broke out, and had been for
some years before. He had quite family
about him, some of whom were then nearly
grown up, and seemed to be making an
ordinary living by his own legitimate bust
ness. But he was not satisfied with this
slow method OF making money, and had
propensity to dabble in other sorts of bust
ness and dealt in cattle, horses, sheep and
swine, and was even thought of having
some transactions in the negro line on
some of his speculative trips. One disap-
peared suddenly and went South, and no
other explanation was ever given. She
had lived about his house, and he had a
controlling influence over her.
During the war he did a speculative
Inns in Inn Ia f,r = ba
Government. He was a good penman, and
if he could get a contract, he had no trouble
in the way of getting security, for he could
write the name of any man or woman in
the vicinity that he had ever seen. When
he happened to get short of funds and
wanted to borrow, he had always endorsers.
He had a wealthy relative, whose name fire.
quently appeared, and who would pay such
notes rather than expose the fraud. Bust
ness men were gradually drawn into the
meshes, and when caught would have the
thing compromised rather than risk the
! trouble that an exposure would cause
They had his property seized to pay claims.
but it was not sold when he could buy off
the officer and cheat the creditor.
A large and valuable building that was
| fully covered by insurance was burned down
very mysterously before the material of
which it was built had been paid for. and
with a fresh start of ready money, mercan-
tile business is added. Goods could be
bought in Chicago or Cincinnati on credit,
/ and he can run his check for several thous-
ands in each city before discovered. He is
enough of a lawyer himself to avoid ordi-
nary law, and ordinary men were afraid to
prosecute him. They had rather loose in
the first case than be at the expense of a
suit, where conviction was not sure.
We had almost lost sight of this case.
! being SO highly favored as to live where
/ rngues do not abound; where lawyers are
| all honest men that would rather 90 to
| the Pententiary themselves than screen a
/ known culprt, and where, as a conse-
quence, the laws against forgery are feared,
until, IN conversing with friend recently,
We were informed that the man is yet at
large, and continues to play at his old tricks
| For obvious reasons the names of per-
sons and places are not all given, but they
can be had when needed for proper
| purpose