The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-11

tent OF the injury TO the cargo IL II 'inPcssr
BILE TO estimate until il Is discharged from
the ship.-N ew York Herald.
Fictitious Fortunes.
HOW THE sHARPERs WORK UPON THE HEIRS VI
ruAoINARy FORTUNES IN THE OLD COUN-
TRY.
In conversation last week with reporter
NJ the New York World, Mr.. Walker,
nrominent LAWYER Of Gotham, explained
The tricks and frauds employed by certain
narties who advertise literally in the me-
tropolitan press. claiming TO have inform;l-
fjon for distant +" heirs " TO unclaimed for
tunes In Great Britain and on the Conti-
nent. but more specifically In the former
section Of the universe. lie said. IN
effect. that there are ga number OF
what are called 'claim agents I'D
England that are growing rich on con-
tributions from this country OF sums IN
.ipnificant in amount when considered
separately. but which make up very re-
spectable aggregate. The mode OF opera
tion OF these sharpers is to cut out every
advertisement published in English or other
Dapers in relation to unclaimed property,
and then, IL they find person OF the same
name living in this country, they write 10
him, saving they have reason TO believe
that be has claim on certain estate, ana
that il he will remit, say 81 or 81,
they will send further particulars. wen,
S2 is not much. even il nothing comes OF
it, and as a rule the bait is swallowed, and
the money sent. In return the sender re-
ceiyes copy OF the advertisement, with
the notice that il he thinks ii worth while
to have q copy OF the will and other par
ticulars further remittance Of 81 or so
will be necessary. This procures an abb
stract OF the will, which can be had for
shilling, with the information that there
is reason to believe from invcstiga-
tions made that the investor has no
claim on the estate. The victim, being out
of pocket only so or S12, makes no COM
plaint; i'm fact, hardly considers himself
swindied, and the claim agent serenely
pockets his gains. In point OF fact, these
claim agents can do nothing without the aid
of a solicitor in chancery, OF whom there
are five or six in this city, and If persons
having claims will apply to one OF them
their money will not be thrown away.
"The following regulation OF the Court
Of Chancery will show you that these So
called claim agents are powerless in the
matter of collecting claims, and if they get
upon the track OF genuine claimant they
must employ a solicitor either here or in
England:
"sNo information is to be given by the
chancery paymaster respecting money or
securities to the credit OF any cause, mat
ter. or account i'm this list until he has been
furnished with a statement in writing
by solicitor requiring such informa-
ton OF the names OF the persons in
whose behalf he applies, and that in
such solicitors opinion the applicant
is beneficially interested in such money
or securities. Every petition or summons
affecting any money or securities TO
the credit of q cause. matter, or account in
serted i'm this list, is. TO contain statement
that it has been so inserted. In cases in
which the money or securities affected by
such petition may amount TO or exceed in
value E500 a copy OF such petition and
notice of all proceedings in court or at
chambers, unless the court otherwise d.
reefs, are to be served on this official
solicitor of the court
"Thus you see," continued Mr.. Walker,
"that these claim-agents are and must be
frauds, and money given TO them is en-
tirely thrown away. Their methods have
of late attracted much notice in England,
and here is slip from the London Times
giving an account OF the prosecution OF
one of these concerns, styled the 'lnter-
national Law Agency run by fellow
named Rogers. The Times gives the fol-
lowing account Of their modes Of opera
ton:
"a man named Timothy Griffiths, OF LO-
zells, states that few weeks ago he went
to ROgers's office in Burlington chambers,
and saw his manager. Beeton, who assured
him he was next OF kin to a man at the
Cape Of Good Hope who had died worth
c., 900 or $4,000. Grifliths said he could
not pay the fee which was asked-E1 Is.
7d.-and Becton asked him whether he
could borrow it. Grifliths replied that he
thought he could not, but he would
he willing to allow 90 per cent.
of the money which was coming to
him. A few days afterwards Beeton
sent for him and said he must have
the money. Ultimately Grifiths borrowed
| it and paid it over. Another client, Mrs.
| Mountford, was told that property worth
eli, zoo, 900 in Scotland was coming to her.
Mrs. Walker, OF Smethwick, states that she
went to Rogers's office on September Sth
last, and was told to call again on the fol-
lowing day. Beeton asked her several
questions. and told her that her husband
was entitled to considerable property.
She paid him fee Of FL lbs. 3D., and had
heard nothing from him since. The solicit
| tor who has taken up the case, Mr.. Ratcliii,
yesterday received information that a for
mer clerk of Rogers is now carrying on n
similar business in London with very pro-
| ttablc results. Among other letters received
yesterday was one from man living in
L lao. tat. hat
sented to him that there was cG20, 600 i'm
| chanceiy in the name Of Peter FOulkes,
and that he could get the money for him.
On the faith OF these representations every
member Of the writer's family paid Rogers
5s., and then again fG Is. to 20 to London
I" to see to his case The writer went
with him, but when the case was to have
| come on Rogers "gave hun the slip" Al
together they paid Rogers Gl3, and as they
were poor people it had greatly impover-
ished them. Rogers had prepared what
he termed "an authentic list OF heirs,
next Of kin, and persons adver-
tised for" II is a pamphlet Of
some fifty or sixty pages, neatly bound
in blue cloth, with preface setting forth
that the amount of property left by per-
| sons dying intestate or without any direct
'sS"o 0Nooo"s %-V"'VVV,VVV' i nc compiler
then proceeds as follows: "The nominal
charge made by me does not in any way
recompense me for the trouble and outlay
In preparing and proving claimants titles,
but il is to my ultimate success In obtain.
ing property for parties entitled that look
Tor my remuneration, that remuneration
being a rate OF commission TO be agreed
upon between the parties and myself, and
10 be paid after the property has been re-
covered. Although do not for moment
venture to attempt impossibilities, will
give my best attention to any tangible and
genuine matter entrusted TO my super,i-
sion, and acting in concert with many gen.
III IL l.