Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-01-27
WAS 4 VERY SLICK GAME
But Mr.. Geyer, Of HejgesyilIe,
Refused to Be Duped.
TEMPTED By A BIG FORTUNE
Get Word From Spain That He Is
Heir to Goodly Sum, But Hasn't
Seen the Money.

Seen the Money.
An interesting story comes from
Hedgesville. this county, of an at
tempt 70 swindle Mr.. Benjamin F..
.Geyer, an aged and respected resi-
dent of that village by a gang of
sharpers in Spain, who tried to work
a game that has proved successful in
several instances In other parts of the
country, but which failed of its pur-
pose in this case.
About 25 years ago Mr.. Geyer had a
niece named May Geyer. who married
a foreigner presumably Spaniard,
but OF whom Mr.. Geyer had heard
nothing until several months ago.
About that time Mr.. Geyer received
letter from an individual who stated
that he was the husband of Miss Gey-
|er. The writer said that he had gone
to Cuba after the marriage, engaged
in business and after some yeats had
accumulated a fortune of about $780,
000
The writer stated that he had paid
a visit to his former home in Spain !,
where he was arrested on charge of
having failed to serve his term in the
army. He was tried by court.nar-
tial, convicted of desertion and sem
fenced to IS years in prison. At the
time of writing the letter he was in
prison. with little prospect of living
until the expiration of his sentence.
Realizing that his child, daughter,
would be left without protection in
the event of his death, aud at the
mercy OF designing persons, he pro-
posed TO leave his fortune of $3.50 600
to his daughter and Mr. Geyer jointly,
providing the latter would consent TO
act as the guardian and protector of
the child.
The writer of the letter stated that
the message was smnggled out of the
prison through the agencv of priest
stationed there. and Mr.. Geyer was to
send csblegram to the supposed priest
stating whether he would accept the
offer. Mr.. Geyer determined to in.
vestigate the matter to the bottom and
sent the cablegram. announcing that
he would accept the proposition. In a
few weeks a letter arrived from the
supposed priest, in which the latter
stated that the man was dead En-
closed was copy of what purported
to be the will of the husband of Mr.
Gever's neice. The latter was given
500. 000 aud Mr.. Geyer was wiiled the
balance of the $l5G, 900. The supposed
priest went on to explain that there
were some expenses which he would
be compelled to defray, aud that as he
had no money for the purpose. he
would be greatly pleased ii Mr. Gey-
Ter would forward him the small sum
of $1,000. Immediately upon receipt
|of this amount, the writer and the
|child would start for America the
land of the free and the home of graft.
There was enclosed in this pronis
ing epistle note from the little girl,
who wrote to her dear Uncle Benz
that she was delighted at the prospect
of coming to live with him. and that
she knew she would be happy 10, his
home. where the money left nv her
dear dead father would bring every
comfort.
Just at this point of the scheme
Mr.. Geyer decided that there was
large and husky genman OF color in
the accumulation of fuel aud he wrote
&c the supposed priest, saving that he
strenuously objected to sending 81, 900
In good. hard lawful of the realm OF
Uncle Samuel on such mission to
the land of the don, but that he
would freely give his consent for
those at the other end to use his or the
girls money to defray the expenses
OF coming TO this country.
OF course, that ended the matter,
and Mr.. Geyer has heard nothing
further from the spectators on the
other side. This game has been
worked successfully IN other places
once in Washington county Md. !,
where farmer was mulcted out OF
1900 a hvgan0 in Ger,nanv