The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-05
ALMOST A SUCCESS.
Ewindling Operations Of Mr.. BranScOm, Who
Almost Achieved a Success.

New YORK, Nov. 4-The police have arrested
Alex. c. Branscom, who had originated and car
ried out an original scheme of swindling, which
came near being successful and reaping a for
tune for its originator. Branscom is a one
armed man, but Yields a pen with his left hand
with great skill. He has served three years and
o half in the penitentiary for forgery of Florida
water bonds. His scheme was to publish two
elaborate works of interest to visitors and ex-
hibiters in the New Orleans Worlds tair-a
guide book and a costly illustrated book called
Resources and Attractions of the South" He
sold advertising space worth 1856, 600 and dis
posed of the books and copyright in cash for a
round sum, meanwhile depending on forgery for
the necessary means to keep tine scheme going
till its completion. He contracted with the
American News Company to take 100, 900 guide
books and the title and copyright at $25, 900,
and the Resources at $50, 600; of the latter,
10, 1000 copies were to be printed, and it was to be
sold at $40 a copy, cash. The money was to be
paid in a lump on delivery Of the books. Brans-
com forged a letter of introduction purporting to
be written by Edward Richardson and William
Oliver, president and secretary of the Mississippi
FWoolen-mill, in Wesson, Miss, representing him
as an agent, and authorized to publish the pro-
posed works. Richardson is president of the
New Orleans Worlds Exposition, and a promi-
irent Southern man. With these letters, he
found no difficulty in making contracts for work
and material, supplying the copy himself, and
presenting in payment forged notes, payable in
four months, and bearing. Richardson's and Oil
yers signatures. The American Bank-note
Company is a victim to the amount of $4,000,
and the Peter Adams Paper Company l5,OOO.
The latter company paid Branscom $4,0OO
in cash, the difference between the
amount of their bill and his note.
Conrow & Bros. paper dealers, accepted a
Forged note for $12, 900, and returned to Brans-
com 81, 900 in cash. Cosack & Co, printers in
Buffalo, are caught to the amount of 81, 900. J.
J. Little 81 Co., printers of this city, took his
note for So, 1000, and Hastings.& Todd, dealers in
card board, in this city, took his note for a like
amount. The last-named. firm afterwards
cashed his personal note for 81, 800. The Cen
tury Printing Company took his note for $500
for electrotypes. The cash Branscom received
be deposited in the National Shoe and Leather
Bank, and drew on it for expenses. He thus
collected $14, 900. In a month his book would
have been out, and he would have collected
elll,O0O in one day and skipped, leaving unpaid
debts amounting to over $40, 600. Conrow d
Bro. grew suspicious and communicated with
Inspector Byrnes. A telegram to the wooden
mills in Wesson, Miss, exposed the forgery, and
the financial agent of Mr.. Richardson in New
York swore out a warrant, and Branscom was
arrested last evening In the Stewart Building,
where he had hired an office. He admitted his
crime, and was held on the charge Of forgery.
Ten thousand copies of Resources and Attrac-
Gons of the South" are printed. The loss will
be so great, and The books are said to have so
much genuine merit, that it is proposed to have
them completed and published on the original
plan by a syndicate of the creditors, who will
Ake up and pay the notes.