The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-30
Times-Dlspatch Bureau.
Nunsey Building.

Washington. D. c., July ~.
The frantic attempts OF certain per-
sons in Spain to give away a fortune
and beautiful girl to citizens OF re.
tersburg and adjacent territory have
been made the subject OF conference
between Representative Lassiter, OF the
Fourth Virginia District. and oifiGials
Of the State Department. Major Las
sitter, who was In Washington TO-DAY.
settled the matter In some sort OF
fashion, though not entirely to his Tx
Ing.
Petersburger will be compelled to ac-
cept the gift Of fortune with a
pretty girl thrown in. It seems that
several of Major Lassiter's constitu-
ents have received letters, purporting
in prison in Spain. and at the point
Of death. asking them to accept the
guardianship of his daughter, who Is
in charge Of priest and who Is en-
titled to a considerable fortune. Gem
orally, the writer claims to have dis
covered that the person to whom he is
writing is related to him by ties OF
blood.
One important feature OF these let
tiers must not be overlooked; the re-
cipient is requested to send certain
sum of money in order to secure the
release Of satchel containing GER
tificate of deposit OF 100000 or more.
One OF the best known citizens OF
Petersburg recently received letter
OF this character. and 1t developed that
number Of other residents Of that
city and vicinity had also been favored
in a similar manner.
Major Lassiter laid the whole matter
before the State Department. Acting
take long to explain the swindle, to
which the attention of the department
has been directedfa number of times.
A Wcll-OrEaniHed Svyindle.
barcelona ae a''s submitted to the depart
ment some time ago report on
band OF swindlers operating in va
rious towns and cities IN Spain, who
s sons $ in the IL a9 United States respecting
guardianship of a child.
The consul-general states that tbs
a political prisoner from Cuba; he s
at the point of death and has but one
friend-the prison prtest-through
whose good offices he is 8 e N 70 70
smuSgle an occasional letter. out OF
the prison fort. y.
The prisoner is rich, He has ioT.
tune in cash on deposit in the United
States, but the certificate OF dePosls :
his vallse; the valise itself has been
taken possession Of by the court It
Carthagena. which tried and condemned
him, and Will be held until the p pr IS,
/ OHeT. OF MS representative ldo SeaIAoAiSNa
the costs Of the trial The prisoner
has an only daughter;f dying IN prison,
his sole thought Is OF this beloved Off
spring. He has no friend or relative
IN Spain to- whose care he can comt mn !.
turn to the distant relative in the
United States, whom he has never. seen,
4 and OF whom he knows only through
7hearsay or the family tree. VAL the
distant. relative assume the guardla ~ :
a esa nn6, daughters fortune Of aDou'
II the distant relative accepts the
trust, one-fourth OF the prisoners en-
TIRE tor t% wiz b1tns az once
to the United States and ia ke the oar ' :
| ling daughter with him 4.
An Important Condition.
There Is put one condtlq bro,,rSt WIN wItb
hGns u W spain th has
distant. relative Is therefore .reques,tie g
to send enough to leberate the va ll Z 9
containing the secret receptacle aug
the certificate OF deposit; TINS money $ ,,
address Indicated, and having received
| It, the good priest will ataonce secure
tho vallse and start for America. t 7 g
land Of the free asd the nome 9. tne
hr 5rSa With the darllng danght. nra y
the first letter OF the series. IT Is
quickly. followed by another, n which
the prisoner pathetically STATE STATES ina ~
distant relative to- assume, the, trust
and he a loving father to the idarllns
athRnshter The third s,.lettergi,s t,r1n n
ths good priest himself who IN !, ! hr I =
Pad English, announcer the ! deat IN y, Q!
odds that the darling daughter Is IN