National Republican., 1884-11-05
A GIGANTIC SWINDLE
AN Ex.cONvICT yICTIMIzEs A LARGE NUN.
BER OF NEW YORK FIRMS.
He Contracts TO Write Two Books About the
Worlds Fair, Secures Advertising, and Forees
the Names Of Two Prominent Men Connected
with the Exposition.

New York, Nov. 4.-The police have
arrested Alexander G. Bransoom, an OK
convict, who had originated and carried
out an original scheme Of swindling,
which came near being successful aud
Hsaping fortune for its originator.
}Branscom Is one-armed, but wields pen
with his left hand with wonderful skill.
He has served term of three years and
half in prison for forging Florida water
bonds. His scheme was to publish two
elaborate works Of interest to visitors and
exhibitors in the New Orleans Worlds
Fair-a guide book aud costly Illus
trated book called Resources and Attrao-
tions of tho South"-sell advertising
space worth $4,000, and dispose of tho
books and copyright in cash for round
sum. meanwhile depending on forgery
for the necessary means TO keep the
scheme going till its completion. He
contracted with the American News COM
pany to tako 100000 guide books and tho
title and copyright at $2o 0OO and the
Resources" at $4,000. OF the latter
10000 copies were to bo printed, and it
was to bo sold at $40 each The
money was to bo paid in lump on
delivery of the books. Branscom forged
letters of Introduction purporting to be
written by Edward Richardson and VIM.
Oliver, president and secretary of the
Mississippi woollen mill in Wesson, Miss,
representing him as agent and author
lied publisher of tho proposed works.
Richardson is president of the New Or
leans Worlds Exhibition, and prominent
southern man. With these letters he
found no difficulty in making contracts
for work and material, supplying the
copy himself aud presenting in payment
forged notes payable III four months, and
bearing Richardson's and divers sigma
lures. The following firms are among
his victims: The American Bank Note
company, $4,000; Peter Adams Paper
company. $4,000. This firm paid Brans-
com "a 800 in cash, the difference between
the amount of their bill and note. Con-
row Il Bro, papear dealers. accepted a
forged noto for $4,000. and returned to
Branscom Si,003 in cash. Cosack
d Co., printers in Buffalo,
are victimized $1,000; J. j. Little,
q Co., printers here, took note for
$4,000, and Hastings q Todd, dealers in
cardboard, one for an equal amount.
This firm arterward cashed his personal
note for $500. The Century Printing
company TOOK note Tor SoUO Tor electro
types. Tho cash Branscom received he
deposited in the National Shoe and
Leather bank. and drew upon it for ex-
penscs. He thus collected $4,000, In 4
month his book would have been out, he
would have collected Sill, 900 In a day
and skipped, leaving unpaid debit
amounting to over $4,000. Conrow
Brothers grow suspicious, and communi
Gated with Inspector Byrnes. A tele
graph dispatch to tho wooden mills IL
Wesson, Miss, exposed the forgers. Th'
financial agent of Mr.. Richardson in New
York swore out warrant, and Branscon
was arrested last night in tho Stewar
building, where he had hired an Office
He admitted his crime, and was held ON
charge Of forgery. Both the works pre-
pared by Branscom are nearly ready
Ten thousand copies of the Resource
and Attractions of the South" are printed
The loss will be so great, and the book
are said to have so much genuine merit
that it is proposed to have them com
pleted and published on the original plal
by syndicate of creditors who will tax
up and pay the notes.