The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-28
Its Founder and Aut0Crat Proves to be
a Gigantic SWIndIer.
MR. j. 4. BARTON HAS DISAPPEARED
And il said TO Have Taken $4,000 With
Him-some of His yiciims--The Re-
ceivers Decline To Discuss
the Matter.


town of Barton Heights. who are the vic
Tins. were last night in a state bordering
upon CONSERVATION. The names OF the
victims OF the deception Is said TO be
legion. and the perpetrator * probably
the last man who would have been sIs-
pected OF crooked dealings, James ii.
Barton.
SUSPICION AROUSED.
For several days past there have been
whispers. carefuiy gnarueu. tnat Mr.
Barton = dTairs were ma mucn worse con-
ditIon IMAM the world had been ied to
beneNr. and that there We're dishonest
dealings on his part running through
years past. AZ nist the citizens OF klcn-
mond and Barton Heighis refused to be-
lieye THESE charges, tor Mr. Barton had
always been regarded by the majority or
me people as me very soul OF honor,
though some now say they had Always
been distrustful OF him.
tor years past MI Barton has been
selling suburban homes at Barton beignts
70 an who desired them on the instalment
uian fl was ms practice 10 make each
purchaser give him notes for certain
amounts, payable monthly. the time over
which some payments We're 10 extend be-
ing IN Il number OF cases az much AZ ten
years, 3nd IN this way he had built up a
town Of about twelve hundred souls, each
resident having secured his home from
Mf. Barton on the above terms.
DUPED THE PEOPLE.
Ii now transplres that Mr.. Barton has.
hy taking advantage OF the entire conf-
dence reposcd i'm him By the people COM
pletely uuped large number Of them.
who viii probably have 10 pay the notes
given IN payment for their homes twice.
Mr. Barton method was when note.
or bath OF notes We're paid. FOR some prf-
sons paid twelve months in advance. 10
say tnat he was not able AT the time
the payment was made TO lay his hands
upon the notes, but would fnd them in
the course or few days In the mean
time he would give receipt for the
money, and in no case did he ever suc-
ceed IN finding the notes Ry th.s means
ne was able 10 secure me money fr0m
the purchasers Of his land. and 10 again
realize upon the notes which he retain-n,
thus securing double payment OF sne
deut.
The case Of Alr. l.. \. sadler. Of the
Sadier Paper Company. doing business I'm
this city. Is "A fair sample OF Mr.. BartOn's
dealings Mr.. Sadler some time ago pur-
chased lot and had him a neat l!ftlc
home erected on the Heights. lie gaze
his rOtes IN the accustomed manner 90
Mr.. Barton. paying notes extending over
Il period OF twelve months In advance.
These notes We're not returned TO him.
nor has he ever succeeded in recovering
all OF them. When his notes again be-
came due Mr. Sadler states. he called
upon Mr.. Barton In person and told him
that he was ready 10 take them up. pay
ing as before for twelve months ~ adj
vance. Mr. Barton was quite ready 10 Re-
ceivc the money. but did not have the
notes with him. lie offered his accus-
toned receipt, which Mr.. Sadler refused
10 accept, demanding that his notes be-
turned over 10 him. This Mr. Barton did
not do. ana never has done. ana IN con-
sequence there are now notes 10 the
amount Of $50 outstanding against Dir.
Sadler, the whereabout of which ne has
not been able 10 discover.
at was an out-and-out robbery" said
M-. Sadler last night. but am not sur
prised FOR J never had any confidence
in him. ! az once consulted lawyer
with a view 20 having Mr.. Barton ar
rested. but he told me that 4 could not
DE made TO pay the notes q second time,
so / decided not TO DO So
MIR. BARTON'S DEPARTURE.
Mr.. Saller said that he rose early on
Tuesday morning, and while he was
dressing his attention was attracted by
seeing hack drive mp 10 the gate OF
Mr.. Barton's home, and few moments
later Mr.. Barton came quietly out ana
gJt into IT, got lack into the corner, ana
was driven rapidly away. lie afterwalds
understood that Mr.. Barton took the :
liin .Or the NOr-1-
The Barton Heights drugstore was
crowded last night with excited citizens,
most of them Mr.. RGrtOn's victims, and
the denunciatiOns bestowed upon Mr..
Barton were both loud and deep. Just
how many people have been yicumized ~
Just now impossible 10 say. but "A con-
servative estimate places the number az
twenty-five. but there are doubtless mary
more. Indeed, one citizen stated that
every resident Of Barton Heights was
more or less affected by Mr.. Barton
detection.
Among those who are hard hit are Mr..
". W. Wheeler, who paid Mr. Barton
$4,000 for his residence. the deed 10 wnich
was afterwards hypothecaued IN New
York city for .slho.V. Dr. James NJ.
Roberts is another sufferer. twenty notes
which he had gwen 10 Mr. Barton for
$50 each being sun outstanding against
him. Mrs Schutlze to whom SIR. Bar
ton was indebted IN me sum OF fDuV,
will probably lose 532 90 of the amount
as she only hoius good notes 10 the
amount OF $500 as security.
Another most iiagrant case and one
especially discussed. al the Heights last
night is that of Mr.. John T.. Rose. the
well-knOWn stove dealer who Is a suf-
fcrer 10 a considerable amount Some
years back Mr.. Rose purchased lot
from Mr.. BartCn. and employed Mr..
Newell, the builder. 10 erect a house for
him, for which he paid himself Before
giving him the deed 10 the property Alr.
Barton placed mortgage upon the lot
and improvements, which he had no dIiil-
Guilty in doing. a. there was nothing TO
show that the house was not his own
property. lie then gave Mr.. Rose a
deed 10 the land and house taking his
notes for the same. II Is stated, how
ever. that this mortgage will not inJure
Mr.. Rose. as Mr. Barton had no legal
night whatever TO place ~ upon the
house.
A WIDOW TURNED OUT.
Another case, which IS a pitiable one.
Is that OF Mrs. Phillips. "A widow. whose
husband had died al Barton Heights at
ter giving notes 20 Mr.. Barton for the
property, ne had purchased Ills widow
was left in a destitute condition. ana
the citizens raised "A subscription 10
procure her the necessities OF life. rms
money Mr.. Barton forced her - pay over
TO him on the notes due. and when 10
was gone and more notes became due
turned her out of the house.
The names of many more of the VIC
tins OF this great sWindle could be given,
but al this time there are 50 many con-
hicting rumOrs as 10 the number or per-
their losses that it Is impossible 10 give
them accurately. The town Is stirred
from centre 10 circumference, and Mr.
Barton's reception. should he make It's
appearance, would not be a pleasant one.
NO WARRANT YET.
IL was stated last night that a warrant
had been sworn ont IN this city for MI
BartOns arrest. but inquiry deyeioped
the fact that there Was no trnth I'm tne
report. The wherea bouts OF Mr.. Barton
Is still unknown, ana his wife, who H. at
their home at Barton Heights. drciures
that she knows nothing beyond the fact
that he left for the North 10 get money.
she thought, to tide over mis- difficulties
The same statement was made by Mir.
Tdrpin. Alr. Bart0n's business manager
MIR William r.. Miller. who was closely
connected with Mr. Barton in business.
and was one or the receivers appointed
10 take charge of his Affairs, when seen
yesterday BY Times reporter. said thai
he had not the faintest idea where Mir.
barton was He firmly declined To dis
cuss Mr. Bartons affairs.
MIR. H. A. Catnn, the other receiver,
was also seen. out courteously declined