The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-07-24
SPANISH GRANT
SWINDLERS ACTIVE.


has been worked by gangs Of land
sharks for the last twenty years, has
been revived in number Of the large
cities over the country, and the un-
scrupulous real estate dealers who are
acquainted with bit Of old Spanish
history connected with the Ozark
country Of southern Missouri and OF
northern Arkansas are not only bring
ing ruin to many of their victims but
causing the recorders Of deeds in sew
eral counties considerable annoyance.
Apout ten years ago the biggest item
in the postage bills Of the recorders in
Christian and several other counties in
southern Missouri was the expense of
returning worthless deeds sent them
for recording and for answering in
quiries.
The latter came from all parts Of the
country from the more wary persons
who were less susceptible to the glib
tongued men who sought to trade them
mythical land in the Ozarks for prop
erty that represented the life savings
Of some of those they had picked for
easy marks.
The back to the soiI' movement,
about which so much as been said and
written, is blamed for the revival OF
the swindle. Men in the cities are
often too willing TO give ear to the
swindlers and trade their little homes
for a farm in the MissourfOzarks where
he can send his family and can follow
later to desert the grind Of salaried
position for the independence Of lie
in the country.
The scheme worked by the swindlers
is simple. They never make deal
with victim until they assure them
selves that what they get in return for
the worthless deed can be converted
into cash quickly.
They represent that they are owners
OF or agents for, tracts Of land in the
Ozark country that were par; OF an
original Spanish land grant. In most
cases they get deed to the property
they are after and manage to dispose
Of it for cash before the victim can get
his fake deed under the Spanish grant
sent away 10 the recorder in the county
in which the land is supposed to be
situated and learns to his sorrow that
h. has been duped.
The Spanish land swindle in the
Oz,rks is based on grant of 5000, 900
acres OF land, situated along White
river, received by Don Jos ph Valliere
from Baron de Carondelet, governor
general OF upper Louisiana, when this
country was a part OF that vast territory,
The original grant now reposes in the
archives in HAVANA, Cuba, and pur
ports to have been given for meritoriouS
services Of Don Valliere to the Spanish
government.
To perfect a grant in those days il
was necessary to survey and fi.e pIa
OF the survey with the governor gen
eral. This survey, together with the
original grant, then went to Spain, ant
letters batent, duly signed by the king
were returned to the governor general
recorded, and, alter fees were paid, de
lvercd to the grantee.
In the case Of the Valliere gran
nothing was done except the writing
the letter Of grant By Baron de Caron
delet.
Louisiana was ceded to France il
1900 by the Spanish government, ant
three years later was sold to the Unitet
States for SIS, 100000. In the ceed
ing by Spain and the sale by Franc
all grants Of land issued by the SpsBis
government that had been surveye
plated and letters patent issued wer
specified and reserved. In the mean
time Don Valiiere died, but in 1874
a son-in law of the old Spaniard dug u
the old grant ard presented it to IN
United States government for confirm
alton. This was refused by not havin
been excepted in the sale the title ha
become vested in the United State.