The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-03
SCHEME TO DEFRAUD.

Continued from Tenth Page)
ton that for months and perhaps for
years, no attention had been paid to
the decencies common to those in his
station of life.
Judge Speer's Opinion.
FROM these facts" says Judge
Speer, while there is evidence in the
record intended to show that he was
capable of contracting and looking
after his business affairs, the conclu-
sion seems inevitable that Elias Bars
tow for the last years of his life, and
at the time of the incidents material
to be considered by the court. was
non compos mentis, at least to the
extent to render him incapable of pro-
tecting his interest
1T appeared that on the 18th day of
June, 1895, more than three years be-
fore his death. Barstow had negoti-
ated a loan with Isaac Beckett an at
torney at law, representing a MIS-.
Harriet H. Burch. Mr.. Beckett was
also money lender and being owner
of the abstract of all the titles in
Chatham county, was very familiar
with the value of lands. He was also
neighbor of Barstow having a home
on Wilmington Island, and presum-
ably knew or became aware of his
condition. The debt secured by the
mortgage became due in June 1896,
and was foreclOsed in November, 1896.
Judgment was taken by default. EX-
ecution issued thereon. The amount
of judgment, principal interest and
costs was S1,S47. This execution was
levied on a tract of so 26-100 acres of
land within the corporate limits of the
city. 1t is in evidence that this land
was worth at the time, and of late
years have always been worth 5000 an
acre, aggregating more than $4,000.
On April 6, 1897, this tract was sold
by the sheriff of the City Court and
hid off by Isaac Beckett, agent, for the
sum of $500.
MIR. Ricketts, Profit.
"On April 10 the sheriff made a deed
to one Kennickell for $500. 1t appear
ed incontestably that Kennickell was
acting for Beckett. who, it will be re-
membered, was attorney for Mrs.
Burch, and Beckett paid Kennickell
500 to represent him in this matter.
Six days after the sale to Kennickell
he resold four-fifths interest in this
tract to Dorsett Stone, Starr and
Gleason for 81, 400 an increase. 1t will
be observed, of nearly 200 per cent. in
that period. On March 81, 1885, the re-
naming one-ffth interest of this tract
was decided to George, the son of Is
aac Beckett. for $3.50, and George
Beckett testified that he represented
his father. Thus on this lot Isaac
Beckett, in little more than a year
made a profit of $3.50.
ION April 4, 1885, Dorset, Stone
Starr, Gleason and Beckett sold a two
thirds interest in the tract to Mrs
George for $4,000, and Oct %. of the
same year. or within a month after
the death of Barstow, the remaining
one-third interest was sold to the same
party for $500. Thus during this period
of Barstows decadence and death,
while that unhappy man, the possess
sor of means which under sane man
agement would have paid the debt of
Mrs. Burch twenty times over, and on
sale of the lot levied upon fairly
conducted could not only have paid
the debt, but realized a sum sufficient
to have kept him in luxury for the rest
of his life, presumably unconscious of
this trafficing with his interest, was
sinking with swift decadence in his
wretched abode near the city.
by this scheme, of which Isaac
Beckett was plainly the promoter, the
beneticiaries were enabled to make an
advance of 700 per cent. on their orig
1nal advancement. While this was true
and although the property sold was
many times the value of the mortgage.
there yet remained open on this lien
an Indebtedness against Barstow of
more than $1,000. This, we will see.
was soon made available to appro-
pirate other holdings of this unfor-
tunate man in a manner equally I'M
considerably and inimical to the plain
est principles of equity and natural
justice.
Significant circumstances.
"In the meantime, with the usual in
difference to their interests of men of
disordered minds, Barstow had per-
United state and county taxes to ac-
cumulate against him in the sum OF
SS55. This had been 4evied by j. T.
Roman, sheriff of Chatham county. on
a portion of his Wilmington Island
lands. 1t appears, however. that the
evidence that this levy was cancelled
and, significantly enough, another lew
was made by the sheriff and this
time on 67h acres of city lands. lyine
contiguous to the fifty-acre lot the dis
position of which has already been
mentioned.
More significant still, is the fact
that the entry of levy on this latter
tract is made in the handwriting OF
isaac Beckett. 1t is not in dispute
that Tor this land and a twenty-acre
tract additional Rarstow had been Of
fered $4,000 by Furber. 1t is clear
from the evidence that this offer was
not an excessive price. When brought
TO sale, however, on a tax f. IA ii
was sold to Isaac Beckett as agent for
Harriet Fl. Burch, for $685.
Over 400 Per Cent. PROFIT.
"Barstow, however. under the law of