The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-11-12
PRIZES OFFERED IN THE
BILE QUESTION CONTEST

seHcy his thoughts turn 10 the u.s.
? tant relative in the United States
q whom he has never seen and of whom
he knows only through heresay or the
family tree. Will the distant relative
assume the guardianship of the dar-
: ling daughter, and the darling daugh-
ter's fortune of about 100000? If
the distant relative accepts the trust
one-fourth of the prisoners entire
fortune will be the amterial reward
The good priest will go at once to the
United States and take the darling
daughter with him. There is but
one condition the ready money which
the prisoner brought with him to
Spain has been exhausted; the dis
tant relative is therefore requested
to send enough to liberate the valise
containing the, secret receptacle ar,
the certificate of deposit. This money
Is to be sent to the good priest at "a
address Indicated and, having receiv-
ed 1t, the good priest will at once SO,
cure the valise and start for Ameri, a.
the land of the free and the home Of
the brave with the darling daughter
The above is generally the first let-
ter OF the series. 1t is quickly fol-
lowed by another in which the pris-
oner pathetically states that his
strength is rapidly failing and the end
is near. He beseeches his dear dis
tant relative to assume the trust and
be a loving father to the darling
daughter. The third letter is from
the good priest himself, who in brief.
touching terms, and hopelessly bad
English, announces the death of the
unhappy prisoner; the good priest
adds that the darling daughter is un-
der his care. He is ready to put his
promise into execution and start for
the United States as soon as he shall |
have received the necessary funds
from the distant relative. The good I
priest frequently incloses with his let
ter bogus newspaper clipping an
nouncing the death in prison at Bar
celona of the famous Cuban patriot /
(sometimes called Augustin Lafiente) +
the newspaper notice also speaks cum
ningly of the confiscated valise and
the darling daughter.
It is simple scheme, but presen-
ted in such plausible way that al
most any unsuspecting distant rela-
tive" of European extraction would be
more or less deceived by the glad
prospect Of falling heir to the agree
able custody of darling daughter
with big fortune, and a one-fourth
interest therein as an additional re-
compense.
Naturally the first Impulse Of the
distant relative is to ask lawyer or
a judge or, some authority what !
course he ought to pursue in the pre-
misses. but as he things of doing this 4
his attention is taken by the warning
in the prisoners letter beseeching
him not to mention the matter to any
living soul lest the secret of the valise
and the hidden receptacle be indis- I
,reetly betrayed.
The valise. after all, with it's con- I
sealed certificate of deposit, is the
key to the situation and possession
must be taken of it before anything
ian be done or said This ESQ cum
1ingly set forth by the prisoner) is
very evident to the distant realtive,
Ind SO he quite frequently preserves
he secret intact, and instead of con-
'ulting lawyer or writing to the
American Consul-General at BARGE
mol he quietly sends. a draft for the I
'um demanded to the good priest and
awaits results. OF course he waits
n vain, and the poor, dead prisoner I
ind the good priest and the darling :
laughter in the course of time pass
tut of his life forever. leaving him
,nly an uncomfortable memory of
he money he SO cheerfully contribu- ]
ed to the confidence game. Z
For nearly twenty years these same !
lnaves have been practicing their Z
windle, and it is needless to suggest =
hat they are very carefully organi- !
ed; they have confederates not only 2
n the United States but in most 9th !
r countries. The confederates in y
uestion select man and find out Z
ii they can about him; they get hold :
t family names, family origin, and 2
amily characteristics. This informa- y
lon is transmitted to the rascals in B
pain and letters are at once written 2
, the prospective victim. The scheme <
J presented and developed in very :
lausible way and many of our fell Z
JW-SOuutIy ulcH nave DlJCeH .
romptly and cheerfully. y
Under the Spanish laws felony !
lust be consummated before the 2
olice may act. and mere attempt Z
, obtain money by false pretenses :
oes not appear to warrant arrest. Z
he money must be actually paid over <
nd the prosecuting witness must be
resent in propria persona to testify; Z
tEerwise prosecution would be USE :
49, =
Recently the letters written to the Z
lstant relative have varied somewhat 3
ON the original; the political pris- 2
ner having become noted Russian 4
anker who absconded, leaving a de-
cit of some millions of roubles, kill
in quarrel In England another <
ussian. and finally took refuge in D
pain where he was apprehended and 2
larged with manslaughter. (
This change of character, however, z
immaterial, and In the future more 3
ew characters will probably be in ~
oduced by the gang The scheme Z
the same, and the public Is warned :
J place no credence in such or SINH =
n letters. x
Every effort has been made by the :