Swindling Bands in Spain.
The Department of State in Washington has sent out notice to the various newspapers that a band of swindlers in Spain is operating in the United States. This warning is based upon a report from the American Consul-general at Barcelona. These swindlers are in various cities and towns in Spain, and with more or less variation send to different persons in America a story that an alleged political prisoner from Cuba, is at the point of death; has but one friend, the prison priest, through whose office he is smuggling the letter out of the prison. The prisoner is rich; has a fortune deposited in the United States; his certificate of deposit is concealed in a secret receptacle of his valise; that the valise is held by the court which tried and condemned him, and will be held until the prisoner or his representative has satisfied the costs of the trial. He has an only daughter, and he wishes some one, some dear friend, will take pity on that only daughter; will become that daughter's guardian and take possession of that daughter's fortune and his fortune, estimated at $30,000 and upwards. That is the first letter. Others follow more and more pathetic. If the victim does not come within the toils of the swindler before that, finally the prisoner dies. Still there is willingness that the one addressed shall have the charge of the daughter, and the care of the large fortune for her sake. The United States Government warns the people to have absolutely nothing to do with such smooth stories; that they are invariably fraudulent, and are told for the sole purpose of swindling some unwise persons out of money. One of the really shrewd things in connection with it is that the one who receives the letter must let no one know it at all. Matters are fixed in such a shape that if he reveals the secret himself, why, he has no power to obtain the money.