New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-16
fair weather. may be expected to-day in this city and
A GREAT LAND SPINDLE.
BONDS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN CANCELLED STILL
IN THE MARKET.

DONDo sIPPOSED 10 HAVE BEEN Nh'SEiii-D ShAA-'
IN THE MARKET.
Information of bold attempt to dispose Of some
spurious bonds was given to Inspector Byrnes at
Police Headquarters yesterday. The informant
was John Henry, publisher of No. 10 Nandewater-
ST.. and the transaction grew out of an attempt to
swndlc him several years ago. The bonds are
those of the Farmers Improvement Company OF
West Virginia and are 800 in number
of 5000 each They were never properly
sealed and are worthless, bat letter received by
Mr. Henry n few DAYS ago from Samuel Whitney, OF
Katonah Westchoster County, indicates that an
effort Is being made to dispose of them. The history
Of the whole transaction leading to their issue Illus
tratcs the deliberate methods of swindlcrs. In the
winter of 1877 Henry says, ut meeting OF seYera
gentlemen interested in organizing Brooklyn
street railway, he met Il Dr. Battle, clever and
pleasant hammered man, who afterwaid
called on him several times. Finally
Dr. Battle referred to n project no had
IN view of organizing n company to deal IN west
Virginia unimprovcd lands. lie represented the
enterprise as an excellent investment, and one that
would do a great deal of good to the country.
subsequently he urged Henry to accept the trustee
ship of the company. the conditions being that he
should have solo control Of tho business and repre-
sent il at its New-York Office DIR. Battle IN
trOduccd tO Henry two men named van LOREN anu
Brown. manufacturers Of artificial stone. whose Of
flee was in broadway. "a officers Of the company,
and also a J. II. Walters. of Plalniield, ~ j" as
an able manipulation of real estate.
These mon appeared to he all that they had been
represented and tho bonds were printed setting
forth security an aggregate OF 3O9,30! acres OF
arabic iron and coal land in Wyoming, Mc)Owcll
and Logan Counties. Wes. Virginia worth, DIR.
Battle said. fully quarter OF million dollars.
The bonds were to draw interest at per cent from
September l. 1876. until September !, lNo0. Inc
dav was appointed for signing them. and II was
agreed that they. together with dced OF trust
would he placed in the POSSESSION OF Henry IoT MN
10 carry ont all the legal requirements But IN
stead of this they were taken to Waitress Office IN
Plainield and neither Walters nor Battle va. seen
again. Brown and Van Doren Informed Henry
that DR.. Baltic had told them that the bonds were
taken to Plainficld for safe krcpng After several
letters bad been written TO Walters lie wrote That
the bonds could not be turned over tO MI Henry
for certain legal reasons. Henry wrote de-
clIniug to have anything iuIth 10 q" WIN
the affair. and then another letter was receive"
saving that the bonds should hr cancelled ana re-
turned 10 him as dissatisfaction existed. Brown
AID Van Horcn subsequently, LETT NrN-loIk 'or me
West and Henry does not know whether they were
parties tu the attempt 10 swindle HIM, nut ne docs
not think that they were. OF Or. Batu" ne hdS
never been able to learn anything more. The letter
hc received few days ago ASKS loi lh'oiH"loh ~
I, wLcthar the Interest has been promptly
aid ON the bonds. thc,r market yalrr. and where
the office of the company is situated. re NHoi'
,.iiruc - Of similar character To those recent "
ventilated u the courts oi p CITY, ard n Is rouht-
iui whether th' West Virginia I1AdS I"N' amy 'A-
I-t.u,r.
Inspector Byracs has placed the case in thc hands
of detectives and there IS sou!c prospect INN th'
persons tlav h" arrested.