Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-11
WIRE-FENCE SCHEME
AN EXTENSIVE PLAN TO sWlNoLE
COUNTRY FARMERS AND AGENTS.
4 Large Number OF Notes Given, Thoy
We're Not Discounted, and No Case
Against the Operators


ICOTFftUOultUCt
prrrRsBuro. Va, March Io.--A scheme
BY the successful accomplishment OF which
a ia believed the people Of the counties
were TO be extensively defrauded has Just
been brought 10 light here, the particulars
of which your correspondent learned TO-
day from one Of the most responsible citi-
Gems OF Dinwiddie county. Petersburg
was the centre Of operations, and from
sthese HEADQUARTERS work was to be done
IN all OF the adjacent counties. Three
strangers were the oWnoTs Of ca alleged
patent for valuable machinery for the
manufacture OF wire fencing. They pro-
posed 10 establish q factory N this city for
The manufacture Of this fence and this was
20 be distributing point FOR the counties
around. They opened negotiations with
n prominent and widely-kuown lumber
dealer. gentleman IN whom every one has
che greatest confidence. for the nanutec-
ture of this picket fenco at a specific price
per yard. with the understanding, how
ever, that they were 10 appoint their own
agents. in the different counties. 1helr
statements were SO far ana plausible mat
the gentleman apTeed 70 act as their gen.
eral agent.
PLAN or opEEGTtoNs.
The parties represented il TO be their IN
tfnIlOn TO &SIhpiint hAeNt ti+NNy' - -
desirable centres Of the state. from whlch
they could easily operate among the iarm-
era. After making the contract mere
they went out into the adjacent counties
and contracted with one Teiiabie man III
each precinct TO accent the local agency,
agreeing with them 90 sol the renee anu
collect all moneys except the cost Oh hluu-
facture, and the agents 20 tay 20 ~ ~ ~
ers of the plant and machinery tnelT Suhrt
of commissions The agents, IN adul'!oh
70 commissions, were 10 receive an VIZ
fencing wanted for their own use ut prime
cost. But TO protect the owners OF lue
plant, the agents were requested 20 slshH
note, payable --- months after date' heEo-
fable and PAYABLE without onset at =
Bank for S125 The amOuht o. Ibo NOs0'
IN all cases was uniform
THE USE or NOTES.
r, was solemnly represented to these
local agents that these notes were to bede-
posited in a safe. and not to be USED IN
sny manner. shape. or form. Tho note WINS
mere manner OF form. they sald ana only
asked for as a matter Of protection. some
of the best citizens IN the counueS OF
Prince George and Dinwlddle tQok THESE
agencies. II is stated that IN less man
three DAYS some of these notes were hiie0
ont made payable at the National Bank OF
Petersburg, and efforts were made TO nave
them discounted.
SUSPICIOUS AROUSED.
Fortunately, however. suspicious. had
been aroused rs % the GOOD ialth OF the
strangers and the agents IN these Two
counties, of whom. il rs SAID. there were
Ave or six. were enabled 20 get their notes
back by pressing tine holders pretty hardly.
NO CASE AGAINST THEM.
LAWYERS were consulted as to proper
legal proceedings against the suppose
manufacturer. hut Is ~ sad thaL IN we"
of the fact that none of the notes had been
really discounted and 70 money on'alneQ
on them no action COd.d be taken against
them.
LIKE A YANKEE.
The otsensible principal in this business,
who asked prominent citizen Of Dlnwid-
die county 10 become one OF the local
agents, represented himself rs n resident
OF Danvilie. and another SAID be was
wealthy citizen OF LVucrburg. IheU pc
culiar accent in talking, however. aroused
the suspicion OF the Dinwddian, who re
marked 10 the Iriuciug hat he spoke very
much like O Yankee. The man colored up
and Acknowledged that he had lived III
Ohio for some years.
TIL MACHINERY.
II is said that TIE parties left, the CITY
YESTERDAY. The machinery with winch they
were to establish the factory IS here and
will doubtless await tle re4uisition OF the
owners
DIsTrSGUIsEED e-ErE0DIsIs.
The tram from Richmond this morning
brought over q number Of distinguished
gentlemen who were "a rolae to Lynch
burg and Roanoke. Among them were
Bishop Hendrix, of Kansas City; Rey. Dr.
J. A. Kern, of Ashland. and Rev. l. W.
Canton, of fredericksburg. who were on
their way TO Roanoke, where the Bait-
more Annual Conference OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church, south, vii meet to-
morrow, and over which Bishop Hendrix
will preside. On the same train wore
Bishop Granberv, Rev. Or. Paul White
head. Rev. DR.. A. &. Brown, Rev. Or. ".
T.. Judkins Rev. Or. Leonidas Bosser,
Rev. DR.. X. n. Siedd blr. Richard iTby,and
Captain J.. J.. Marks who went up 70
Lynchburg to attend tie meeting Of the
Board Of Trustees of RandOlph-
College, to be held in tlat CITY TONIGHT.
Captain William u. Proctor letJ tuls
morning for Roanoke. Mr Frank X. Rus
sell will follow several days hence,
Mr.. John +. Mayer, agent o. the old Do
minion Steamship Company IN Richmond
was in the city to-day and was gladly wei
coined by his friends.
Senator ID. }. Turner, Jr., OF Norfolk,
passed through the city to-day en route TO
Iynchburg. Senator Turner Is the grand
plars.
LUGFNBURG COUNTY NOTES.
The monthly term Of the County Court
Of Lunenburg was held yesterday. The
only case before the grand jury was that OF
Mr.. II. II. Hardy, charged with the felo-
nious cutting and stabbing OF S. Y. Stokes
A true bill Of indictment was found, but
the case was continued until the next tern
of the court for trial.
Mr.. l.. j. Hlte. an old and respected cit
izen of Lunenburg, is seriously Ill with
brain trouble.
Sergeant EaDes this morning carried
over TO the peniteDtiary the negro William
Stands, who was sentenceda at the last tern
of our Hastings Court 70 two years I'm
prisonment for robbery.
The sales of tobacco today were very
light. The roads are so terribly bad tina
the farmers are unable TO bring their crop
to market.
pAMPLiN "CITY's" MUDDY STREETS