Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-08

people 1 cannot but believe that the republican
ticket will be triumphantly elected"
GIGANTIC swINDLE ATTEMPTED.
Efforts to Sell Land in Chicago With False
Deeds.
One Of the biggest land swindles ever at
tempted in Chicago came near clouding Mrs.
Hetty Green's title to some of her property,
and had it not been for O brokers shrewdness
she would have lost, temporarily at least, the
title to 81, 000, 600 worth. As it was as soon as
she heard that her land was in danger she
rushed to the courts to perfect her title and
thus, perhaps, frustrated all opportunities to
discover the swindler.
Mrs. Green is the owner Of 800 acres Of fine
land in the southwestern section Of Chicago. 1t
lies between 59th and SD streets, west of West
ern avenue, and was formerly owned by de-
faulting City Treasurer Gage. 1t has increased
enormously in value since Mrs. Green bought
it and is q very choice bit Of property.
About month ago man named Vincent
MaIlie, representing himself as an agent for
John r.. Andersen Of Hammond, Ind, went to
John G. Earle, q real estate man ut No. 40 10th
street, Chicago, and offered to trade five acres
OF the Green land for $1,000 He based his
right to handle the property on a deed convey
ing forty acres of Mrs. Green's half section to
Andersen, executed on November %, 1891, and
seemingly witnessed by Charles W. FEM, q no.
tary public.
Mr.. Earle asked for an abstract in addition to
the deed and was told long story concerning
its loss. He also desired to see Mr.. Andersen
Of Hammond. but that pleasure was denied him.
Then he conn snced investigation and satisfied
himself that the deed was a forgery. The dis
covery was made independently about the same
time by the Title Guaranty and Trust Com
fak, I,.l L. IL
to the negotiation Of a loan on the same deed.
Both the company and Mr.. Earle put the
matter in the hands of the police, and plans
were skillfnily made to capture the forger. Tn
fortunately Mrs. Green had been informed of
the attempted swindle, and rushed into court
to secure clear title to her land. OF course.
this put the fOrgers on their guard, and now
the police will probably never find the men they
are after. At least this is the opinion Of Chief
McClaughrey and Inspector Ross, who had the
management Of the case.
Mrs. Green, however, says she doesn't care,
because she hasn't lost anything and doesn't
think any one should blame her for trying to
protect her own interests. She is satisfied with
things as they are.
The forgeries Of the deeds were clumsy ones,
but had it not been for Earle's shrewdness the
plot might have worked. It so happens that
the entire property is covered by one deed.
L. &. Lewis has also been mentioned promi-
nently in connection with the affair. He it was
who introduced Maillie to J. E. Earle. the real
estate dealer. 1t was said TINT Mr.. Lewis had
gone to indianapolis, but he was found in room
No. 5l2 Interocean building. He il also real
estate dealer.
'.What do you know about MailIie?' asked q
New York Herald CORES pendent.
VERY little, even in business way" was the
reply. "About six months ago endeavored to
carry through a deal with him, but the trade
fell through owing to his inability to deliver
the land. l saw nothing Of him until about u
month ago. when he called on me and asked if 1
still wanted land. I found that he had Ave
acres of Chicago lawn property to offer at 90 900
an acre. As was indebted to Mr.. Earle to the
extent Of $1,000, incumbrance on land and ten
houses, suggested deal by which Earle would
take Maiilie' land, and my land, freed of incum-
brance, would 60 to Maillie. / was to receive
the balance Of $4,000.
Negotiations went on smoothly between Earle,
Maillie and Lewis until the question Of the deed
and abstract was mooted and it was found that
the abstract was missing. Mailiie promised to
have another prepared. He also said that as
Mr.. Andersen was passing through for New
the matter could be settled Immediately. II
don't like to make lot Of fuss over q doal,"
was Maillie's favorite expression. '.Lets get
through with this quickly"
when Maillie promised to bring Anderson
round" continued Mr.. Lewis, Earle said: III
i
went down next day to see if he had taken An
dersen to Earles Office, but he hadn't. Then
didn't see Maillie for three days. When next
saw him was sitting inthis Office with friend
Mr.. Kinney of Kinney & Cole. real estate firm
on the north side. Maillie looked in at the door
and then went away.
kinney said DO you know that mani?
told him what knew of him in business. He
said: You had better be careful Of him. He Is
the sharpest and meanest man in Chicago.
''Then Mr.. Kinney told me story OF q trans-
action he had with him, In which Maillie intro
duced woman as the owner Of q house under
a false name and inveigled him into fictitious
purchase, for which he had Maillie arrested.
after heard that went straight down to
Earle and said to him: Il have found out that
this man is fraud. don't like that fve-acre
deal and won't have any more to do with it,
That was the last I heard OF the transaction
until met Maillie on the streets two weeks
after.
''He stopped me and said: 4 never heard
from that New York man and concluded to drop
the sale.' The last I saw Of Maillie was two
days ago. when we met on a north side car. He
had lady with him. Though occupied their
seat when they left the car we did not speak"
Maillie 10 described as small and dark and
claims to be Of Spanish descent. To his real
estate deals he adds the trade OF q painter. His
home ia Lawndale. Anderson is believed to be
a myth. Information from Hammond, where
he II suad 10 hve Ii TO the eject that there In no
one there by that name who could buy el0, 900
worth Of property.
MANY ArTENPrRD FRAUDS.
Mr.. Sellers. the manager Of the Title and
Guarantee Company, who discovered the
forgery when asked to loan money on the deed,
is ayerse to talking about the case. 1--WE have
several similar cases in hand and do not wish to
make public the fact thatwe follow ND these
deed forgeries," said he. 1.-The more widely it
II known that our company interests itself in
cases, even when they have no guarantee or
bond at stake, the less likely it Is that We shall
have the forgers placing their papers in our
hands, ~ these people have DONE"
The key to tho mystery lies with Nsillie, who
q being looked for. It ia said that this is not
the only case Of importance where bogus deeds
have been traded around. The real estate mar
ket being particularly active in Chicago now in
consequence Of the worlds fair hne oppor-
tunity II Afforded for the operations OF sharpsrs.
Departure OF the Ordway RiAes.
Shortly after 7:So this morning about forty
Members Of the Ordway Rifles, commanded By
Captain J. II. Williams, marchsd from the Gem
tsr market TO the B. and o. depot and from
thence departed for Harper's Ferry, where the