The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
AFTER CoNsPIRAToRs.
The Spanish Government Will Punish
Gang of Swfndlers.
PhiIadaIphia prpes

According to a letter received from Bar
celona, Spain, by Joseph NJ. Walsh, of this
city, the Spanish government has deter
mined to make every effort to bring to
justice the conspirators who, operating in
Spain, have recently attempted to swindle
Americans by Offering vast fortunes in ex-
change for small advance of cash, the
amount asked for varying from $1,000 to
$4,000.
There generally figures in the plot man
tended victim, and who claims, as a rule.
that he Is in distress, having been shot and
then thrown In Jail. There is also an al
legged niece, who is in need of assistance
in order to reach America. where she can
enjoy her fortune.
This untold wealth is represented to be in
trunks. which are in the custody of the
value of the contents. 1t is to recover
this treasure, usually represented at about
10000, that credulous Americans are asked
to lend their aid, the negotiations being
conducted by an alleged priest, who pre-
tends to be the executor of the late rela-
tives estate.
Mr.. Walsh was one of the intended vic
Tins, out upon hearing from the friends
relative he communicated with the United
States consul-general at Barcelona, and
then learned that the letters that he had
received. i'm which the liberal offers had
been made, were written by a member of
the gang referred to. The account of the
exposure OF the scheme was published in
the Press last Sunday.
When seen at his residence 1899 Fitz-
water street, last evening, Mr. Walsh said:
Il am determined to bring these fellows
within the grasp of the law, if it is pos
sible to do it. / received to-day letter
from Senior Hosea M. Walsh, a cousin of
mine, who resides in Malaga, Spain, that
the authorities have placed a corps of de-
tectives on the case and they are working
on a clew that they think will lead to
the capture of the villains. / have also
written TO friends in havre. Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Hamburg and Merlin, asking
them to lend any aid in their power 10
secure the arrest of the conspirators.
II have learned that another fhiladel-
phian has figured as an intended victim
of the schemes of this gang. When / re-
Offering me a half-million in cold cash, I
took 1t around to this man, and / showed
1t TO him. He replied that would probably
receive another letter in few days, in
which / would read that my Spanish cousin
was dead. Sure enough, in the next letters
! was Informed that my correspondent had
died in Jail.
IAN alleged priest wrote this last letter.
and it is my belief that he is the leader
OF the gang I almost forgot to say that
1 have also written the Bishop OF BARGE
Iona, and I hope to receive reply in a
few days. 1t has been suggested that
the priest. who claims to he the executor
OF my deceased relative, with the idea that
he will go to the bank to have it cashed
where he can be captured"
Mr. Walsh was very much puzzled to
learned how the swindlers learned his iden-
tity, but he has concluded that 1t was partly
due to the fact that number of years
ago a relative went to Spain and became
a civil engineer, the schemers having stated
that the dead man was an engineer in
the employ Of the Panama Canal Com
pany. Mr.. Walsh has travelled all over
Europe and Asia. He is an author, and at
with friends in most Of the large cities OF
Europe.