Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-25
FROM
DEAROLLUNN0N
LOCKED UP IN A NASTY MIDDLE
TOWN JAIL CHARGED WITH EN-
BEZZLING MONEY FROM
,,. MIAMI CYCLE CO..

MiddletoWn, Ohio, Ian 25.-An interna-
tional sensation developed today when
Oscar Setback. of London. England. club
man, society stan. and all-around English
dandy, was arrested and locked up in the
dingy Middletown Jail on a charge of
embezzlement. The charge was preferred
by the Miami Cycle company Of this city,
for which Setback has been the European
agent. 1t is alleged that he bilked the firm
out Of $4,000, which allegation he strenu-
ouSly denies.
oners that was ever confined in the local
lookup. He is a swell in all that the term
implies, and his present surroundings
are not in keeping with his ~faultless at
tire, his magnificent physique and his
Chesterfieldian manners. But the law is
relentless, and Mr.. Selbach must explain
his little transaction or go to Jail for
possibly a longer term.
Setback for the past four years has been
the European agent of the Miami Cycle
company. His headquarters were in Lon
don. and he travelled out of there t.
points on the continent and Throughout
the British Isles. AS such agent he made
a magnificent safary-something, includ-
ing commissions, in the n~eighborhod Of
$1S,O 900 per year.
His duties were to make contracts for
bicycles and to collect royalties on a pat
ent crank hanger which the Miami COM
pany controls. Among other contracts
this Is the story hat is told as the basis
for his arrest-he had one with the Belle
felden Machine company, Of Bielefeld, in
Germany. This firm was given a mono-
poly on the crank hanger, and paid the
sum OF $4,000 per year just for the use
of 1T, besides paying the customary roy
alties. Recently their contract expired,
and Setback had some correspondence
with the Middletown house relative to a
renewal. He finally wrote that he had
been to Bielefsld and renewed the con-
tract, but had a to pay a member Of
the frm-as a brfbe-the sum of 81, 500.
This he took out of the firms portion of
the $4,000 and paid them the difference
NY. The Miami Cycle officials
We're somewhat surprised at this turn Of
affairs in their dealings with the Biele-
felden company. but were willing to let it
go, had not a letter been received from
that company which caused them to sus-
picion Setback. This letter was a BUSH
ness letter in relation to the new con-
tract, and the amount that had been paid
to Setback was mentioned with some en-
phasis.
When this letter was received the cycle
company decided to send a man to Ger
many to- investigate the case. Secretary
Harry Walburg was chosen, and about
six weeks ago he made the trip to Ger
many and called on the Bielefelden Ma
him company. There he earned that
Setback had been paid the sum of $40, 900
clear and clean, and that the story about
the 81, 500 rebate was untrue. Walburg
returned to this city n reported to the
home
On the same day that Walburg arrived
came a letter from Setback from Lon
don, suggesting that he come to America
and consult the house about certain mat
ters connected with the business arrange
ments for the ensuing year. This was
the opportunity for which the firm had
been looking, and a cablegram was sent
at once telling him to come by all means.
He arrived here today, and now wishes
that he had stayed on the other side of
the water. Members of the cycle COM
ANY met him at the station, and took
him back to the office of the company.
There in the private office he was con-
frOnted with the facts in the case as they
had been reported to the company by
Mr.. Walburg. Setback denied the allega-
tons in toto, and still commended that he
had paid the $500 to one of the men,
bers of the Bielefelden firm.
He was shown a letter from the said
Arm in which his story is, denounced as
false, but still he stuck to it. Then he
was told of MI. Walburg's personal in
vestigation in Germany, but even that
did not alter his tale. He was told that
he would be allowed to go 10 he would
pay back the money. but he insisted that
his story was right and went to Jail in
stead.
A warrant drawn up by Prosecuting
Attorney Warren Gard was sprung on
him by officer Smith, who placed him
under arrest anu took him to the Jail.
Later he was taken before Mayor Smith
and placed under bond in the sum of $500
for his appearance today at 3 o'clock. He
could not give the bond and was locked
up. Attorney Donley has been engaged
to defend him. In the Jail tonight Sell
bach said that the whole thing Is a case
of blackmail as near as he can figure
out. Further than that he refused to
talk, saying that his attorney had en-.
joined him to say nothing about the case.
He appeared cheerful and insisted that
he would come out Of the tangle all right.
Setback has had a rather remarkable
career. He was born In Columbus. Ohio.
as q manufacturers agent when he raj
but 10 year of age. He established head
quarters in London and worked up q
splendid business. In tie course Of q
few years he began to cut quite a dash
in London club and society circles. and
today he is said to be as well known as
any young club man in the tight little
isle. When he was scarcely out Of his
teens Setback married the daughter of a
British nObleman, and this alliance gave
him additional social prominence. His
wife was divorced after a few years of
welded life and he was married the Sec
ond time to the daughter of a wealthy
London merchant. His wife and two
children are now in London, unaware of
the predicament of the husband and
father in far eff America.
Setback is. az stated above, the pink Of
Rentility. He u handsome. polished and
debonair, and looks as much out of place