New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-11
THE PASSING THRONG.

Horace Lee Washington United States Consul At
Valencia, in Spain. is his annual leave at home
When at the waIdorf-Astoria
FEELING OF yesterday Mr. Washington said:
SPANIARDS Il went to Valencia when con-
TOWARD suIs were first sent into spain ,f,ar
AMERICANS, the Hispano-American War and
as you may imagine l was pre-
pared tor chilly reception. On the contrary now
ever. was treated with the greatest courtesy by
all the officials The Captain-GeneraI the Military
Governor and the Archbishop OF Valencia not only
cepuonal courtesy and in every way furthered our
interests. The feeling among the population is not
feeling the Spaniards either implied or ex-
I have since leaving Valencia received word from
me EIce-Consul that another attempt to perpetrate
me enterramiento (the burtaD swindle had been
b made This fraud is an old one it having
oes brought to the attention OF the Department
lives at Valencia and Barcelona. Some six months
ceiyed Inquiries from twelve different states in
W3lch an attempt to perpetrate this fraudulent
ment gave. the swindle the widest possible pub
cent date attorneys have made the Somewhat
arduous journey to Madrid behalf OF clients who
most ingenious scheme and one that requires con-
SiGf1oie 1e 20 carry out Gensray the INTENDED
tHe .arge cItieS 40 not escape letter addressed
Be from political prisoner. who is detained in the
castle Prison IN Valencia He represents himself
person addressed is aleeed 10 he reiatiye ~ tbs
oner. remembering this relative asks If ne or
she would be willing to take charge OF the child.
That is step No. I.
Some little time later second letter is received
by the supposed relative again asking II the pris-
oner count the child finding
HOW THE home with this relative. The
PLAN Is prisoner is dying Then for
CARRIED the first time it is mentioned that
OUT there is a legacy for the child
generally put f7.O00 and that
certain percentage Of this sum will go to the per
son providing a home for the child. Then comes
letter from the parish priest which simply advises
the victim that his relative had died prison. An
other month elapses and the priest sends
certified copy Of the will All is perfectly regular
and legal TO all appearances. but the will The
taria seal and the parish paper all forgeries.
The only spot is that there is Castle Prison
in Valencia. The method OF proceeding up to his
point is always the same. After this. however,
various devices have been resorted 10 in order TO
get money from the alleged relative. Sometimes
expenses in getting the legacy are made the
CUse. Usually, however. the ward starts for Amer
lea, and word to this effect reaches the relative.
Then the ward falls i'll the way and writes
convent where she lies sick A priest writes for
her, and the paper used is a counterfeit From $500
10 $500 the asked for, these being to
cover the expenses of collecting the legacy and 70
account of her illness. A picture OF the ward a.
ways accompanies this letter l have twenty OF
these pictures at Valencia, and they all OF he
same 1t is ingenious and clever iupO-
been given to IT, still TO flourish ike green
bay tree