Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-07-23
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, formerly
editor of the Boston Atias, and through the
nse of his name upon other parties, also, by
citizen of that (Worcester) county:
Several months since, Mr.. Schouler,
while residing in Cincinnati as one of the
editors and proprietors of the Cincinnati
Gazette, made the acquaintance of a man
from Shrewsbury, in this county, named
Henry W. Baldwin, by whose representa-
tlons OF lucrative business, through the es-
tablishment of large commission house
in Cincinnati, for the sale of Eastern man.
ufactures, he was induced to sell out his
interest in the Gazette, and make some
other preparations, with a view to forming
q business connection with Baldwin for the
purpose above named. Having so ia. ac-
complished his purposes, Baldwin's next
representation was, that it would be neces-
sary for him to 90 to Baltimore and Phila-
delphia to solicit consignments for the pro-
posed firm. He stated to Schouler, as ap-
peared by the examination, at Worcester
on Tuesday, that he had some debts to pay
in the above named cities, and, though pos
sessed of an abundant means in notes and
other securities, he yet needed sum of
about two thousand and two hundred dol
lars in ready cash.
So entirely had Baldwin secured the
confidence of Col. Schouler at this time,
he unhesitatingly drew his check for the
amount, and gave it to Baldwin, not even
taking note for the money. Baldwin
subsequently came East, no copartnership
having been formed, but as was understood,
with a view to consult with the leading
New England manufactures, and then to
arrange the terms of copartnershlp after
wards. After some considerable time had
elapsed, Mr.. Schouler's suspicious were
aroused to the fact that all was not right,
and he determined to come on himself and
ascertain the whereabouts of Baldwin, and
to recover his money. To make long
story short, he found his worst suspicious
as to Baldwin's rascality moro than realized
as soon as he reached New York, for he
found at the Astor House card posted
up, purporting to have been issued by the
commission house of Schouler, Baldwin Il
Co., firm which really had no exi tance.
He here had an interview with Baldwin,
and denounced him for his rascality, to
which the latter cody responded that if he
| (Scholer) did not like the copartneship, he
could put an advertisement in the papers
announcing dissolution,
Arriving in Boston, he learned other
facts connected with Baldwin, that left no
doubt upon his mind that he had been the
victim of an unprincipled sharper, that his
50, 200 had virtually been stolen from him,
that Baldwin had used his name in connec-
tion with bis own, for large amount, as
members of the new firm, which all the
while had no existance, and that some Of
the notes so used had been returned from
Cincinnati protested. Five of these notes,
amounting to near five thousand dollars in
all, dated at Cincinnati, wee passed off In
this city by Baldwin, in payment of his
own private debts, to Messrs VIM. NJ. Bick
ford and VIM. Barker, and not knowing
the nature of the case, Col. S. was arrested
upon those claims. This brought matter:
at once to q cricis, and led to the immedi
ate arrest of Baldwin, who was found a
Shrewsbury, and brought to this city, wher
after lengthy examination, at which tn
above facts were elected, he was COMMITTED
to prison in default of bail in the sum Q
| $4,000, to answer to the charge of havin!
committed the crime of forgery. The Who'll
evidence submitted in the case went t.
show that Col. Schouler was entirely guilt
less in the matter, that no. copartnershil
had been formed, that he had no knowl
edge of the game of deception and rascalit..
that Baldwin was carrying on at his ex
pense, and that he was entirely ignoran
that his name lad been used by Baldwin
until after the notes were protested for mol
payment