The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-12

man.
Mr.. ]. EIsbach, of this city, tells US
an effort to perpetrate a swindle upon
him that beats the gold brick swindle,
because. in addition to al adroitly laid
plan to swindle. an interesting story
is connected with it. II will be seen
that the swindlers hope TO strike some
one avaricious enough TO claim kinship
with one of them and adopt a girl IN
order to become possessed of a for
tune of Al, 200 pounds sterling equal to
$2O5. 900 in the coin Of the United States.
a Spaniard who claims TO nave
espoused the cause of Cuba and who
dies in a Spanish prison. his fifteen
year old daughter, and an alleged
Catholic priest are supposed to be the
parties who tried to fix up a job on Mr..
Elsbach. The attempt to inYelgle MIN
into their trap made a number of let
tiers necessary, and they appear to be
written in a foreign hand and, OF
course, they would be so written if the
swindlers are really Spanish. There is
llIlIt uOuDly NA"N NANS
Spanish, as the letters came from Spain
and bear Spanish postage stamps and
POStmarkS.
DOOMED TO PENAL SERVITUDE.
Here is the first letter received by
Mr.. Elsbach:
Calstle Port of Valencia,
May %, 1902.
Mr.. j. Elsbach:
Dear relative, having not the honor
TO know you. out for the references
which my wife, Mary Elsbach, your
relative, gave me, who mentioning the
individuals of our family praised the
honesty and good qualities that distin-
guishes you, 1 address myself to you
for the first time and perhaps the last
one, considering the grave state of my
health, explaining o my sad position
INT requesting yours protection for my
only daughter, your niece. fifteen years
old, whom I keep as a pensioner in the
college of Santa Elena.
LAS I am strictly watched by my
enemies, / hope you will not reveal to
anybody the most insignificant details
of this letter. Being a secretary and
treasurer of MI. MARTENS Campus in
the last war of Cuba and deserving the
confidence of such an iIlustrious gentle
man, l placed my capital in public
pound so that l might
make a briffant position for my
daughter, whom I ever loved with pas
sion since when her mother died. o
my fortune increased fast. I would have
been happy had my protection con-
tinued at the end of the campaign. AS
no sooner was he replaced by the Cen
eral Weyler that my misfortune pre-
scented itself. as l could not succeed in
making him company to Spain and not
icing in my power to see Cuba ruleu
by an adversary polite, 1 Joined the re-
bellion in behalf of the republic, but as
we were victims of the greatest tred-
son, l was obliged to immigrate in En-
glish ground, taking along with me my
money valued at II, 900 pounds sterling
($2O5, OOO). After having resided some
time in London. 1 received the sad
news that my wife had died, leaving
my dear daughter in despair and with
out help. In this sad situation, l found
myself in the necessity of coming to
Spain to help my daughter and bring
her in my company to your country.
Before starting, considering az impru-
dent to take along with me this re-
spectacle sum of money, / decided to
place it in the London bank against a
special contract and only as a deposit,
as it in the security document
payable to the bearer, that the bank
gave me as a guarantee, which docu-
ment / hidden in a concealed hollow or
my pOrtmanteau, very we'll made,
which the most keenest eyes cannot
find out. Then very satisfied that the
money was in securely. / started for
Spain to help my daughter, WI,
was discovered by the military author
tiles, brought Immediately before the
government military of Cartagena and
condemned to eighteen years penal ser
yitude. destined me to undergo my
condemnation at the Castle of Valencia, |
where l bitterly suffer, deprived of all
communication from outside. even with
my daughter. When l was sentenced, |
my equippage and the portmanteau
have been co~nfiScated. This embargo |
was made as a guarantee for the pay
ment of the cost of my process. Here
/ am amidst so nan Affections. not
expecting any help whatever from my
m / am only visited by the chap
lain of the castle. who besides being |
my confessor, is my best friend. I owe
to him TO being able to write this let
ter, being aware of my grave state of
health. which and will be a fatal one, |
/ trust in o discretion and induces
me the noble wish Of extending your
protection should you be kind enough
to be the support Of my daughter, try
ing TO make her happy, as perhaps /
may not be able to see her again. My
daughter will possess a fortune in
money of 1900 pounds (S2o5, 000), al
though my equippage are confiscated
in Cartagena, as nobody knowing that
disenabled secret, which you only will
know, if you are good to be the protec-
tor of my daughter, I expect o will
let me know by return Of post, and
when paying the costs OF my prosecu-
ton the embargo will be raised and
then I shall manage to get the respecta-
BILE chaplain with my daughter to your
house; Also the equippage-we will act
then accordingly for getting my CAPT
tai which will be granted to my daugh-
ter, Emily in my testament and a part
beside for you n your family, as a
Justly reward
AS it is prohibited to me to receive
any direct public correspondence / ex-
pect you will send the letter under two
the one inside to my name
and the one outside to the name of the :
servant of my protector, the chaplain Of