Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-06
4 SHREWD SUINDLER.
An Ey-Ccn,icrs Gigantic scheme to Enrich
Himself.


4 New York special says: The police
have arrested AleXanderC. BranscOm. an
cx-convicl. who had originated and carried
out an original scheme OF swindling which
came near being successful and reaping a
fortune for it's originator. Branscom is
ono.armed. but wields a pen with his left
hand and with wonderful skill. He has
served 4 term OF three years and bllf
in prison for forging Florida-water
bonds. His scheme was 10 publish
two elaborate works OF interest TO
visitors and exhibitors IN the New Orleans
Worlds Far, guidc-boOk and costly
illustrated book called Resources and Al
fractions o. the South, with advertising
space worth $4,000. and dispose oi the
books ana copyright in cash FOR a round
sum. mean while depending on forgery
for the necessary means 10 Keep the
scheme going till IL completion. lie
contracted with the American News
Company to take 100000 guidc-book> and
the title and copyright at $4,000. and the
Resources AT $50, 900; OF the latter, 1909
copies were 10 be- printed. and it was 10 be
sold at SO each. The money was 10 be-
paid in lump on delivery Of the books.
BTlnscOm forged letters OF introduction
purpCrtiDg 10 be written by Edward Rich.
ardson aud William Oliver. pres lent a1l
secretary Of the Mississippi Woollen NH,
Wesson, Miss. representing him as agent
ard authorized publisher Of the proposed
works, Richardson is president Of the
New Orleans Worl1's Exhibition and q
promnent southern man. ile tQVQN'
ing firms are among bis victims;
The American Bank-NOte COMPANY,
$4,000 Peter Adams Paper Company,
$4,000. This firm paid BrInseom $500 in
cash-the difference between the amount 81
their bill and his note. ConrOw d Bro
theTs, paper.dcalers. accepted forged note
for $4,000. and returned to BranscOm
a, 0g3 in cash. CoSlck 4 Co., printers. in
Buffalo. were victimized $1,000. j. J.
Little 4 Co., printers here. took note for
$1,000, aud Hastings 4 Todd, dealers IN
cardboard, one for an equal amount. This
firm afterwards cashed his personal note
for l,j00. The Century Printing Com
pany took note for $500 for elec-
lrotypes. The cash Branscom received he
deposited in the National Shoe and Leather
Bank. and drew upon il for expenses. lie
thus collected $4,000. In a month his
book would have Teen out; he would have
collected slll 900 in day and skipped,
leaving unpaid debts amounting to over
$4,000. ConrOw n Brothers grew s,I,-
picious and communicated with Inspector
Byrnes. 4 Geographic dispatch TO the
woolen.milIs in WessOn. Miss. exposed
the iorgerics; the financial agent OF Sir.
Richardson ia New York swOre out a
warrant, and Branscom was arrested last
night in the Stewart building. where he
had hired an Office. lie admitted his crime.
and was held on charge Of forgery. Both
the works prepared by Branseom are near
ly ready. Ten thousand copies OF the Gre
sources .nd Attractions Of the South = are
printed. The loss will be so great. and
the books are said to have so much genuine
merit, that 1t is proposed u have them COM
pleted and published OH the original plan
10y a syndicate OF creditors, who will take
up and pay the notes.