Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-09-22
OREGON MAN DIDN'T BITE
Look Out for European Schemers
You MAY Be the Next Victim.

The Spanish prisoner, that ancient
brother to the gold brick and Euro
pean relative of the American bunko
man. having grown little stale on
the other side of the water has taken
to working on the cupidity of people
ON the Pacific Slope. W. J. Winner.
President and Manager of the Deep
Gravel Mining Company of Waldo,
Ore, was selected as possibly easy
victim, who was besides possessed of
sufficient money to make him easy.
But Mr.. Winner was not so easily
worked.
The usual programme was carried
out according to precedent of the
people OH the other side. The prison
er was dying in Spanish dungeon.
He had $50, 900 deposited in Lon
don bank, but the portmanteau in
which the certificate of deposit was
hidden in secret pocket had been
seized by the Spanish authorities.
This money he would bequeath to Mr..
Winner along with his daughter if
only it could bs recovered. BY the
next mail came letter from a con.
fidential friend announcing the death
of the prisoner and inclosing his will
under which Mr.. Winner was made
guardian of the derelict daughter and
he was bequeathed $3.50, 900 If he
could get it.
The process of getting the money
was simple. All that was necessary
was to prove the will and get possess
ion of the prisoners effects, including
the portmanteau. the confidential
friend knew where TO find the secret
pocket, and would take from it the
certificate of deposit 10 be forwarded
to Mr.. Winner.
But-and here comes the snare-ii
was necessary to send e39l to pay the
costs of court. In the following let
ter the dying prisoner wrote to Mr..
Winner. whom he claimed as an un.
expected relative, and described the
process by which he became possessed
of the ESQ, OOO;
Castle Fort of Valencia, September
8, 1904. Mr., I. Wimer-My dear
Relative; Having not the honor to
know you bat for the references
which my dear wife, Mary Winner,
J our relative, gave me, who, mention
ing the individuals of our family.
praised the honesty and good qualities
that distinguish you, | address my
self to you for the first time (and
perhaps the last one, considering the
grave state of my health), explaining
to you my sad positiod and requesting
your protection for my only daughter,
your niece, 10 years old, whom keep
as pensioner in the college Of Santa
Elena.
AS | am strictly watched by my
enemies, | hopO you will reveal to
nobody the most insignificant detail
of this letter. Being secretary aud
treasurer of Mr.. Martinez Campos in
the late war of Cuba, and deserving
the conditions of such an illustrious
gentleman, placing my capital In pub
lie funds transactions 80 that | might
make a brilliant position for my
daughter, whom l ever loved with
passion since when her mother died.
Now my fortune increased fast, and
l would have been happy had my
protector continued to the end Of the
campaign. No sooner was he replaced
y General Weyler than my misfor-
tune presented itself, as / could not
succeed in making him comply to
Spain, and, not being in my power to
SEQ Cuba ruled by an adversary
polite, Joined the rebellion in be-
half Of the republic; but as we were
victims Of the greatest treason, was
obliged to emigrate to English
ground, taking along with me my
money, valued at $50, 600 After
having resided some time in London
| received the sad news that my wife
had died. leaving my dear daughter
in despair and without help in this
sad situation. l found myself In the
necessity Of coming TO Spain to help
my daugher aud bring her in my
company to your country.
Before starting, considering it i'm
prudent to take along with me this
respectable sum Of money, ! decided
to place it in the London bank against
a special contract and only as de-
posit, as it appears In the security
document payable to the bearer that
the bank gave me as guarantee,
which document / hid in the hollow
Of my portmanteau.
After the decease Of the suppositious
prisoner, the daughter wrote to Mr..
Winner, enclosing her photograph and
consenting to come to his home in
Oregon. Mr. Winner, finding himself
heir to an unexpected daughter and a
fat sum Of money, enclosed the whole
correspondence TO 1.-THE Examiner. I"
The game is ar old as the gold brick,
bat II still works among people whose
cupidity is stronger than their sense.
PLACE OF MINING ROMANCE