The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-01
TWO INTERESTING STORIES.
There Are Stranger Things in Real Life Than
in Novels.
Chicago Record.)

Washington, ID. c., March 20.-Sone
time ago | received a curious commu-
nication from a gentleman in one of
the interior towns of Illinois. 1t came
to him from man who claimed to be
unjustly imprisoned in Spanish jail.
The writer said that he had served
as soldier in the Spanish army dur
ing the Cuban revolution, and shortly
after the evacuation of that island had
come into possession of q chest con-
tanning $4,000 in American coin. He
did not explain how, but left the in
ference that it was booty captured
upon a Cuban plantation. The chest,
he said, was buried at a convenient
spot not far from the city of Havana,
but having been arrested and thrown
into Jail for a crime of which he was
innocent he was unable to recover it
and could not secure his release with
out means. Having learned of the en-
ergy and honesty of the gentleman
in Illinois, he took the liberty to con-
fide to him this secret and to request
him to go to Cuba, recover the treas
ure and send half of it to an address
in Madrid which would be given him
later. The other half he might keep
as reward for his trouble.
If he was willing to undertake the
delicate commission the gentleman
from Illinois was requested to make
it known through a cablegram which
had been prepared for his signature
and was inclosed in the cOmmunica-
ton. Upon the receipt of that cable
gram full instructions and further in
formation would be forwarded to him
! from Madrid.
The writer urged haste and secrecy,
because he feared his treasure might
be discovered by some one else, and
he was naturally anxious to secure
his release from the Spanish Jail,
which could only be done by the use
of money.
The rest of the story remains to be
told.
Following this comes another sim
gular tale from a gentleman in Iowa
who for purposes of Identification /
will call Payton. A few weeks ago he
received letters from Madrid contain
ing the following information:
Don Luis Rodriguez PaytOn, former
! ly holding q responsible position in
Paris under the Panama Canal COM
pany, fled from that city to escape
the penalty of connection with the
scandal that occurred a couple of
years ago, taking with him his daugh-
ter, Maria Rodriguez. After residing
in Spain for some time, he decided to
leave for the United States, and in the
very act of boarding the steamer was
arrested. After desperate resistance
he was committed to jail in Madrid,
where he fell sick and died on the 10th
of October last. Shortly before his
death he made a will bequeathing his
property in trust to Mr.. Payton of
Iowa, and making him guardian of
his daughter Maria, with the under
standing that one-fourth of the estate
should go TO Mr.. Payton as a cOnsid-
Grafton for the responsibility. Father
Antonio Roger. chaplain of the pris-
on, communicates all these facts to
Mr.. Payton, of Iowa, sends him GER
titled copy of the will, which is dated
Aug. 20, 1899, an inventory of the
property and other official documents.
which leave no doubt of the truth of
the story / have thus far told.
But Mr.. Payton, of Iowa. never
heard before of any relatives of his
family in Spain or France, and he cam
not imagine why Don Luis Rodriguez
should bear the name of Payton or
should have known of his existence.
1t is true that he had previously re-
! ccived a letter from Don Luis, dated
Aug. &c, 1899, three days before the
will was made, claiming relationship
and giving an account of his troubles;
and the young woman, Maria, writes,
under date of Madrid, Oct. 90, inclos-
ing her photograph, announcing her
fathers death and expressing her wish
to become a member of the family of
her "dear guardian" She refers to a
letter written by her father shortly
before his death, which she promised
| to deliver to Mr.. Payton personally
upon her arrival in Iowa; but before
she can leave Madrid it is necessary
for Mr.. Payton to go there himself or
authorize an agent to settle her faith
er's affairs and take charge of the
property and the damsel
Naturally Mr.. Payton is puzzled. He
finds himself the trustee of an estate
and the guardian of young woman