Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-30
BEN WOULDN'T BITE.
President Harrison Played
for a Sucker.
But He Refused to Take the
Tempting Bait.
The Spanish Treasugc Swindle Ex-
tensively Worked.
The Cupidity Of Many Prominent Ameri-
cans Tested = The swindler Not
Yet Detected.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches
WAsHM0roN, March 29.-For several
years past attempts have been made to
victimize people OF prominence in the
United States by practicing upon their
credulity at the expense Of their purses.
just who the would-be swindlers are,
and to what extent they have succeeded
is not known; but sufficient data have
drifted into the department of state to
indicate that these operations have been
conducted on q broad scale, and that
the leader in them is educated and we'll
acquainted with the affairs of the per-
song selected as victims. The fraudu-
lent schemes are of the same general
plan, but the details are varied indefi-
nitely to meet the character of the VIC
tim. As rule he is person who has
at some time had q slight acquaintance
with a 6paniard. He receives q letter
from Spanish priest, telling him that
large sum of money has been left to
him by this Spaniard, on conditions
that always involve the advancement OF q
greater or less sum of money to pay the
necessary charges.
The first notice the department of
state had of the swindle was letter ad-
dressed to President Harrison soon after
he assumed Office. In this letter the
writer, Catholic priest, as he described
himself, informed the president that
Spanish army officer, after undergoing
incredible vicissitudes of fortune, had
died in Spain. He had delivered to the
priest package containing $4,000,
which was to be turned over to Presi-
dent Harrison, on the sole condition
that he would assume the charge of the
oficef's little daughter. Incidentally
the amount Of 5000 was needed to pay
the necessary expenses.
The next person selected as victim
was General Bartlett, OF the pension
Office, in Washington. In this case a
great quantity Of valuable plate was at
stake, encountered with the innocent
and angelic child of the Spaniard. His
suspicious were aroused, and he escaped
without lose.
Another prominent druggist in ,Pater-
son, N. j., was picked out by the gang.
but he regarded the letter as Joke and
paid no attention to it.
Early last week citizen of Creston,
Iowa, was told that $4,000 in Jewels
and treasure was buried in his neigh
.borhood by Spaniard he had known
in bygone years. He was to have de-
scription OF its location, and part of the
proceeds of the property, if he would
send the remainder to the daughter of
the Spaniard, binding himself heavily
and remitting money to pay the charges
before receiving a chart showing the
location Of the treasure.
A member of the United States house
of representatives last summer also
came in for one of these prize packages,
which was warranted to contain for
tune and beautiful heiress. This let
ter was chiefly remarkable for the crafty
manner in which the priest seeks to
prevent the exposure of the swindle by
making it appear to be in
the recipients interest to main
tain silence. The priests story is
romantic as is inevitably the case. An
illustrious prisoner had died in CASTLE.
The charge upon which he was confined
-embezzlement from the state-was
cunningly stated, with apparent inno-
cence, although its suggestion indirectly
accounted for a great fortune of nine
million pezetas (about $130,00O) which
the prisoner had secreted. He had
selected an American congressman to
act as his executor. He had an inno-
cent, angelic heiress, and was willing
to allow the executor fifth part of his
fortune for his trouble.
The last communication on the SUBJ
ject which reached the department of
state, is from an attorney-at-law in
Nebraska. He gives a modifica-
tion of the scheme which was
attempted in 1882. In this case
the pretended Catholic priest had
learned at a confessional that prisoner
condemned for theft from the queen of
Spain (there is always an insinuation
of the manner in which the bogus treas
ure was come by) had died, leaving
concealed in America large amount OF
money, OF which considerable part he
promised to leave to banker in Ne
braska if the latter would act as his
executor. This particular banker showed
the letter to an attorney, who investi-
gated the matter and saved the loss OF
the money. The attempt was renewed
last November upon another banker OF
the same city. The old story was again
modified, and the names changed, but
the handwriting was the same as in the
first case. This also fell into the hands
of the same attorney, and he led the
parties along in correspondence, while
he in the meantime mptifed the Ameri-
can minister in SPAN, and urged the
authorities to act.