OLD FRAUD REVIVED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1411, 11 April 1912, Page 5

OLD FRAUD REVIVED.

♦ ■ "SPANISH PRISONER." OPERATIONS IN DOMINION, That somewhat ancient fraud, known as "The .Spanish Prisoner,'' has made, its appearance in several parts of 'New Zealand lately. There is evidence that the Continental proprietors aro making a thorough canvass of the Dominion, and quite a number of New Zenlanders have received communications from (hem. A few of them referred the lotters to the Spanish Consul hi Wellington. 'J'ht, communications were [plausible, enough 10, have induced three of those, who sought the Consul's advice to have replied to llicin. On ihe Consul's advice, however, no such course was pursued.

Lately, a Hawke's Bay farmer has been baited, but not successfully. It is not considered that the operators have agents in New Zealand,, but it is thought that they get their information _ as to addresses, etc., from such guides as directories. The Consul states that the thing is so well organised that it is almost, impossible to catch any but unimportajit assistants. It is supposed to be the, work of a gang, whose practice is to have emissaries in different countries to. report likely victims. Machinery for Forgeries, Of the letter received by the Havke's Bay farmer, and of the fraud iu general, Dotcctivc-Scffgoant M'llveney, of the Wellington detective service, states that it is known as "the talc of a Spani.-Oi prisoner with a large' fortune." The letter is the beginning ol: the swindle. It notifies' the. intended viwfim that the prisoner has immense wealth in a London bank, for which he has a warrant iu a secret drawer in one of his trunks, togetlur with a bank note for .£IOOO, and also ivfers to his (blighter's position. 'When, a reply to the tetter has been received a second letter nlmost always arrives (importing to be signed by the prison chaplain, who is the prisoner's confiJant. This letter contains a bogus governor's certificate of the prisoner's death, together with otluT well forged documents, and a memoranc'.um stating that if the addressee will scud J.-7.1 to procure (he baggage and pay expenses, the chaplain will bring over the daughter and tbe warrant, for the largl! turn of money mentioned. The "Prisuner's" Appeal. The following is; a copy of the letter received by the llasivko's bay farmer, and the curious diction of it i.s said to bo common to such documents:— 1 Madrid, it of Jauy. of 1912. Mr. J. J. Langridge. -My Dear Sir,— Doing placed in a very grave situation anr! I cannot by myself resolve a great struggle that surround me-1 take the liberty to write you, and first, and perhaps tne last time due to my grave liealth. Allthough I am know to your when I say you that my dear mother was Mrs. Mary Langridge your near kinswomau you will kaiow our relationship, I will explain you my sorry situation, allthough 1 am ail'raid this letter will not reach you as my situation cannot accept delay 1 wish r This letter of which can depend the salvation of a I great, fortune, the future, of my only dear daughter of 11 years old, and slin is placed in a boarding sehooH.

I was a faithful servant of the young King of Portugal being empowered of liini of very difficult t'liings. So I had tome stock which I. jmt in business for to make a good position to my daughter. 1 see to augment my stock and I thought I would be happy, but as you mutt know (for all news papers of the world) the criminal hands and of the lieutenant Mr. Aparicio Santos who killed at the doctor Mr. Miguel Bombarda, tthich assassination was (he base for the republican people conic, to nn agreement-with .the army to dethrone the Po.ytngucso monarch. Seeing- the events the young King Mr. Manuel called irie to his'room arid, fearing future events, I had to lend him a very sacred service—the largest of all I had done and lie deliver m« a shut parcel for a young lady in board in a religious Convent out of Portugal, which parcel I had to deliver her in hev own hands, and he reward me for this service, and as dower for my daughter, irith one England bank nolo for ,£IOOO. It was a duel for me.

Before start I took all my stock from the chest of the .mint where I had it in depository the sum of .£59,200. The master Mint was Mr. Casimiro Lima (who has killed himself). After I took my stock I went out from Portugal going to Paris. When 1 arrived to France it was public. Hie dethrone of the "JCing of Portuga'i. There news hcrt mo vtry much. Without knowing what to do I remain in Paris incognito waiting some more news. When I know tho trust of the proclamation of the republic in Portugal I went to London where I placed all my said stock in a suro Bank Init only as a deposit as it show the shelter. The "bank gave me as warranty of it payable to bearer of which shelter together with the Bank Note for .£IOOO, which my King gave mo I guard them in a secret drawer, I make myself in one of my trunks impossible, to' be discovered for anybody who may look in to tho trunk. Being then in a secret in surety my stock I went for Spain with all my baggage to recover my daughter and start, for your free Country to your side. But as when I arrived here to Spain I was arrested for order of tho Portuguese authorityes. They exited So much" of my indignation that, doing a great insistence, I wound to a policemen being wounded myself by then with a verv grave wound in the breast, thinging nil "at first I was death. In danger of death, prisoner, and knowing it is impossible commuuicato with anybody out of prison and for if they do the apset to send me so grave wounded to Portugal I have formed a plan for save my stock saving my dear daughter of a great abandonment and frightful mysery. My plan is tho following. I am very sorrowful hero with 1 have obtained the simpaty ;ind confidence of the priest of this prison. Ho cane to visit ma every day having pity of our situation anil abandonment of my daughter. Thinking wo are poor ho is verv interested for us, and he protect mo for'l can writo yon for familiar business. The. rectitude of this Paint priest nu'.ko. indispensable that he ignoro allways the existence of my stock. In contrary he. will believe I am culpable of tho defalcation for which claim me the. Portuguese auihoritves which ordered my prison. Ho will do all wanted for redeem my luggage. The nuthoritves seized mo together with tho trunk which contained the secret drawer with the shelter the hank gave mo as warranty of my deposit and the Bank Koto of .£looo.' All together with mv daughter the good pries! will conduct to'vonv house without any tronhlo tor von. The help I want from you m nothing will endanger you if you promise mo to he a Teat protector to my daughter and aid tho priest in nil lie want for redeem my lu™gage and conduct all to your house with my dear daughter. I will reward you for your good service with one fourth part of all my stock and the interest it mav produce when you will place it.during* my daughter's minority or until] she will get married: You will understand mv nnxiotv to hear from you I beg you to' nccpt mv proposition to answor me bv return mail and your letter must reach hero with two covers? the inside to mv lumf and tho outside at tho name and 'address I give nt the end of this letter which has given me my good prolector thanks to whom I mii write you ami he will receive and hand me your letter with all security. I nlace my daughter's future in your hands. I remain dear sir. Yours fery truly Edirardo Blanco Lnngridge. Address . . . (Snainl Provmcia do Matin A St. Don Fernando Garden en San Martin de Valdeglosias. I beg rou of not resistor your letter in your order to avoid the attention of any Tho envelope was date stamped at Minimi. "The Pish That Did Not Bife." The swindle was recently attempted on a ic-ident of Cheviot. "New Zealand, who •Ml letters from Spain asking him to Ccnd -ft IS to pay i-nsl-i for eerfnin luggage and valuables, which were said to I-.' held bv the Spanish nnlhonlies, and !o belong' lo a. relative. The Cheviot man sent n cheque, as follows:—"Pay D. Alfredo Graudauo, or order, tho sum of one hundred ajid eighteen lashos on his bare back," , Siffugd,; "Tha Fish that did, aot £ite<" i-