Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-07
A GIGANTIC SCHEME
or Fraud and Forgery Unearthed at ST.
Leuis-Rxtensive Operations Of
an Organized Ring
of Government Land Scrip Counterfeit
ers-Saloonist Sentenced at Gin
cinuati-A Texas Scandal.

ST. LOUIS, May "a gigantic scheme of
fraud and forgery has been unearthed by
United States District Attorney Bliss. A
firm, under the name of Burt & Miller, oc-
cupied rooms at the corner of Fifth and
Chestnut streets, from which they sent out
circulars offering government land scrip Tor
sale. The authorities made a descent on The
Office, but the principals had flown before
their arrival. John B. Cameron, believed to
be a confederate of the gang, was arrested at
Sioux Falls, Oak, by the fundamentally
of the telegraph. He was taken TO Yankton,
whittier deputy United States sheriff has
gone to bring him here. District Attorney
Bliss believes there is an organized ring who
have counterfeited the land scrip, and that
their operations have been very extensive.
He says they realize ninety per cent. of the
value of the scrip, and that the gang must
have realized from $500, 900 to 100000. In
ST. Louis, he says, they succeeded in swim
ding 10 the amount of $4,000. Further
arrests and developments are expected. The
first Information of this scheme was obtained
through telegram received some days ago
by G. NJ. Cline, a prominent lawyer here,
from Mckinney & Scougal, bankers, of
Sioux Falls, OAK, asking him 10 intercept
and hold package of $500 sent by them by
| express to the alleged firm of Burt & Miller,
| OF this city. They also stated that they had
been purchasing from Burt q Miller guam
| tity of surveyors certificates of deposit Of
| the United States, receivable BY law at par
at all land Offices in the United States; that
| this 5000 had been sent in payment for
| $1,000 of this scrip received by them a few
| days previous, but their suspicious having
| been aroused regarding the genuineness of
the scrip, they desired their remittance in
| tercepted. Mr.. Cline at once consulted with
District-Attorney Bliss regarding the matter,
| and from Information received at the ex-
press Office and from other sources a
visit was made to the office of Burt
| & Miller, which was found deserted.
! A young man who had acted as clerk for
the firm was then found, and the Office
opened, but it contained nothing other than
some cheap furniture and several of the cir
culars referred TO above. There being no
| evidence that the clerk had been concerned
in anything criminal he was discharged
The district attorney believes these sharpers
have disposed Of at least $4,000 worth oil
these certificates in Dakota and Wyoming
alone. Among the papers captured were
orders from several firms in those Territories
for various amounts Of the scrip. District
Attorney Bliss telegraphed to the land offict
| at Washington for information as to whether
any knowledge had been received relating
10 the circulation of fraudulent certificates
The answer that came back set forth tina
while nothing was known positively regard
ing the certificates, suspicious had beer
aroused at the large number that had then
circulating in the Northwest, which haC
caused surmise that something was wrong
A request was then sent to motif,
all land agents and banks in the Northwes
to refuse these certificates until investigation
} could be had. They were also requested Il
notify the special agents in that district t
: look into the matter quietly and rapid,
as possible. The district-attorney believe
these certificates to be bogus and is tskin
energetic measures to expose the Who'll
D scheme. That there is swindle in the cas-
q is evidenced in the fact that on Monday las
a man representing himself as Miller, of tn
firm of Burt & Miller, was at the expires
i Office inquiring for package of 5000 froI
. Sioux Falls; but he took fright at the mar
:, ner of the express people and gave them
\ false address and has not since called at th
6 office, although he had reason to believe tn;
= money would come for him. Detectives wei
! put on the watch for him, but they have nj
yet found him.
ONE OF THE SHARKS ARRESTED.
YANKToN, OAK, May 6.-Considerab
. excitement has been occasioned here ov,
: the arrest of John ID. Cameron for allegt
:, connection with Louisiana and New Mexi,
land scrip frauds. The United States Ian
,, Office here holds $4,000 in New Mexico scri
:, which the officers detected before receivil
~ in payment for lands One banking fri
- Mckinney & Scougal, has $1,000 in Louisial
Z scrip, which they received from Burt q Nj