The Detroit times., 1910-12-31

WdSHlnblOu 10 sAtN ~. Js[I
so-called Spanish ASl3zA.<
Swindle" This
has been going on -
for several years ~.
and is proving dit 49,
ticult 10 suppress because OF Tue
numbers and the nationalities or the
persons engaged in II. The INTENDED
victim first receives letter from
man in prison In Barcelona, charS
ed with political offense In CUBA. Inc
prisoner represents himself as Delns
al the point of death with but one
friend, the good prison priest, who
will occasionally .smuggle letter OUT
or the prison. The prisoner Is rlch'
He has fortune amounting TO more
than $50, 900 on deposit in the Uniteu
States. but the certificate OF deposit
is III secret receptacle In his vaisse
which has been taken in custody by
the court at Carthagenia He has al
so an only daughter who is his dying
thought There is no one In SPAN
to whom he can commit her.
VIII the kind American accept the
guardianship of the darling daughter
and the custody OF her fortune in re-
turn for one-fourth of the latter
Usually the claim Is made that the
daughters mother was an American
and distant relative OF the party ap-
piled to. IL the trust is accepted the
good priest viii go TO America and
take the daughter, but there is one
condition. The kind American or dis
tant relative is requested to send
money TO liberate the valise and per-
haps pay the travelling expenses OF
the daughter and the priest. The
money is to be sent TO the priest
whose address is given. A series or
letters may follow. The prisoner VIII
write pathetically that his strength
is failing fast and beseeches the kind
American to be good TO his daring
daughter. Then the priest writes In
very bad English concerning the pris'
oner's death and states that the
daughter is now under his care He
may enclose u newspaper clipping an
ncuncing the death OF the famous
Cuban patriot, sometimes called La
fiente. and referring to the hidden
valise and the orphan daughter.
This swindle has been going on foi
some ten years and IL Is incredible
the amount OF money that has beeu
realized. Confederates in America
| furnish the swindlers with names OF
Americans who may have had rela'
t,ves marrying Cubans. Only las.
year A. Landberg of Boston reported
having sent $4,000 for the charges OF
the court upon the valise and the
VOYAGES Of the daughter and priest
who of course never was heard from
after the money was received. De-
spite the fact that the postal author
tiles OF the United States have under
taken to prohibit the distribution Oh
any mail relating TO II. the swindie
is still going on by means OF the tele
graph and express companies. Inc
American is told how TO cable TO q
certain address on plea that let
ter would likely be confiscated by the
Spanish government.
For many years the securing OF I'M
claimed estates from Europe has CIV
! en- opportunity for swindlers 10 ac'
uuire large sums OF money. Although
I the department OF state frequently
( has taken the matter up with the
various countries and the assurance
has been given out many times that
there are absolutely no estates III
Europe awaiting claim by distant re
latives in America. every year brings
up new cases OF this kind. The re
cent desire OF Americans to claim
noble ancestry makes II easier FOL
the swindler who has secured a gooC
knowledge OF old family names to &C
lqiire large sums of money from
Americans who wish to believe tina
the European branch or their famil,
was in possession OF boundles
wealth.
The Old Dutch Estate" swindle II
especially popular. Attractive circu
lars are still being issued from tim
TO time describing the Anneke.Jano
Estate. the Cronkheit or Kronkei
Estates, the Weber Estate and vari
GUS others purporting to have M
lions OF money on deposit In tn
Bank OF Holland"-a bank which, b.
the way. does not exist. AS most o
the European governments have
provision by which unclaimed estate
revert to the Crown. II is easy to sc,
how all such propositions are swind
les. but they 20 on with more or les
publicity each year, although ever.
dollar so expended Is thrown away
While most frauds are perpetratet
through the mail, the vigilance OF thu
postal authorities is becoming re
straining, so the clever swindler Il
rcsorting to new methods. TIL
Free Homestead" swindle has beef
worked assiduously throughout tn
country during the past year.
A slick agent will locate in a small
manufacturing town, putting up q
the best hotel. He becomes acquaint
ed with as many OF the working mel
az possible He sympathizes wit
the laboring class and thinks II
shame that wealthy corporation
, should get the best of everything. II
, claims to represent a wealthy farme
in Michigan, Texas, or some remot
locality. The said farmer is pur
philanthropist with no desire to prof
) al the expense of the poor. He own
hundreds of acres Of good farm;n
land He wishes this land TO be col
verted into small homesteads an
decided TO worthy working people dc
serving of chance to live con
fortably in their own homes. He
willing 10 give away perhaps nifty o