The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-30
ONLY FOOLS WOULDBITE.
TIE FREsHE II sWINDLE ON REC
ORD SHOWN Up.

prominent People asked to Send
$4,000 to Secure a Fortune Left
Taen in Spain-Each Forums to
Have a Beautiful Heiress Thrown
in-Give Away lnjunctions Of
Secrecy.
WASHINGTON. March 29.-For several
wears past attempts have been made to
yictimize people of prominence in the
limited States by playing upon their Gre
duity at the expense of their purses, just
what the swindlers are and to what extend
thew have succeeded is not known, but
sufficient data has drifted into the depart
ment of state to indicate that these opera
yions have been conducted on a broad scale,
and that the leader in them is intelligent
and well acquainted with the affairs of the
nersons selected as victims. The indications
noint to oco-operative action. The fraudu-
lent schemes are of the same general plan,
but the details are varied infinitely to meet
the character Of the victim
A sPANIARD USUALLY INVOLVED.
AS a rule he is a person who has at some
time had a slight acquaintance with a
Spanish priest telling him that large sum
of money has been left to him by his Span
lard friend on conditions that always in
volye the investment of money to pay
necessary charges.
PRESIDENT HARRISON WRITTEN TO.
The first notice the department of state
had of the swindle was letter addressed to
President Harrison soon after he assumed
his office. In this letter the writer, Cath
olic priest, as he described himself, informed
the President that Spanish army officer,
after undergoing indescribable vicissitudes of
fortune, had died in Spain. He had delivered
to the priest a sachel containing $500 900,
which was to be turned over to President
Harrison ON the sole condition that he
would assume charge of the officers little
daughter. Incidentally $1,000 was needed
TO pay necessary expenses. The matter
was confidential and the President was to
direct his reply in Spanish to the priest,
aud enclose it In a letter addressed to q
Spanish lady. The priest also enclosed a
letter from bishop testifying to the good
character of the priest, but perhaps from
inadventence, or more probably to avoid
conviction if detected, the testimonial was
made out for a person of a different name
from that signed by the alleged priest.
ALETTER TO GEN. BARTLETT,
Thenext person selected as the victim was
Gen. Bartlett of the pension office ia Wash
ington. In this case a great quantity of
valuable plate was at stake, encountered
with the innocent, angelic child of the Span
lard, whom the general really recalled as an
acquaintance Of his early years. His suspi-
cions were aroused by the unusual precau-
tions that were to be observed, and he es-
capped without loss.
Then a prominent druggist Of Paterson,
N i ViahaA nt hxyk ha bot ba
regarded the priests letter as practical
JOKE and paid no serious attention to it.
A REPRESENTATIVE TRIED.
member Of the United States House of
Representatives last summer also came in
for one of these prize packages, which were
warranted to contain fortune and beau
utuI heiress. The letter was addressed to
this member from the Parish Church of
San Jaime Atreida," bearing the seal of the
church and the seal of the archbishopric of
Toledo. The letter, like the others, pur-
ports to oe from priest. This letter is
chiefly remarkable for the crafty manner
IN which the priest seeks to prevent exposure
of the swindle
TOO ROMANTIC TO BE SWALLOWED.
The priests story is romantic, as is in
Varlaoly the case. An illustrious prisoner
hao dled In castle. The charge upon
0 wac OOhuueu- -elnDezzlenenJ from
the state-was cunningly stated, with APP
parent innocence, although lis suggestion
indirectly accounted for the great fortune
OF S'OO0,OO0 pezetas, about s., 800. 900, which
the prisoner had secured He had selected
an American congressman to act as his
executor. and would allow him a fifth OF
of the fortune.
VERY CATCHY.
Inc priest had been told, under seal of the
confession, that the treasure had been
secretly deposited by the illustrious prisoner
IN bank Of London. 1t was necessary to
ray S5,00O to obtain baggage which was de-
talned by the court and contained the GER
Ilncate of deposit, because the baggage
would not De surrendered if the secret was
KEnoWn, and to prevent trouble with DO wer-
tul enemies, sepulchral silence was enjoined
on the priest.