Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-16
The Spanish Swindle.

might have some difficulty in finding
new victims, but such, apparently Is
not the case 1t has been said that
"a new crop of fools is born every
year." but it is not always the 1901
who falls victim to the
swindler and the confidence man.
1t was only few days ago,
| that one of the best known financ'ers
of New York, well known for his busl-
ness sagacity, and quickness OF per-
ception in industrial enterprise, was
vlctimized by a .swindle so moss-grown
| and Transparent as to surprise all VINO
know him, and to leave him at loss to
account for the temporary trance which
made him available for such bleeding.
AS matter of fact. however, the
dent man, for he is a man of quick
decisions, and one who is accustomed
to depend upon his own judgment. The
conservative man, who wants time to
think it over and advise with his
friends. or his cautious and far-seeing
wife, makes very poor picking. In
fact he is so far impossible that the
| busy swindler usually passes him up,
for some stronger minded and more
available man. 1t is therefore, the
confident, self-poised man, who is the
most frequently exploited by the willy
swindler and who is the most ire
ouently caught, by schemes so old that
the memory of man runneth not to the
contrary. 1t is he who buys the "gold
bricks" of commerce. To be- sure he
| has read of such devices for begulllng
| the unwary, and letting down. the
| unsophisticated, but those devices are
to his mind exclusively for "Ruebens."
! 1t never occurs to him that such things
could be put up to him. Confident
in his own shrewdness he is convinced
that no man would think seriously of
approaching him with any proposition
that did not rest upon a basis OF posi-
tive merit. He bites, and falls, and
great is his chagrin. But even here
ton in the selection of victim. The
self-confident man is rarely "squeal-
err" He is a man of great personal
pride, and usually prefers to pocket
financial loss, rather than to suffer
the humiliation that would come from
an exposure of his weakness. He
therefore takes his medicine" and
thereby saves his face. A few days ago
a Journal reader brought into the Of
fee a circular letter which was evil
IDENTIFY being sent into this State by
the manipulators of the ancient but
perennial Spanish swindle. This skin
game has been repeatedly exposed in
the newspapers of the country, never
victims or the rascals who profit by 1t
would abandon it for some more origi-
nal scheme. Like practically all sue
cessful swindkes it makes it's appeal to
human cupidity. 1t offers glittering
returns, the rich rewards of quick
wealth, in return for some slight
personal service, and pucuniary in
vestment so trivial as to seem almost
negligible. There is a large sum of
money available for a beautiful Span
ish heiress, which has been sequestered
for her by good friend of her de-
ceased father-often a devoted priest.
For personal reasons. which are shown
to be good and sufficient she is unable
to go personally for this wealth. In
deed her straitened circumstances
make it financially impossible. Nat
urally. under these narrowing circum-
stances she is willing to take half a
loaf, rather than to worry along with
no bread If therefore the recipient of
the letter will interest himself to the
extent of advancing the insignificant
sum necessary to release her -seques-
tered wealth, she will be duly CRATE
full, and cheerfulIy share her inheri-
lance with him. This in brief is the
usual STORY" that is used in the
Spanish swindle, although there are a
number of variations in it. Strange as
it may seem thousands of Americans
many of them people of recognized in
been "stung" by this
himsy and transparent sWlndle.
Strangest of all, notwithstanding the
wide publicity that has been given to
it, it still continues to do business.
Only few days ago a South Dakota
man thought he saw the CLEAN of
riches through the vista it opened up:
but awoke from his trance in season
to report his folly to the Spanish au-
thorities, with the result that they in
tercepted his letter, and returned his
$1,000 to him. 1t was a close shave,
and few of the people who have swal-
lowed the glittering bait of the Spanish