The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1896-12-25
A BRIGHT SwINDLER.
5000 Easily Secured by n smooth
Young Man.

A young man of excellent appearance
came to Albany last June and began
looking around for farm. He said he
was single but expected to get married
and wanted place in Oregon. de fin
ally settled upon the farm owned by Mr.
and Mrs. A. S. Knox. of San Jose, CAL
ifornia, located at Spicer, consisting Of
S1S.75 acres OF fine land. tie made
good many inquiries, visited Mr.. r. S.
Doughten the renter, who began to get
anxious as no thought he would be
Obliged TO vacate il. Incidentally ha run
around rome with a real estate agent and
about selected another farm for brother,
who wished to come here also. In the
early part of July he went to the Albany
Abstract Co. ani reported that he had
made arrangements TO purchase tho farm
and would want an abstract of the title;
he also had deed made by Mr.. Rudd ~
send to San Jose for the signatures Cf
Mr. and Mrs. Knox. He was q cool
young man who seemed 10 be in no hurry,
and when the deed came and could not
be recorded on account OF the scrolls be
ing left off, it seemed to make no differ.
erence to him; he took the deed and
pretended to send it back to San Jose to
be corrected. On July i3 he went with
Mr.. Rudd 60 the office OF @. g. Burk-
hart, agent for the Alliance Trust Com
pany and applied for loan of $500 oa
the property. giving particulars as 10 inn
provements he intended ts make. The
loan was granted, the mortgage properly
executed, and the deed having been cor
rec ed on July 21 the deed and mortgage
were both placed on record, Mr.. Briggs
receiving his $500. Why he did not ask
for S2o00 is strange, as he cou IL as easily
have secured it on the farm, which il
valued at $4,000 at least. Mr.. Briggs
shortly after disappeared.
Recently Mr.. Knox wrote to Weathes-
lord Wyatt 10 look after the rental al
tairs OF the farm. when investigation re- i
yealed the fact that the entire Transaction
was grand swindle, the signatures to the |
deed being q forgery. The deed pur~
July MIR. aud Mrs. Knox left San jose
for the seaside and did not return nutil
October On the day iIe lett he received /
a letter from II. c. Briggs at Portland !
ssking If he would trade his place near !
Albany for one near Los Gatos, Calf
but paid no attention TO il AZ all. BrizH
eSluSuttE knew OF the lrlp.
Tie witnesses to the deed ara g. q.
Taylor and F. p. Black, two San Jose /
men, both forgeries: the name of the /
Notary Is Z. c. CLARK: but there 10 no
such man in San Jose, though one Yc /
sem bling the nSme died there thEaei
yers ago. The ssal is fresh and vas un-t
doubtsdly made for the occasion. Thei
signatures do rot resemble those o. Mr..
and Mrs Knox. though that of the lss.xx
is good imitation Of sady's signature.
The man claimed 20 be 81 years of are,
giving that in his application for tie
loan. said be was single bat expected 10 /
be married when he would locate on sila !
place probably not for a year. lie wAe |
we'll dressed, nice hooking With large /
brown mustache and easy manners
This morning Neatherford 4 Wyztt |
attorneys for Mr.. and Mrs Knox Eied |
complaint with the clerk, agalnss II |
9 Briggs and the Alliance Trust CO
asking for q decree OF tlk eour. decIar-
ing aul adicdgiug that the defendants |
have no estate or interest or lien what
ever in or TO said lands and premises,
that the title OF plaintiff i good and yai-
uAble; that said deed, herein ahave DE- |
scrihed, be adjndged a forgery and voii |
and that the said mortgage invalid and |
void and that the said deed and mort
gage he cancelled by decree OF this
court.
AS ii Is plain case IT is doubtful il !
any defense is made TO the complaint
The case presents one Of the brightest
swIndling operations ever reported, one
carefully arranged and carried out Wi.h
remarkable nerve and eooiness.
IL as sAid the same scheTne was opsF-
ated successfully in Texas several years
ago.