The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-11-12

he went TO take possession he was con-
fronted by the man who held the lease,
and was told that he could not get Oh
he place for five years except by buy
ing mp that lease.
1t was up to him TO go back to the
States and wait FIVE years. or pay the
CRATER his price. which was 1900 in this
case. He paid the price and was per-
Tuitted to occupy the land.
one old colored man had secured q
valuable quarter section OF choice bot
tomland.
Sewing Machine Game
The first member Of a gang appeared
In the guise of sewing machine agent
and sold him a machine. taking a mort
gage on a young calf for part of the
price.
\ Few days later another member of
the gang showed up as a stock buyer.
He took violent fancy to that calf. and
offered such big price. in cash, that
the old man forget all about the mort
gage, and sold the animal TO him, thus
laying himself liable to q penitentiary
sentence.
IN the third act another member of
the gang appeared in the guise of an
officer and arrested the colored man. on
the charge of selling mortgaged prop
erty About the time he had the old fell
low properly scared, jackleg lawyer.
the fourth member of the gang, arrived
on the scene saved the darky from the
pen, and got directories OF choice bot
tomland as his fee.
This was divided up among the gang.
The subsequent history Of this particu-
lar tract is of interest, because il
shows what the same gang did to tho
farmer who bought the land.
1t was sold TO an Eastern buyer, who
paid 81. 500 down at the time of pur-
chase AS an inducement to get him TO
buy, ne was told that their loan COM
pany' would lend him $500 on the land.
He took the loan, but discovered, when
too late, that ne had been deceived in
making out the papers and instead o.
giving the usual land mortgage. which
requires foreclosure proceedings and
gives a years right of redemption, he
had been duped into giving a trust deed
which is a warranty deed conveying
the property to the creditor without
| notice, IL the loan is not paid at the
minute Of maturity.
IF for any reason he is unable TO pay
the loan at maturity, he will lose tbs
farm together with every thing he has
=
a convenient fiction TO enable the graft
er to get a .'backhold' on the buyer by
lending him a part OF his own money.
Good Dealers, Too.
It is by no means intended to convey
the impression that there are no repu-
table men in the land business in the
territory There are undoubtedly many
OF that class here.
But the large amount Of valuable land
| that has recently come into the hands
Of the ignOrent colored people has re-
suited in drawing hither a swarm of the
worst. scoundrels and confidence men
| that ever cut a throat OF sank a ship.
| financially, and the newccme who
does not understand the situation, is
almost certain 10 be robbed.
The agricultural, mineral, gas. oil,
asphalt and other resources Of Indian
| Territory are beyond computation in
their value and extent. Now that they
are being thrown open TO the public
! there is certain to be a mad rush by
! people from all over the country, who
| expect to get hold Of land
| Under existing conditions. thousands
are doomed 10 mercless plunder unless
they know what is in store for the IN
suspecting and trusting tendeffOot-