Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-07
NAPoLEONIC IN THEIR METHODS,
Arrest of Two Clever Swindlers in Chi
cago.

Arrest Of Two Clever swindlers in Chi
cago.
CHICAGO, Jan. 1.-TWO men-Chas. Albright
printer, and II. H. Hobart, who is somewhat
Napoleonic in bis financial methods-are under
arrest at the central station charged with COM
plicity in q very clever tswindle by which the
banking firm of W. G. Press & Co., was viz
tlmized to the extent of several thousand
dollars. Two other men, Theodore Wilmot.
who is supposed to be in New Hampshire. and
Frank c. Evans are wanted and LAWYER Ham
nah and P. W. Mcwhorter. financial agent,
who were innocent parties to one of the trans
actions. are cooperating with the police to
effect their arrest and extradition for the crime
OF forgery.
September % last P. W. Mcwhor.er called on
W. q. Press Il Co. and stated that he had
client who wished to borrow $4,000 on a house
on West Washington street worth Sl2, 900 and
owned by friend Of his. The client had rep
resented to Mr.. McWhorter that he had a inst
mortgage for 5000 on the property. AR.
Nc horter repeated this to Mr.. Press, and the
client was sufficiently magnanimous to voiun-
teer the first mortgage security for the
second mortgage.
Mr.. Press did not see anything ignoble in the
proposition and later on MIR. McWhorter
brought IN Hannah, an attorney TO whom the
client, who was Theo. Wilmot. had appealed.
Mr. Hannah pronounced Wiimot 20. X" and
coupled with his was the assurance Of H. H.
Hobart who set himself up as q real estate
dealer. There was really nothing else for Mr..
Press 10 DO under the circumstances than to let
the client, WIlmot have the loan. The money
was turned over, Mr.. Press taking wiimots
note and a second mortgage on tho property, the
abstract for which hac been duly prepared by
Haddock, Hailette and Rickoords on the order
OF Harry Osborne.
The note was due December % last and Mr.
Press still has 1t; he also has in his safe it is
asefteo, another note and mortgage, given
MIN In return for SO. 2S6 obtained in a similar
manner; The note is Of later date, October
"a, and bears the signature OF ". W. Hender-
son. Henderson has a client who had a mort
gage FOR 5000 on property at Park Manor
owned by Lyman II. Strong. Samuel Is. Letter
ana L. j. lngerson of Mansfield. Ohio The
client had loaned this amount, but was now in
trouble and wished to borrow So 2S6 on the
mortgage. Henderson promised to produce
MS client and the note and mortgage
and did SO, and Mr.. Press turned the
documents over to the firms attorney,
who examined and approved them. Hender-
son declared his client to be an upright citizen
and took Mr.. Smith to the Langlois Furniture
Company, where President Housen. or Arson,
vouched for Mr.. Evans. Mr.. Evans. accord
ingly. secured the $685. MIR. Press keeping
the note and mortgage for thirty days. Since
then the Lauglois company has failed and il
was jus. about that time that Mr.. Press OH dill
igent inquiry, discovered the notes, mortgages
and trust deeds to be forgeries. Not only that.
but Henderson a few days prior had been to Geo.
Williams, loan broker, and tried to play the
same trick. The only difference was that the
clients name was Beach and he wanted $4,000
on the very same notes, trust deeds and
mortgages. Mr. Williams took the papers
for the purpose Of having them examined
and then teiegraphed Mr.. Strong Almans
Field, who replied with instructions to
hold the books. When Henderson put
in al appearance again he was charged
with forgery, and Mr. Williams de-
clned to let him have the papers, for the os.ensi-
Bile reason that SIS had been expended in their
examination. Henderson offered $50 in pay
ment. Mr.. Williams obdurate. Then
Anderson left and sent Harry Osborne, who had
ordered the abstract Of Haddock, Vallette and
Richards. back with SOS. Still Mr.. Williams
held on to the papers, and he has them. The
connection between both swipdles is made by
Osborne, who secured the Sturtevan. abstract
and also had Henderson's so. A gang must,
therefore, have been operating.