The New York herald., 1876-01-31
Forgery Of an Indian Contract
for Supplies.
ALLEGED BRIBERY OF THE PRESIDENT
How a Citizen Was Robbed Of Five
Thousand Dollars.
The Accused Awaiting Ex-
tradition.
MONTREAL. Jan. 80. 1870

MONTREAL Jan 80, 1870
On Saturday afternoon Dr. Worms, practising
physician Of this CITY, arrested on charge OF
forgery, the facts concerning which as folows:-
William Newman hotel proprietor, of Chicago, Ill,
made affidavit before the Hon. Judge Thomas Kennedy
Ramsay that at the city OF Chicago in the latter end
OF the month OF October last Charles Worms resided
at the hotel kept by him On November Is Worms
informed hum that he could get contract in his favor
from the Interior Department OF the government for
indian supplies; that Il subsequently agreed that
the said Worms should obtain the in favor Of
the informant and John Killer OF Philadelphia; that
afterward It agreed that Newman and Worms
should go to the city OF Washington in order to
range about the contract that they arrived in WASH
ington the 10th OF November and put up at the
same hotel On Saturday Worms went to the Interior
Department and returned in about half hour and
requested him (Newman TO draw up proposition for
the said contract that he did draw up proposition
and delivered II to Worms, who, he
himself said, went 10 the Interior Department.
and returning said there considerable stir and
excitement about the contract and that they would
have to go to Philadelphia and there wait the turning
Of events that they went to Philadelphia, and day
so after Worms produced TO him paper purporting to
be the contract in the following terms:-
rExT ALLEGED CONTRACT.
Special order 76ll
Contract to supply the Indians awarded to W. L
Newman and John Keller.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Nov Is, 1875
Articles OF agreement made entered INTO this 18th
day Of November, D. 1879 between General G. L,
the United States, on the one part and VIM l. Newman
and John Keller, Of Chicago Cook county In the State
of Illinois, on the other part
This agreement showeth that the said General G. l.
Cowen, tor aud behalf of the United States Of
America and the said W. |. Newman and John Keller,
nanted and agreed and by these presents do mutually
covenant and agree, to and with each other, as fol-
lows
FSrst-That the said William L Newman and John
Keller their hers executors and administrators, shall
supply or cause to be supplied and issued at Chicago,
III, at he'otce OF the inspector OF Indian Affairs,
articles hereto specified that shall be required for the
100000 pairs OF drawers, at seventy cents; 10000
leather pouches, At forty cents $4,000 shoes,
brogans, at So IS; 1000 pairs socks at SO cents;
60 900 pairs wooien blankets 81 90 10 900 rubber
boots 81 63 800 600 at So 9S So 900 rubber
blankets at 81 l6 The articles shall be received in the
city OF Chicago, Ill, and inspected by Captain
Charles Worms inspector OF this department
Second-The demand shall bo made by the inspector
weekly or monthly.
7hsrd-The contract shall be In force two months
from date.
FourU-No member OF Congress shall be admitted to
any share herein any benefit TO arise therefrom-
In witness hereof the undersigned placed their hands
and seals
2. CHANDLER, Secretary OF the Interior
The deposition goes to state that Worms informed
of the Hon. Zachariah Chandler, of tho city Of Washing
ton Secretary the Department of the Interior of the
United States; that Worms directed him to sign the
contract for himself, well for John Keller
as his attorney, and that he did
slgn well the said Charles Worms, as witness.
Further, that Worms then produced an envelope ad-
dressed 10 u Grant President OF the United States
that into this envelope directed according pre-
understanding, he placed S. 900 currency with
the contract signed by him. and then closed the en-
velope that Worms then suggested 1t would be better
to seal with sealing wax; that thereupon his aten
tion was called from tho letter. and while the act OF
putting on his boot, from which he had taken the
S. 900 ren $500 notes., the said Worms replaced the
envelope In which he had placed the ST, 900
with another envelope similarly directed. The
latter fact the deponent says, he Is Informed
OF and believes It from information by Q. Grant and
Zachariah Chandler; that afterward no took the en-
velope which he believed to contain S. oc0 to the
Post once and registered IT, receiving the ordinary
certificate therefor that he has been informed
that the said envelope duly received the Execu
tive Mansion, at Washington, the 22d of November
and being opened found to contain nothing but
scraps of paper The affidavit further forth that
Newman has been informed that the signature to
the contract not in the handwriting o. Hon Zach
arah Chandler but a false one forged by Worms; that
he had right to sign the or obtain
the contract; that II was. he believes, never
Issued from the Interior Department; that said
contract a forgery, altered for the purpose Of de-
fraudng him and against the peace and dignity OF the
State of Pennsylvania
EXAMINATION
The prisoner taken before Judge Ramsey shortly
after his arrest and remanded until Monday. VIII
Kerr, O c. represents the United States government
THK PRISONERS STATEMENT.
The prisoner maintains that the contract was
genuine; that tho So 900 sent TO u Grant and
that he will offer objection to being extradited
Worms was born at Lille, In France, and arrived in
America when quite young in 1861. He enlisted In the
Fifty eighth New York infantry volunteers and was
appointed commissary sergeant and subsequently
appointed second and then nrst lieutenant
In February, 1863 he was appointed by President
Lincoln assistant quartermaster, with the rank OF
Captain, and assigned TO do duty with the
Department OF the Gulf and stationed In
and around New Orleans When his period OF
service expired he went to New York, and with his
brotherin law Strauss the manufacture OF
gentlemen's furnishing goods Their manufacturing
establishment burned down soon AFTER and
the circumstances surrounding the case were OF
such suspicious nature that the insurance
companies instituted proceedings against the
proprietors Since his arrival in Montreal no has
followed the profession OF physician but was gener-
ally regarded quack United States special agents