The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-03
EXTENSIVE SWINDLING.
The Operations OF Messrs; LudingtOn S&
Baker-PrOfitable Bankruptcy.

naAGT-ITOhBaDh0 bahAEuDtcys
Says the Chicago Post Of Monday evening"
A most gigantic fraud has just bet n unea ar ned
by the clever detectives, which II the aIlsga-
merchant firm OF this city, and shows them TO
be brace OF most consummate scamps. The
facts have been gradually and slo WY developed
and are reported as follows. dating back some
the arm is that OF Ludington & Baker, who
came here from Indiana polls in 1855 aud did q
good gents' fur nishing business on Lake street;
Moses E Ludington and James Il. Baker were
dissolved partnership Baker taking two judg-
ment notes for 8l4 QUO. due June 3, 1858. BY
MAI Ich, 1868, LudingtOn's stock OF general dry
goods was nearly gone. He then went 60 New
York and with no particular credit or acquain-
lance and NO great amount 2, OF money money. he by a
stock OF goods from prominent houses.
The method was this:-He first borrowed
collected at Indianapolis on Bakers account.
deposited the whole with Kean, Goodwin q
sum, and buying a draft at Albany for the
total, less exchange. sent It TO Baker, In chi
cago. he at once deposited IT at J; NJ Adslt's
days and sending 1t back to Ludington. In
this way he passed the money back and forth
SI3, Coo This, of course, established his credit,
and the. New. York h.m readily allowed
him to refer 10 them. This reference with the un.
derstandipg that he had q large stock of goods
in Chicago: made his obligations readily ac-
eepied, and he bought large stock OF goods.
the tune of S2290. The New Yorkers lost S84 000
Philadelphia $4,000. and Boston S7600 When,
in the following June, he went into BANK
ruptcy. his total Indebtedness was sl2O 900. in.
whom he had unlimited credit. On June his
failure was announced.
Baker, who was really silent partner" all
this time, now seized the remaining stock OF
goods as payment for his note and had them
sold, realizing S650O. He had habitually met
Ludingion at the store after hours, and helped
him send away the silks. ETC.. to safe place,
preparatory to their failure" The New York
frn, hearing OF the matter, caused an inJunc-
tion to issue in the United States Court, re-
slrainipg Sheriff Beveridge fIom paying aker
the re eipts Baker very nearly hanked tnis
move ment but luckily failed, his bondsmen
| proving irresponsible. Deteotive Baker, OF New
| York, and Jo. Dixon, Horace Elliott. and John
Paine were afterwards employed. Tney traced
| the goods TO various places, and eventually re.
| coVed large amount. Mrs. Ludtngton brought
| from Minnesota 3l7oo worth OF lace on her
| When the Sheriff was restrained from paying
| over 10 Baker the money from the sales, he
with tears asked for Judgment In his favor, as
the money was all ne had jR the world. He
| was subsequently led on TO confess the whole
| through o lawyer. detective, and short-hand
reporters being concealed where they could
both see and hear him. He declared he could
| have made more by failure on his own hook
| ton his worst enemy. asking the lawyer II ne
oouldn't get him or johnny only to push
LudingtoD In o the lake for $780," THIS and
| other matter 10 now In evidence: Baker was
| actually in Ludingtons debt for SNOO Instead
/ of being his creditor. Both parties are stll
| under arrest. LudiDgton was taken last August
| 10 New York and for ced tnto bankruptcy,