New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-15
swrNpLEs pERpETRATED BY NAIL.


LENT SCHEMES TO Blk CARRIED INTO CONGRESS
To-DAY-wnAT TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
DISCOVERED IN THE RECORDS OF THE POST
OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
frR0N REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrRUSE.l
WASHINGTON Dec. lion Monday Representa-
tive Money expects TO introduce resolution in the
House calling on the PostmastcrGeneral for infor-
nation In regard TO lotteries and other frauds, in
the preparation of which the mails are being
tensively used.
Post Office officials say that the public have
no conception of the extent and infinite variety of
the schemes for fraud which constantly coming
before the department for action. Special agents
are kept constantly engaged. remarkable degree
If success has attended the efforts of the Depart
ment in this direction since the present laws went
INTO effect; and in only two of the III fraudulent
projects which have been discovered and acted
npon have the persons interested been able TO Sc
cure reversal of the decision of the postal authori
ties. But these enterprises arc constantly sprDgng
up and they have to be watched and fought. In
many cases it is known that persons who have been
detected IN unlawful enterprises in one locality
have only changed their names and their base of
operations. and renewed their illcgitimate enter
prises with profit to themselves.
A correspondent of The TRIBUNE has been given
access the records of the Post Office Department
for the purpose of examining the various casses of
frauds. 1t is found that the majority of these cases
are lotteries simply, with nothing to distinguish
them from those still extensively advertised They
have been investigated by the agents of the Depart
ment, and their plan of operations having been dis
covered to be fraudulent, the authorities have pro-
ceeded to extremties and curtailed their mail fa-
cilties as far as possible under the law.
In a majority of cases the integrity Of the ind-
vduals accused of these swindles is altesed by
formidable array of names of business firms, bank
presidents and local magnates of various grades;
and of the most preposterous swndles of which
the records treat bear the Endorsement under Off
cial seal of court and law officials of the localities
from which they are perpetrsted
SYNDICATE "-REvoLvERs FOR So
One of the most ambitious schemes revealed by
the records of the Department bore the title of the
United States Syndicate. The prospectus and other
documents sent out by the promoters OF the swinde
were filled with high-soundng dissertations upon
the influx of gold and the excess OF exports over
imports. The project was made to bear the appear
,nce of having been initiated under special act OF
Congress- and of being the medium through which
,he Treasury Department was seeking TO dispose OF
certain millions of its bonds to people of limited
means. A very seductive proposition to postmas-
;ers 10 become the agents Of the Syndicate seems
10 have been the first and only direct approach to
he public The vigilance of Postmaster James, of
yew-York, seems to have been the chief obstacle to
The success of this well-laid plot.
There is some reason to believe that the estab
Hshment extensively advertised as the Western
Gun Works was first started in good faith. Its en-
ragement 10 send "gocd revolvers' TO each re-
mitter of So was for a time complied with. The
goods were purchased FROM q firm in New-York, and
thousands of reyovers sent out through the
mails After time, hOwever-and when the busi-
meas had become very extcnsivc-the sending of re-
yolvers suddenly ceased. The propretors of the
establishment then confined their attention solely
to the receipt and division among themselves of the
remittances which were coming in in great num-
beers.
This. of course. could not go on forever; and one
morning the propretors all decamped. They, how
ever left written orders with an agent for the re-
eeipt of their mails from the Post Office and private
Instructions to deliver the enclosures TO the wife of
one of the proprietors.
day or two later the proprietor of the New
York establishment from whom the revolvers had
been purchased, and who seems also to have been
victim of the swindle, appeared upon the scene
and took possession of all he could lay his hands
on az satisfaction for his debt He seems to have
aftempted 10 make himself whole " continuing the
business of seudiDg Teyolvers in return fol remit
tances received, hat he declined 10 I'LL the orders
which had been received previously
REMARKABLE WATCH.
One printed circular runs as follows:
fair combination invention Of the ancient sun dial
and ,te mariners cSmpass LIS I s n ea
what II accompanies. The solafgraph watch Is
Enclosed in neat me,ae case and + as %n saS sS
chain, and Is worn In the vest-pocket IKE any
watch.
A samnle s.solargraph watch Is found among the
papers dealing with the subject The meat metal
lie cas,r is of the value and general appearance of
small backing box. The meat chain" is of the
kind found by lucky purchasers of penny prize
packages Of candy. The internal works of the
watch" consist Of paper dial and tiny mag
netic needle. The whole arrangement may have
cost Ave cents.
The letters of about dozen firms seem to have
been stopped for dealing in this and similar frauds
through the mails
A COLORADO LAND swINDLE.
1.-The Denver Land Company" is the title under
which a species Of fraud very common fifteen or
twenty years ago, but moro rare Of late years. has
Just been successfully perpetrated.
The prospectus OF the company makes very
brilliant showing. Of 1t is illustrated with
wood-cuts of the prominent public buildings OF
Denver. and sets forth in glowing terms
the advantages. present and prospective of
a residence in that growing CENTRE The
population is given as forty Thousand. The
mining aud other industries are described in detail
and the possession of building lots is made to ap-
pear as a most desirable thing. 1T says:
Great cities are the outgrowth Of great countries.
Twenty years ago Denver was small trading post
ehurchss hotels theatres streetraiIroads gas-works
Nstcr-works. gold and silver smelling and refining
road centre Of the West.
The company promises to send by return
mail 10 any one sending within sixty
days his name and post Office address a
clear warrantee deed to lot % feet