Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-07
A GIGANTIC FRAUD.
Bogus Land Scrip Put On the Northwest
ern Market by Swindlers.

Bogus Land Scrip Put On the Northwest
ern Market by Swindlers.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May GA gigantic scheme
of fraud and forgery has been unearthed by
United States District Attorney Bliss. A firm
under the name of Burt 81 Miller occupied the
room at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut
streets, from which they sent out circulars
offering government land scrip for sale. The
authorities made descent on the office, but
the principals had flown. Meanwhile Jno. B.
Cameron, believed to be a confederate of the
gang, was arrested at Sioux Falls, Oak,
through the instrumentality of the telegraph.
He was taken to Yankton, whether the deputy
United States sheriff has gone to bring him
here.
District Attorney Bliss believes there is an
organized ring, who have cointerfeited the
land scrip, and that their operations have
been very extensive. He says they realize 80
per cent. of the value of the scrip, and must
have realized from 100000 to S50O,O0O. In
St. Louis, he says, they succeeded in swindlipg
to the amount of $4,000. Further arrests
and developments are expected.
THE SCHEME EXPOSED.
The first intimation of this scheme was
obtained through telegram received some
days ago by Geo. M. Cline, prominent law
yer here, from Mckinney & schoazel, bankers
of Sioux Falls, Dakota, asking him to inter-
cept and hold package of $500 sent by them
by express to the alleged firm of Burt 81
Miller of this city. They also stated that they
had been purchasing from Burt 81 Miller q
quantity 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 81 600
of the scrip, received by them few days pre-
Init eir howl hoo,
aroused regarding the genuineness of the scrip
they desired their remittance intercepted.
Mr.. Cline Immediately consulted with Dis
trict Attorney Bliss regarding the motion and
from information received at the express
office and from other sources, a visit was
made to the office of Burt q 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 circulars referred to above. There be-
ing no evidence that the clerk had been con-
cerned in anything criminal, he was released.
The district attorney believes that these sharp
ers disposed of at Least $4,000 worth of 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 office at Washington for information as
TO whether any knowledge has been received
regarding the circulation of fraudulent GER
tificates. The answer that came set forth that
while nothing was known positively regarding
the certificates, suspicious had been aroused
at the large number that had been circulating
in the northwest, which had caused surmise
that something was wrong. A request was
then sent to notify all land agents and banks
in the northwest to refuse these certificates
until an investigation could be made. They
&c sod b. &lxn nsnl
agents in that district to look into the matter
as quietly and rapidly as possible.
The district attorney believes these certif-
Gates to be bogus and is taking energetic
measures to expose the whole scheme. That
there is a swindle in the case is evinced by the
fact that on Monday last man, representing
himself as Miller of the firm of Burt & Miller,
was at the express Office inquiring for pack
age of 5000 from Sioux Falls, but he took
fright at the manner of the express people,
gave them a false address and has not since
called at the Office, although he had reason to
believe package would come for him. De-
tectives have been put on the watch for him,
but they have not found him.
EXCITEMENT AT THE DAKOTA END.
YANKToN, D. T., May 6.-Considerable ex-
element is Occasioned here over the arrest OF
John d. Cameron for alleged connection
with the Louisiana and New Mexico land
scrip frauds. The United States land office
here holds $4,000 of New Mexico scrip, which
the officers detected before receiving in pay
ment for lands. One banking firm, McKin-
ney & scougal, has $4,000 of Louisiana scrip,
which they received from Burt Smith, of St.
Louis. The United States court is now in
session, and the grand jury is investigating
the frauds.
An Irish professor, j. P. Mehahaffy, as
published a book on the "Decay of Modern
Preaching" He admits there are great
preachers left, but claims they have lost their
power-rhat the pulpit has lost its power, or
has in the main subsidized as a eformatiVe in
strumentality.