New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-03
ALLEGED SWINDLERS ~ JAIL.
SAID TO BE MEMBERS OF THE MOST No
TORIOUs GANG OF REAL ESTATE con-
FIDENCE MEN IN THE COUNTRY.

TORIOCS GANG OF REAL ESTATE con-
FIDENCE MEN IN THE COUNTRY.
George S. Martin Charles s. Ciriilo and W. S.
Cutler. who said 10 be members Of the
Worthington gang. the most notorious gang Of
real estate swindlers in the country were locked
up in the Tombs last night on charges OF swind-
ling The police have been trying TO run the
gang down for more than year. As in the
case Of most vioators OF the law. their incar-
ceration at last IS due TO a woman. Each OF
the men has a long list of aliases, and is known
by one name or another In nearly every State
in the Union.
few days ago the police received intorma-
tion from Grillo. who In Philadelphia. that
Martin. who is under indictment here under the
name Of George II. Thomas. in New-York.
Martin was arrested He asked the police
where they got their information, and on being
told gave a clew which led 70 the arrest Of
Crillo and Cutler. All are under indictment by
the Grand Jury.
The Worthington gang. Of which the men are
alleged to be members formerly run by
Harry and John Worthington, who had offices
az No. Is Wall-st. The gangs method OF opera
ton was a simple ore. One of its members would
approach real estate owner with a proposition
to buy. giving the Worthin-ton brothers as a
reference. and mentioning the name OF a profhl-
nent banker Of the town from which the pre-
tended purchaser said ne came The following
day one Of the Worthington brothers would Visit
the prospective seller and say that the banker
had communicated with him in regard TO the
transaction, and would let the owner understand
that the prospective buyer was "all right
Buyer and seller would then meet in the oiilce
of the Worthingtons at No. Is Wall-st., 70 sign
the contracts. but at the last moment it would
oDh
unless the check Of the prospective buyer was
accepted the deal would be off. In many cases
the check was accepted There being nothing
tangible by which the passer Of the check couiu
be caught the Worthngtons long evaded justice
by saying that they had done nothing for whcn
they could be convicted. They were convictet
Of conspiracy in February last, however ana
sent TO Elmira and Sing Sing prisons resPec-
tvevly on charges Of conspiracy
About two years ago Martin and Grilio are
said to have swindled Miss Ruth Frost OF MOL
tana, out of her farm. Later they induced he'
70 join the gang She married GrlHo' anu II, t"rS
to Philadelphia to live. but altei i. ~ ~
the woman eloped TO Butte. Mont, Wilh 49,
tin Grillo followed, and tried 70 perSuaue 'i''
wife to return to him. but she refused ana ale
returned to Phila ielphia Several Weeks asg
Grillo learned that the two were IN the c'ty, anu
he informed the police 10 crafty his teeAnS OIL
revenge. Martin was under indictmont on a
charge OF having swindled Patrick Monroe. OF
Jersey City, out OF $500 about year ago. ana
he was arrested that charge.
The Martins told the police that Grlio had
about a year ago sold a half-interest in the
Manhattan Realty Company fictitious com
pany with offices IN The World building 10
four persons within two days Grillo was unoer
indictment on that charge. and the ponce or
Philadelphia asked 20 apprehend HIM. ana
did so. lie is also under indictment on a charSe
OF having cOnspred to swindle Mary r. Sinith.
OF Washington. D. c.. I'm FEBRUARY last Ct. Cu.!er
and his wife with Grillo in Philadelphia,
and Cutler arrested on n warrant charging
him with conspiracy Neither Mrs. Cutler nor
Mrs Grillo have been arrested.
1t is said that the gang OF which the prisoner
ers are said to be members, secured control or
some land In Western Missouri which they
mortgaged many times 10 each other. and used
the mortgages securities in their real estate