The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-09-21
SWINDLERS AT WORK.
THEY DEFRAIID WEST VIRGINIA CITl-
zEyS OUT OF 4 LARGE SUN I
OF MONEY.
THE MODus OPERASDI or THE MA
TToNAL AN AssocIA-
TON THAT PROPOSED TO PAY
FIVE FOR ONE.

WHEELING, w. VA, September 81.
L. w. NayIor, postofliceinspector from
Washington, who has been in this city
for the past few days, has brought "a
light and n now working up tltp eyil
dence ID one of The most remarkable
swindliug schemes ever known ii TIM
seetiop Of Ind country For some titne
Till scheme has been operated BY 4
gang, of which robert L Lively, the
son Of i preacher FROM near Spring
Hit, Ii Tie lender, lid Geo WI Rose
and Henry Ash, Of this vicinity, and
others, arc eonfclerafes. Rose and
Ash have already been arrested and
held under 1000 bonds each, to an
swer at the next term Of the United
States Court for using the mails for
fraudulent purposes. Lively Is still at
large aud is hiding in the mountains,
armed with Winchester and two re-
volyers, but deputy marshals are after
him. He viii mall probability join
his confedeFates.
Their operations have been carried
OH in Kanawha, Boone and Lincoln
counties, and many thousand dollars
have gone from the hard earned saw
ings Of poor people into the pockets, Of
the swindlers, one man alone having
put in Sl,2l0, with no return. An
other Kanawha county man lost $500,
while others lost their widows mites,
and gave all they had to the swindlers.
The modus operandi is said to be
about as follows: Lively and his as
sociates converted themselves into an
association known as the National AS
sembiy, secret organization. To
membership in this bogus society they
admitted such of their friends as they
supposed to be thoroughly reliable and
in possession Of little money. The
organization was of the most secret
character. Their meetings were held
out under the trees, in deep ravines,
ON the mountain side, among the
forests, aud in other places.
A most solemn oath of secrecy was
administered TO every member, and
thus the existence Of the swindIc was
kept a secret for 50 long. The organi-
cation was supposed to be national
one, with its central Office at Washing
ton and branches all over the country.
AT least four :. assemblies" We're or
ganized in this State, known respec-
lively as the StAlbans, Lincoln Coun-
ty, Boone County and Charleston AS
semblies. The inducements for enter
ing the assemblies were the opportuni-
ty they afforded theirmembers to make
money rapidly and Gin lawful and
safe manner. The condition of the
United States Treasury was made to
play an important part in the7swindie.
Along with the bonds which were to
fall due soon, the swindlers made up a
plausible story about the great quanti-
ty of government bonds that were soon
to fall due, which were payable in gold.
and the vast expectations of gold to
foreign countries, and the consequent
inability Of the government to meet
the payment Of the bonds.
SO far the swindlers We're backed to
some extent at least by henewspapers,
which explains partially how sope men
possessed Of reasonable amount Of
comneA sense could be SO taken in
The swindlers then went on to say that
in order to save the nations credit it
must have gold, and for dollar in gold
the member Of the organization would
pay in, the government, aftera certain
time, would pay five dollars in paper.
uponh presentation IF proper vouch-
ers, issued IN the general treasurer Of
the organization. The scheme seems
to have taken ike wild fire, and the
aggregate Of hard cash sc0oped in
throughout Central and Southern West
Virginia is very large.
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