The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-07

loan"
Same old prison" and the same old
Child"
Same old con-game and the same old
guile.
A clever, but time-worn International
ICON game" has again come to light
in Savannah by the recipient of a let
ter from Spain, showing it to a number
of his friends.
The letter purports to come
from a Spanish prisoner, confined for
life in a castle in Spain, because of
his part in the Cuban rebellion.
He appeals to the Savannahian on
the usual ground that his wife was a
distant relative, and protection is beg
ged for a daughter, said to be confined
in a Spanish convent. The writer,
who signs himself Augustin LIE Afuen-
te, claims to have a large sum of
money deposited in a New York bank.
AS he is confined in prison, he cannot
get this, but will arrange to turn it
over to the Savannahian, if the latter
will only aid him financially now and
6ANC PlOlCNLiOI " Ills dCclA hhhe9AASSA'
scheme Worked Once.
1t is a time-honored graft, but in
the present case the letter is put up
in such an artistic manner that it is
interesting The man who received it
here was not for a moment fooled. It
will be recalled that an American
about a year ago was taken in by
a similar appeal and made efforts to
prosecute after being duped.
Several of the letters have been re-
ceived here, it is thought, but only one
man has been found who would con-
sent to make it public And he agreed
only with the express understanding
that his name should be withheld. He
did not want the people to know, he
said, that even a man in Spain took
him for such an easy mark"
Praises His Honesty.
The wording of the letter is peculiar
and it is almost entirely without pune
tuation. Following is an exact copy:
Castle port of Barcelona.
Dear Sir and relative: Having not
the honor to know you but for the
references which my dead wife. Mary
-, your relative, gave me who men
tioning the individuals of our family
praised the honesty and good quail
ties that distinguished you, 1 address
myself to you for the first time and
perhaps the last one considering the
grave state of my health explaining
you my sad position and requesting
your protection for my only daughter
child of II years old who 1 keeps as a
pensioner in a college.
Watched by Enemies.
AS 1 am strictly watched for, my
enemies, L hope you will reveal to no
body the most insignificant detail Of
this letter.
Being a secretary and treasurer of
Mr. Martinez Campos in the last Gu
ban War, and deserving the confidence
of such an illustrious gentleman plac-
ing my capital in public funds trans
acting it so that 1 might make brill
liant position for my daughter whom
! ever loved with passion since when
her mother died.
1 saw my fortune increase and at
last would have been happy had my
protector continued at the end of the
campaign as no sooner was he replaced
by the general Weyler than my mis-
fortune presented itself as I could not
succeed in making him company to
Spain and not being in my power to
see Cuba by an adversary polite 1
Joined the rebellion in behalf of the
the greatest treason / was obliged to
emigrate in American North ground
taking along with me my money valued
to dollars $4,000. After having been
some time in New York received the
sad news my wife had died leaving my
dear daughter in despair and without
help. In this sad situation / found
myself in the necessity of coming back
to Spain to help my daughter and
bring her in my company to Amer
lea.
Put Money in Bank.
Before starting considering it i'm
prudent to take along with me this
respectable sum of money, / decided
to place il in the New York against
a special private contract and only
as a deposit, as it appears In the Sc
curity document payable to the bearer
that the bank gave me as a guarantee.
which document l hidden in a con-
cealed hollow of my portmanteau very
well made, which the keenest eyes can
not find out.
The very satisfied that the money
was in security | started for Spain,
where l was discovered by the miltar
authority brought Immediately before
the Government militar of Cartegena
and condemned to 16 years penal servi-
tude, destined me to ending my con-
denim at the Castle fort of Barcelona
where ] bitterly suffer deprived of all
communication from outside, even with
my daughter
Chaplain Only Visitor.
When l was sentenced my equipage
and the portmanteau have been confis-
Gated this embargo was made as a
guarantee for the payment the costs
of my process.
am only visited by the chaplain Of
this castle who besides being my con-
fessor Is my last friend. / owe to
him to being able to write this let
ter being aware of my grave state
of health which will be a fatal and
prompt one l trust i'm your discretion
and induces me the noble wish of
pretending your protection. should you
be kind enough TO be support Of my
daughter. trying TO make her happy as
perhaps / may be able not to see her
again.
My equipage have conhscated m
Cartezena but nobody know. That dis
embed secret you only are aware OF
IL, n you are good 10 be the protector
OF my daughter and 10 advance the
necessary funds for 10 raise the en-
barge ! expect you viii let me know
by cable.
Mail u Prohibited.
! Will send 10 you 10 home the re-
spectacle chaplain with my daughter
Amelia also the equipage In my tesla
ment and the fourth part ~ my for
tune for you as "A just reward. I
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