The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-30

WAsnIxoTos CIrr, March 29.-For sew
ernl years past attempts have been made
"a victimixe people Of prominence in the
United States by playing upon their cred
nifty at the expense of their purse. Just
Who the would-be swindlers are. and 10
what extent they have succeeded is NOT
known, but sufficient data have drifted into
tho department Of state to indicate that
these operations have been conducted on
broad scale, and that the leader in them is
educated and well acquainted in the affairs
Of the persons selected IS victims. The
fraudulent schemes are Of the same gen.
eral plan, but the details are varied indeii-
nitely to meet the character of the victim.
A rule he Is . person who has at some
Vine had slight acquaintance with Span
tardA. He receives letter from Spanish
priest. telling him large sum of money
has been left to him by his Spanish friend
On conditions that always involve the ad-
vancemcnt Of greater or less sum of
money to pay necessary charges.
The arst notice the department of state
had Of tho swindlc was letter addressed
TO President Harrison soon after he as
sumed Office. In this letter the writer, a
Catholic priest as he described himself, in
formed the president that Spanish array
officer, after undergoing incredible vicissi-
tudes, unfortunately died in Spain. He
had delivered to the priest package con-
tanning 10000. which was to be turned
over to President Harrison on the sole
condition that he would assume charge OF
the officers little daughter. Incidentally
5000 was needed to pay necessary expen-
ses.
The M - v>cr.,r eel~-,. A., -. . x-;~.:,-. -.
General Bartlett. of the pension Office in
Washington city. In this case great
quantity of valuable plate was at stake,
encountered with the innocent, angelic
child Of the Spaniari. His suspicious
were aroused. and he escaped without loss.
Then prominent druggist of Paterson,
n. j., was picked out by the gang, but he
regarded the letter as joke, and paid no
attention to it.
Early last week a citizen of Crcs,on. Ia.
was told that 81. 900 in jewels aud treas
urc was buried in his neighhorlood by
Spaniard he had known in bygone years.
He was TO have o description of its loca-
ton, and part of the proceeds of the prop
erty if he would send the remainder 10 the
daughter Of the Spaniard, binding himself
heavily and remitting money 10 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 q fortune and a,
beautiful heircss. This letter was chiefly
remarkable for the crafty manner in which
the priest seeks TO prevent exposure Of the
swindle by making 1t appear to be in the
recipients interest TO maintain silence.
The priests story is romantic, as is in
cvitahle in every case. The illastrious
prisoner had died in CASTLE. The charge
upon which lie was confined. embezzle,nent
from the state, Was cunningly stated WITH
apparent innocence, although It's sugges-
ton indirectly accounted for the great for
tune Of 9,ooo.ea pesetas tabout 81 ,SSo. cssll,
which the prisoner had seercted. He had
selected the American congressman To
assist as his executor; he had an innocent,
angelic heiress. and was willing TO allow
the executor fifth part of his fortune for
his trouble.
The last communication on the subject
which reached the department Of state is
from an attorney in Nebraska. He gives a
modification Of the scheme which was at
tempted in isSe. In this case the rre-
tended Catholic priest had learned a, the