James Addison Reavis, "Baron of Arizona" the American Forger & Fraudster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_of_Arizona

James Addison Reavis (May 10, 1843 – November 27, 1914), later using the name James Addison Peralta-Reavis, the so-called Baron of Arizona, was an American forger and fraudster. During the Civil War, Reavis served in both the Confederate and Union Armies.

He is best known in association with the Peralta land grant, also known as the Barony of Arizona, a pair of fraudulent land claims that if certified would have granted him ownership to over 18,600 square miles (48,200 km2) of land in central Arizona Territory and western New Mexico Territory. During the course of the fraud, Reavis collected an estimated US$5,300,000 in cash and promissory notes through the sale of quitclaims and proposed investment plans.

Under the terms of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Gadsden Purchase, the United States was required to recognize and honor existing land grants made by either the Spanish or Mexican governments. Reavis utilized this provision by manufacturing a fictional claim and recipient and then generating a collection of documents demonstrating how the claim came into his possession. The documents were then covertly inserted into various records archives. In his first claim, Reavis gained title to the grant via a series of conveyances. When serious challenges to this claim developed, Reavis developed a second claim wherein he married the supposed last surviving lineal descendant of the original claim recipient.

During the course of his deception, Reavis managed to convince a number of prominent people to support his efforts. He obtained legal and political support from Roscoe Conkling, Robert G. Ingersoll, and James Broadhead. Business leaders such as Charles Crocker and John W. Mackay in turn provided financial support. Initial exposure of the fraud occurred when an unfavorable Surveyor General report caused the claim to be summarily dismissed. In response to this action, Reavis sued the U.S. government for US$11,000,000 in damages. The suit in turn prompted the U.S. government to perform a detailed investigation that fully exposed the forgeries Reavis had planted in a variety of locations.

Civil War

Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, Reavis enlisted in Hunter's Regiment of the Confederate Army, 8th Division of the Missouri State Guard. Several months later he went to Springfield and reenlisted in Captain Lowe's company. Initially holding dreams of glory, the 18-year old Reavis soon discovered the realities of military life did not match his romanticized ideals. About this time he accidentally discovered he could accurately reproduce his commanding officer's signature. Using this new found skill, Reavis began producing passes to avoid the drudgery of army life and instead spent time visiting his mother. When his fellow soldiers noticed the frequency and manner by which he was obtained his passes, Reavis began selling forged passes to them.

When some of his superiors became suspicious of Reavis, he obtained leave to get married. He used the leave to surrender to Union forces instead of getting married. Following his surrender, Reavis joined the Union Army and briefly served in an artillery regiment. Following the war he traveled to Brazil and gained functional fluency in Portuguese.