True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-07-29
Swindling an Editor.

The Worcester Spy gives the following
interesting account Of the beginning, pro
gress and end Of an extensive fraud upon
Col. William Schouler, of Ohio, former
y editor Of the Boston Alias, and through
the use of his name upon other parties.
also by a citizen ot that (Worcester
county:
Several months since, Mr.. Schnuler,
while residing in Cincinnati, as one of
the editors and proprielors of the Cincin-
natl Gazette, made tie acquaintance ol a
man from Shrewsbury, in this county,
named Henry w. Baldwin, by whose
representation of lucrative business,
through the establishment of a large com
mission house in Cincinnati, for the sale
of Eastern manufactures, he was induced
10 sell out his interest in the Gazette, and
make some other preparations, with a
view to forming business connection
with Baldwin for the purpose above liam
ed Having so far accomplished his pur
poses, Baldwin S Lext representation was,
that it would be necessary for him to 60
to Baltimore and Philadelphia, to solicit
consgnments for The proposed firm. He
stated to Schouler, as appeared by the
examination, al Worcester, on Tuesday,
that he had some debts 10 pay in the
above named cities, ,and though possessed
of abundant means in notes and other
securities, he yet needed sum Of about
two rhousan. and TWO hundred dollars in
ready cash.
So entirely had Baldwin secured the con.
fidence of Col. Schouer at this time, that
he unhesiaingly drew his check for the
amount, and gave it 10 Baldwin, not even
taking nole for the money. baldwin,
subsequently came East, no coparlnership
having been formed, but, as was under
stood. with view TO consult with the
leading New England manufacturers and
then to arrange the terms Of copartnershlr
afterwards. After some considerable
time had elapased, Mr.. SchouIer's sus.
s p!cions were aroused to the fact that al
4 was not right, and he determined to come
on himself and ascertain the Whereabouts
of Baldwin, and to recover his money. IL
u make long story short, he found hi
d worst suspicious as to Baldwin's rascaIity
9 more than realized as soon as he reached
y New York, for he found at the Asto
r House card posted up, purportIDg t'
d have been issued from the commission
house Of Schouer, Baldwin g. Co., a firm
s- which really had no existence. He her
# h ad an interview with Baldwin, and de
nounced him for his rascality, to whlc
y The latter coolly responded that if h
G. (Schouler) did not like the coparlnershiE
at he could put an advertisement in the pa
pers announcing dissolution. ...
Arriving in Boston, he learned otht
o. facts connected with Baldwin, that lie
OF no doubt upon his mind that he had bee
&c the victim of an unprincpled sharpe
x. that his $4,000 had virtually been stole
-. from him, that Baldwin had used his nan
=" in connection with his own, for larG
or amount. rs members of the new fri
VS. which all the while had no existence, al
u that some of the notes SO used had bee
Ii. returned from Cincinnati protested. Fl
Of these notes, amounting to near Fl
lS' thousand in all. dated at Cincinnati, we
ng passed off in this city by Bald Tin, in pa
~. ment OF his own private debts, to Mess'
,es VIM. M. Bickford and VIM. Barker, al
Il not knowing the nature of the case, q
" S. was arrested upon those claims, II
hu brought matters at once to a crisis, a
nd led 10 the immediate arrest Of Baldw
tn who was found at Shrewsbury, a
m. broght TO this city, where, after leng'
-, examination, at which the above ia
're were elected, he was committed TO pris
as in default Of bail in the sum Of So OF
ent to answer TO the charge of having co
I mitted the crime Of forgery. The VIII,
evidence submitted in the case went
=. show that Col. Schouler was enIir,
fair guiltless in the matter, that no copartn
of ship had been formed, that he had
of knowledge of the game Of deception a
on, rascality that Baldwin was earring on
- his expense, and hat he was entr'
e'' ignorant that his name had been used
md Baldwin until after the notes we're prot
en-. ted for non-payr,ent.