The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-24
FRAUD is CHARGED.
H. c. Wahlberg Arrested on a
Criminal Complaint.
he STRONGLY DENIES GUILT.
Complications Resulting From Land
Transaction UnderIie the Case
An Uncanceled Mortgage.

a. c. Wahlberg, one OF the best-known men
of the city, has been arrested on the charge of
obtaining money under false pretenses. He de-
Mes the charge, and declares the prosecution
groundless and malicious
On Saturday the complaint was made in JUS
tlce Won Iobefs court by T. X. Johnson He
alleged tina. bstween January / and June 5, 1891,
NahlDerg delrauded him out of S96. %. John
son story is that last year Wah lberg contracted
to sell him lot, in block i'll Seattle Home
stead Associations second addition to the city
OF Seattle for $3.50. At that time WahlberA did
not own the property, but on December L. 1890.
he secured deed to that lot and three or four
others, subject to a mortgage of $3.50, payable
April Is, 1891, to C. J. Anderson and p. NJ. John
son, the former owners of the tract. Then VAIL
berg gave on January 5, 1881, warranty deed 10
T. n. John son-who must not be confused with
T. NJ. Johnson. When the time came the mort
gage was not paid, and foreclosure proceedings
were begun by Anderson and P. NJ. Johnson.
Z. X. Johnson made payments, but he cannot
get possession OF the lots l.. Hulsether. his at
torney, who may assist the state in the prosecu-
ton, said yesterday that Wahlberg had repre-
scented the lots as clear of incumorance, and
had even dissuaded f. X. Johnson from going
to the auditors office to ascertain for himself.
Wahlberg was arrested on Saturday and
brought before Justice Won Tobel, who released
him on his own recognizance TO appear yesier-
Friday on account of the absence of principal
witness n. Soderbcrg, counsel for Wahlberg,
joined Wahlberg in an application 70 tho justice
10 have the matter kept out OF the papers.
Wahlberg has considerable political influence,
and the justice complied with Wahiberg's re
quest. Nothing would have been known OF the
matter had it not leaked out indirectly yesterday.
Last night Wahlberg said in regard to the allie
CATION: 1.-The transaction was wholly in good
faith on my part, and had not the slightest in
tention TO defraud nor deceive. / bonded the
land in question and obtained a deed by giving
mortgage to the owners, c. j. Anderson ana p
NJ. Johnson. Then ! gave warranty deed TO T.
X. Johnson, fully intending to clear the mort
gage and make the deed good, as / had bound
myself to do. l was hard up for money, as a
good many here have been. and found it diff
cult TO make the payments. | should have
Strengthened the whole thing out had not one of
the holders oil the mortgage, p. NJ. Johnson, been
killed few months ago by the caving in OF
some earth in South Seattle.
"The administrator OF his estate, Consul An
drew Chilberg, directed me not to pay the money
on the mortgage to Anderson, as that would not
satisfy the mortgage. But l regret to
say that contrary 70 this advice, /
have paid some so to Anderson. l cannot clear
away the mortgage while the estate is in its
present condition; so what am to do?''
Mr.. Chilberg confirmed the statement that he
Anderson, and Lawyer SoderbeGg declared: "The
whole thing is effort to ruin Wahlberg We
shall prove that completely, and then bring Il
counter suit for malicious prosecution. Wahl-
berg is very OPEN handed with his money, and
would pay in minute ii the death OF Johnson
had not complicated affairs. / believe that the
amount of mortgage on this particular lot is
only about $50
Lawyer Hulsether replies "The mortgage
should have been cleared away long before F.
NJ Johnson died.