The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
SCHOONMAKER IN TROUBLE.
New Jersey Man Charged with OBJ
tanning $4,000 by False Pretenses.

New Jersey Man Charged with OBJ
tanning $4,000 by False Pretenses.
CHICAGO. JAM 29.-The Post says:
FRANCIS Schoonmaker, of Plainfeld, N. j.,
a prominent politician of that State, was
arrested at the Chicago Beach Hotel, here,
to-day, charged with obtaining $500 from
Christopher Strobel, Of Waterbury, Conn.,,
by false pretenses. Schoonmaker claims
to be large stakeholder in the United
Press 1t is charged that Shoemaker OBJ
tanned the money by representing that he
held heavy claims against the estate Of
Job Male dead" Plainfield millionaire.
When the executor produced receipts for
all such claims the prosecution says the
officers We're Immediately sent after the
man. and his arrest, to-day resulted. The
prisoner claims to have been stumping the
Western States in the interest of the Re-
publican party. during the last campaign.
He says that in addition to being a large
stakeholder in the United Press, he has
charge of that associations cable news.
tervew p said on an 8 1ssa IN made am m
contract with c. r. Baldwin, formerly
treasurer of the United Press, of which
/ was the first general manager by which
he bought $4,000 stock in a news concern
I had chartered, named the Central News
and three months note for $500, and obli-
cations for the other $4,000. He was bank
rupt at the time, but 1 did not know it.
Manufacturers Bank of Waterbury, Conn,
and on his becoming badly involved and
gave him my note to place to his credit
in, the Waterbury bank, thus hoping. to
given my note to Strobel as security for
money. 1 refused to pay it. They secured
the criminal law to collect by alleging false
pretenses. | made no representations
whatever. What representations Baldwin
made, l don't know. 1t appears that he
made some representations as to my means,
but certainly am not responsible for them.
/ got nothing from StrobeI and never gave
him anything. | have not been in hiding,
but have been i'll, and was at the Chicago
Reach Hotel. the guest of the Republican
*. Schoonmaker came to Chicago last
fall and was employed by John r. Tanner,
chairman of the Republican State commit
tee. to make tariff speeches. AT the time
Schoonmaker said he had come West as
William I.aughin to secure recruits for
the United Press. He taken i'll after
the close of the campaign, and seems to
have remained at the Chicago Beach Hotel
until arrested to-day.
In an improvised court room in the dining
room of Judge Haney's house, tonight
habeas corpus proceedings were listened
to and Mr.. Schoonmaker was released on
bond of $1,000.
VIII BE Taken to Waterbury.
WATERBURY, Conn, Jan. 29.-The news
of the arrest of Francis Schoonmaker Of
Plainfield. y. J., at Chicago, to-day, on
complaint of Christopher Strobe wealthy
jeweler of this city, was a big surprise to
men here to whom it is claimed Schoonmaker
was introduced in January, 1890, by Charles
r. Baldwin, then Mayor of the city, and
cashier of the Mechanics National Bank
and treasurer of the United Press Assoc
citation. John O'Neill, attorney for Christie
pher Strobel. gives the following statement
of the causes leading to the arrest.
Schoonmaker represented to Strobel that
he had sold. for SIS 900, collection of
| pottery to Job Wales, Piainfeld. n. j..
| millionaire, who in turn presented the coll
| lection to the local library. There was an
unpaid balance of $. 800 due the sale and
Schoonmaker is said TO have exhibited ey-
| licences OF the debt against the estate of
| Wales. Upon this security Strobel advanced
/ s2,50o When the claim was presented the
executors of the Wales estate showed
| vouchers for the payment of the debt and
/ Strobel has been on the track of Sehoon-
maker since. SchoonmalSer will be brought
| to this city for trial.