A BOGUS LEGACY TO THE CHURCH OF IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A BOGUS LEGACY TO THE CHURCH OF IRELAND.

EXTRAORDINARY SWINDLE. Thb Rev. Canon Bagot has returned to Dublin from his mission to Denver in Colorado to claim an alleged bequest of £60,000 by one Moore, deceased, to the Irish Protestant Church. The Canon obtained no money, and he declares the whole affair was a pure swindle. It will be remembered that a Denver lawyer requested a sum of money to be sent out to prove the will, but fortunately the money was not sent. This lawyer, a man named Keegan, the Canon saw at Denver. Reegan was interrogated by him, but there was no foundation of any kind for his extraordinary story. There was no such person as the alleged testator, who was stated to be an Irish Protestant named Moore, of South Mexico, and the story of the will leaving £60,000 to the Irish Proteetant Church, and the mysterious deposit of the document in a box left with the lawyer, was all a myth and a swindle. Canon Bagot says he may have to go out again to Denver to assist in the prosecution of Keegan, who may be arrested, Letters were also sent to Dublin Catholic Institutions stating that legacies had been left to them. The American Government authorities have the whole case in hand. Two charges may be advanced : one of forgery—that is, counterfeiting letters and documents with intent to defraud—and another of using the post ofßoe for the purpose of obtaining money under false pretences. The latter would be the charge on which the American Government would take action.