The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-05-17
LAND SHARKS.

The following particulars concern
ing the West Georgia land sharks
are contained 10 the Griffin NeaCs
about three weeks ago applica'
ton was made to Stewart & Blalock,
of Jonesboro, as agents for New
York loan association, for loan of
$4,000. The application was made
by man named Harrison who
seems to have been a travelling sbar-
per, and who represented himself to
be Green Matthew Stark, and the
owner of twelve hundred acres of
land 10 Spalding county, near Sunny
Side. Mr.. Stewart came down and
was shown over some land by Hsr-
rison, alias Stark, end as everything
seemed to be satisfactory, the deed
was drawn up aud the money sent
for to New York. In order to make
themselves more secure, Messrs,
Stewart & Blslock required the 80.
called Green Matthew Stark to proa
duce a certificate of his identity and
that he really owned the land, from
some old resident of the vicinity.
The certificate vas produced, signed
by Benjamin Barfeld, we'll known
planter in the vicinity and there
is where Wiggers' connection with
the affair commences, it being char
ged that he forged the signature to
the affidavit. Before finally banding
over the money, Stewart Il Blalock
concluded to send a land inspector
down TO again look over the land.
Their regular man having business
elsewhere just then, they got Doe.
Holiday, of Atlanta, to undertake
the business, aud Harrison and Wig
gers we're waiting for him ct Sunny
Side on the appointed day. Hollis
day, however, not knowing that
they would be there, and ascertain
ing that there was no livery estab>
ishment at Sunny Side, got off at
Hampton, and hiring buggy drove
down to Sunny Side The two con
federates, not fuding him on the
train, had given him up and left the
town. On making inquiries for
them, Holiday found that there was
no such man 10 existence, nor any
such piece of land in the neighbor-
hood, although there was small
er piece Of property there belonging
to Griffin young lady of that name.
This, of course, exposed the whole
scheme. Determined to catch the
rascal, Messrs. Stewart & Blalock
proposed to be satisfied with matters
and appointed q day on which to
baud over the money. The day
came and the money was handed
over, bat the sheriff of Clayton
county Immediately arrested Harri-
son for obtaining money on false
pretenses. He at once told the part
Wiggers had played, and the sheriff
proceeded forthwith to Sunny Side
and succeeded in getting Wiggers
also. The game was sharp one,
and came very near being success
full. If Holiday had not got off at
Ham pton, he would have been met
by the sharpers, and in all probabil
ity been shown over the land and
returned a satisfactory report. Har-
rison would have got the money,
Wiggers would have received his
reward, and the former would have
been out of the country long before
any suspicious would have been
aroused. AS it is, Harrison is held
at Jonesboro, aud WiggerS has been
brought here, as the county in which
he lives and the place where bis
part of the crime was committed.
Wiggers is a farmer living about
four miles from town, and has bith-
erto not borne bad reputation, all
though always considered rather
sharp"