The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-24
MITKIEWICZ TURNS Up.
THIS TIME IN TIE GUlss OF
$4,000 BUNCO srEERRR.

Elliott +. Shepard, but A F,.;ad
Blocks the Game - O'Briea corob
crates the Story.
From the Ne1o York Recorder
The story which came out recantl,,of ar
alleged attempt to swindle Frank T. I Brien
president and general manager Of he Age
Herald newspaper, In Sirmingbm, Ala.
by Count Eugene MitkiewScz Of Washing,
ton and a man named Miller, he produced
big sensation, not only in ASury Park
where MIR. O'Brien is stopping with his
family. but in differeut parts d the country.
AS the story goes, the cunt and his
friend, who is Shoebox Miller of Pittsburg,
tried to make Mr. O'Brier victim of the
confidence game to the extent of $4,000.
Col Elliott F. Shepard. 9-United States
Senator Blair, the Chinese minister at
Washington aid the Chinee prime minister,
Ii dung Chang, are mentioned in the mat
ter.
Some tire ago Mr.. O'3rien met Miller in
the south and EXTENDED TO MIN certain
courtesles. When thy parted Miller
thanked him, and toll Mr.. O'Brien that
he hoped to be able to reciprocate some
day.
A SECOND MEETING.
On July 3, while Mir. G'Brien, accompa-
MED by his family, YVES on his way to AS
bury park he met Miller in the telegraph
Office in Jersey City Miller told him that
hf, was just the man he wanted to see.
lie then told him that he had q big pro-
Ject on hand and there was millions in it. He
said that he was glad to be able to put Mr.
OBrlen in the way Of making a fortune
AS OBrlen was getting aboard the train he
told Miller he would be pleased to invest If
1t would be good thing. Miller promised
to see him later
On Sunday, July 5, Miller, accompanied
by Count Mitkiewicz, called at the Guern-
sey house, Astury, Park, where Mr.
O'Brlen was stopping Miller introduced
the count, and the latter then proceeded. to
give the details Of the big scheme He sa id
that they were 10 have the exclusive bank
ing privileges of China and TO control all
the railroad and telegraph lines there. They
were to furnish one-half of the necessary
funds required to establish banks in the
leading cities and to construct railroads.
The government was to supply the other
half OF the funds and TO share the profits
Inc count said that Col Shepard and his
friends were going to invest SIS, 000, 900 in
the project. He said that Col. Shepard
would also induce the Vanderbilts 20 invest
large sums in the enterprise. The count
told aow he had made himself solid with
Col, Shepard by using his influence at
w washington to induce the Chinese minister
to'attend Col. Shepard's reception.
A FORGED LETTER
The count and Miller produced a letter
and a telegram alleged to have been signed
by Col. Shepard. The letter was a docu-
ment Of considerable length, and its con-
tents referred to the big Chinese project.
1t represented Col. Shepard as saying that
he had the greatest confidence in the pro-
ject and would invest in it. The telegram
contained the statement that Col Shepard
would see the count as soon as he came to
New York.
Miller then explained that certain con-
tracts would have to be sent to China for the
signatures Of The emperor and prime min
1ster. He said this would require money,
ana that they were very much in need of
$4,000.
DEMAND FOR MONEY.
All this time Mr. O'Brien was an inter
ested listener, and when the count and
Miller finally asked him to advance $4,000,
OBrien thought 1t strange that if COL
Shepard had so much interest and conf
dence in the scheme he did not advance the
$4,000.
O'Brien told his visitors this, but without
being the least dismayed, they informed
him hat Col Shepard refrained from ad-
Yancing the money, because he feared that
II he did SO someone might put an improper
construction upon his act aud misconstrue
his motives. O'Brlen said that he would
think the matter over, but the count and
Miller told him that they must have the
money then and there.
When Mr. O'Brien told them that he did
not carry SO much money with him, they
coolly Informed him that they would take
his check for the amount required. O'Brien
told them t1a5 he would have to see all the
legal documents signed and sealed before no
would put up any money.
1t was then arranged that he was to 20
to Washington with them on July for the
purpose Of seeing the papers Tho count
and Miller then returned to the city
Meantime Mr.. O'Brien received a visit
from his friend, w. c. Mcbride, who was
we'll known in Washington. When O'Brien
unfolded the details of the scheme to Nc
Bride the latter advised O'Brien to be very
cautious in dealing with the count and Mil
ler
o'BRIEN GROWS SUSPICIOUS.
O'Brien subsequently telegraphed the
count and Miller at the Aston house in this
city that he would be unable TO go with
them to Washington on July 6. As soon as
Miller received this telegram he hurried to
" Brlen's hotel in Asbury park, and a,ked
him for an explanation. He also urged him
to put up the $4,000 without any further
delay.
Mcbride was present, and ha bluntly told
Miller that he thought the whole thing was
an attempt to Swindle his friend O'Bren.
Miller, after denouncing Mcbride for inter
Ierlng, got on board the first train and
came back to this city. Neither Miller nor
the count have troubled O'Brien since.
Col. Shepard was communicated with
yesterday III regard to the matter. He ad-
mitted that he had written letter to the
Chlnese minister at Washington, but said
that be could not understand how this letter
had got into the possession of Count MiLkie-
w!iczu,nless tho Chinese minister had allowed
u TO go out OF his hands for translation.
Col. Shepard would not give the contents
OF the letter because he said it was per-
sonal matter. he said that he was not in-
terested in any kind of a scheme with the
count.
EDITOR O'BR1EN's STORY.
4. Editor O'Brien was seen by reporter at
we Guernsey hotel last evening He ad-
United the truth of the story in every de-
tali, and said: ''W bile the negotiations
were In progress felegraphed to Mr.. Platt
%nuo' believe, is editor of the Mail and
l. press, asking him what Col. Shepard
lew about the financial standing Of Nit
naewlcz lie said that the colonel knew
tiosning about Mitkiewicz's financial condl-
III I'll Nothing was said in regard TO Mil
tU T;Enditlon IN Il financial way.
sd hen he was told that Col Shepard had
tnisteo III an interview that a letter of
me pages was in the possession of these
do,h.M r. O,brien remarked that he did not