The record-union., 1891-03-30
Special 10 the REcoRD-USroS.

/
WASHINGTON, March 29.-For several
years past attempts have been made to
victimize people of prominence in the
United States by playing upon their
credulity at the expense of their purse.
Just who the would-be swindlers are,
and to what extent they succeeded, is not
known, but sufficient data has drifted
into the Department of State to indicate
that these operations have been con-
Quoted on a broad scale, and the leader in
them is educated and well acquainted in
the affairs of persons selected as victims.
The fraudulent schemes are of the same
general plan, but the details varied in
definitely to meet the character of the
victim. As rule, he is person who has
at some time had a slight acquaintance
with Spaniard. He receives letter
from Spanish priest telling him that
large sum of money has been left to him
by this Spaniard, on conditions that al
ways involve the advancement of
greater or less sum of money to pay the
necessary charges.
The first notice the Department of State
mad OF the swlndle was letter addressed
TO President Harrison soon after he as
sumed office. In this letter the writer, q
Catholic priest, as he described himself, in
formed the President that a Spanish army
officer, after undergoing incredible vicis-
STUDIES of fortune, had died in Spain. He
had delivered to the priest package con-
tanning $4,000, which was to be turned
over to President Harrison on the sole
condition that he would assume charge of
the officers little daughter. Incidentally
the amount of $1,000 was needed to pay
the necessary expenses.
The.neXt person selected as victim was
q OF Nf fhA .s<~,xn
Washington. In this case a great guam
tlty of valuable plate was at stake. in
numbered with an innocent angelic child
of a Spaniard. His suspicious were
aroused and he escaped without loss
Then a prominent druggist of 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
was told that S40,0 900 in jewels and treas
ure was buried in his neighborhood by
Spaniard he had known in by-gone years
He was to have a description of its loca-
ton and part OF the proceeds of the prop
erty If he would send the remainder to
the daughter of the Spaniard, binding
himself heavily, and remitting money to
pay charges before receiving the 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 a fortune and
beautiful heirs. This letter was chiefly
remarkable for the crafty manner in
which the priest seeks to prevent expos
ure of the swindle, by making it appear
to be in the recipients interest to MAIN
tain silence. The priests story is roman
tic, as is invariably the case The illus
triouS prisoner had died in castle. The
charge upon which he was confined
embezzlement from the State-was cum
ningly stated with apparent innocence,
although its suggestion indirectly ac-
counted for great fortune of nine mill
ion peztas, about 81 300, ,000), which the
prisoner had secreted. He had selected
an American Congressman to act as his
executor. He had an innocent, angelic
heiress, and was willing to allow the ex-
ecutor fifth part OF his fortune for his
trouble.
The last communication on the subject
which reached the Department of State is
from an attorney-at-law in Nebraska
He gives modification of scheme
which was attempted in 1882. In this
case the pretended Catholic priest had
learned at the confessional that pris-
oner condemned for theft from the Queen
OF Spain-there is always an insinuation
CT the manner in which the bogus treas
ure was come by-had died, leaving con-
cealed in America a large amount of
money, of which a considerable part he
promised to leave to a banker in Ne
braska, if the latter would act as his ex-
ecutor. This particular banker showed
the letter to an attorney, who investigated
the matter and saved loss of money.
The attempt was renewed last Novem-
Der upon another banker of the same city.
The old story was again modified, the
names changed, but the handwriting was
the same as in the first case. These also
fell into the hands of the same attorney,
and he led the parties along in correspon-
dence while he notified the American
Minister in Spain, and urged the author
ifiaS fo ot