Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

mas ever Deen dFTSSlcu, dIlu 81 ldI Dc tlio
American legation knows the police have
made no serious efforts to capture the cul-
prits. 1t would seem easy for them TO 90
SO because the letters are always sent to
street numbers and there must be some
way OF tracing the drafts. which are Of
course taken to some bank to be cashed
But it would he contrary to etiquette for
the United States minister to take any
steps on his own account He can only
work through the foreign office.
Only a few months ago man from Lam
sing. Mich, who had fallen into the trap,
made his appearance in Madrid determined
with the United States minister and law
yer who understands Spanish affairs he re-
turned to his home a sadder and a wiser.
and, let us hope. better. man.
Another Method.
Another set of swindlers. or, perhaps.
they are the same, use different method.
They write to their victims that while serv
ing in the army in Cuba during the late war
they buried in certain garden chest of
gold coin intrusted to their care to prevent
its capture by the Yankees. The govern
ment supposes that 1t was captured; their
comrades were all killed, and they alone
know the secret, but they are in prison for
debt and cannot go to Cuba to recover the
money. If the person addressed will fur
nish the funds to get them out Of jail and
pay their expenses to Cuba they will be
scheme is not so alluring as the other, and
so far as l know 1T has caught fewer suck
erS.
The police of Madrid must be in league
with the swinders under their influence
in some way, because they will not do any
thing to expose or punish them. There has
recently been a tremendous scandal here
which caused the resignation of three of the
principal police officials and the dismissal
of twelve others, but the latter have all
been restored for political and social rea-
sons, notwithstanding the protests of the
newspapers and the Indignation of the pub
lic
Last summer a rich loan broker was
spending his vacation in Switzerland when
his cashier received from him written in
structions to loan large sum of money to
stranger who would call upon him and
present the other half of business card
which was inclosed in the letter, provided
he gave his note of hand for six months with
interest and two indorsers, who were
named. The man called the next day pre-
scented the card, gave the note according
conditions. and got the money.
The cashier wrote his employer that his
instructions had been accurately carried
out. and the employer. who, of course had
sent none, came rushing back to Madrid
by the first train.
The investigat ton he made with great
energy disclosed some startling facts and
involved in the conspiracy several persons
of Importance. including the wife of high
parsonage, whose house was the rendeZ-
vous of the swindlers. Another person i'm
plicated was general in the army, who
held high position at court and still an
other who is attached to the suite of the
Infanta Isabella. influential officers of the
municipality, prominent member of par
lament. former member of the cabinet,
and nearly all the higher officers of tile po-
lice force We're more or less involved-not
in this particular case of forgery, hut in
other swindles and frauds that were dis
closed while it was being investigated. The
scandal was almost as bad as that which
was recently uncovered in ST. Louis. But
when it reached the palaces of the king and
the infanta and the parliament, 1t was de-
cided to suppress further Investigations
and, to protect the regulations of great
men and important women. the dismissed
policemen were restored.
National Pests.
The beggars in Spain are great null
sance. They are called the national pests
Many of them are swindlers; some of the
.deformities exposed are artificial, and 1t is
common for them to borrow babies to at
tract sympathy. According to the latest
census there are 90 227 professional beg
CARS in Spain, of whom 81 94S are women
They haunt the steps of the churches, the
entrances to the hotels, art galleries and
museums. and wherever the strangers are
in the habit of going, for tourists and for
eigners give aims more freely than the
residents
Once in the Public Eye.
General Weyler. of Cuban notoriety, il
living quietly these days upon his estates in
the Ballearic Islands, waiting, 1t is sup
posed. for an opportunity to distinguish
himself again In his country's service. He
belongs to the liberal party. which is now
o1t of power, and there is nothing for him
to do When the liberals come back again
into the control of affairs he Is expected to
resume his activity, and may be secretary
Of war or commander of the army, or occu-
by almost any important position in the
councils of his party. Weyler Is considered
1.-THE man Of the future" and many suspect
him of sympathy with the republican move
ment. He has had several opportunities to
proclaim himself dictator. but has not
taken advantage of them. Perhaps he did
not think that the time was ripe. He Is
very rich. and everybody knows that he
made his money in Cuba, because. COM
paratively speaking, he was poor Lman
when he went there.
General Blanco. the gentle. humane and
soldierly commander of the Spanish forces
at the time of the surrender. has disap-
peared from view. Nobody seems to know
lust what has become Of him. Some say
that he Is living In seclusi0n, others believe
that he is in a sanitariuu, and have even
heard that he was IN hospital for the In