Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-06-06
ISLAND FRAUD.
.BACKERS SPAR.
RESPITE.
PalmitO Promoters Seek
to Appease Wrath of In
vestors by Piling On
Fixed Propaganda.

Determined efforts to forestall
the wrath of enlightened clients
who sunk their savings in the
mythical paradise on the Mexican
island of Palmito del Verde, made
by w. H. O'Bryan, chief promoter
OF the fraud, and his associates,
are behind the propaganda now
being circulated to support the
claims put forth in the "hand
painted prospectus" used in the
original selling campaign to bait
the unwary Salem investors who
were plucked for approximately
$4,000.
Now Play for Time.
The game of cne promoters in
Salem and vicinity has now re-
solved itself into an efofrt to keep
their hands on the golden harvest
they have reaped while they play
hide and seek with disillusipned
investors who clamor for the re-
turn of their money and threaten
court action on charges of fraud
and misrepresentation. They hide
from their Salem victims while
seeking new markets for their
gilded island in other sections.
Latest reports indicate that
O'Bryan and his co-workers are
now operating in Seattle, and re-
ferring prospective buyers to Sa-
lemites who helped float the sell
ing scheme here, or who are so
badly involved that they see no
chance Of recovering their money
except through courting the good
graces of O'Bryan.
Deluged by the demands of in
vestors who seek the return of
their money O'Bryan, it is known,
has gone so far as to promise to
recompense some of the victims
provided they refuse to divulge
their adverse information as to
conditions on the island to The
Capital Journal.
Whether O'Bryan intends to re
pay the losses of his victims from
his own pocket, or by reselling the
lands purchased by these Salem
ties to other prospects is not
known.
The latest ruse to appease the
anger of the disappointed inves-
tors is the testimonial letter,
signed by the president and secre-
tary of the Palmito Agricultural
association and circulated by
OBryan, which mas been mailed
to most of the investors in and
near Salem and published in at
least one newspaper.
Association Fixed.
The letter purports to be an
answer to the expose of the island
swindle made by A. ]. Anderson,
Salem contractor, following his
visit to the island, which expose
has since been substantiated in
detail by others who have return
ed from Palmito. Besides reiter-
ating all of the wonder claims ad-
vanced by the promoters as to the
islands fertility and productive
ness, as well as its suitability for
white colonization, the testimon-
ial denies all of the charges made
by Anderson, and infers that he
was either drunk or insane when
he voiced them.
The testimonial is signed by T.
w. Everall, president, and Mrs. A.
NJ. Skinner, secretary, of the Pal
mito Agricultural association,
which is the island end of the pro-
moter's organization of boosters.
The association personnel is made
up of Syerall, who has been stung
for around 20 acres, Mr.. and Mrs.
Skinner, whose allegiance to-
O'Bryan is cemented by the own
ership of 500 acres of land they
hope to be able to unload; Frank
Purvine, who is not yet ready to
admit that he led the Salem vic
tins to a Fleeing, and Miles
island agent for O'Bryan-