The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-12-29
Thurs day, December 20, 1904 /.
THE CHADWICK AFFAIR.

Chadwick have been cleared up suffio-
ieutly within the past few days so
that somewhat clear idea can be
gained of her methods Her past his.
tory has to some extent been uncov
cred and, as a result, she stands now
of what her recent victims supposed
her to be. The whole story is shame
full and there is nothing to give the
public reason to waste any pity upon
most of the men whom she has de-
frauded
As little by little additional infor-
nation has been gained, by just so
much has her record become darker.
1t is now supposed that Mrs Chad
wick is a woman who, under many
aliases, has figured in the courts for
twenty five years in connection with
various crooked financial deals, and
has served two years in the Ohio PEN
itentiary for forgery, under the name
of Nine. De We're, This Nine De
We're was Canadian girl who duped
the people of her native village with
small forgeries, escaped punishment
on the plea of insanity, and then went
to Toledo, Ohio, whore further for
geries landed her in the penitentiary.
After her release she assumed a new
name and later married DR.. Chadwick,
of Cleveland.
The beginning of the recent trans
actions which have made her notorious
is to be found in "A visit which she
made in company with her husband TO
the Wade Park Bank in Cleveland.
At that time she gave over to Ira Rey-
nolds, secretary of the bank, pack
age which she claimed contained
S., coo, coo in securities and for which
she secured receipt from Mr.. Rey-
nolds without his making an examin-
alton to ascertain the genuineness.
She revealed there tie secret" that
she was the natural daughter of An
drew Carnegie and her personality and
apparent Indignation at having her
word doubted kept Mr.. Reynolds from
undoing the securities " After she
was gone Reynolds feared to tampe1
with the package for fear his honest
purposes might be questioned and q
notice from /. Cleveland lawyer OF q
lien on the same still further re
strained him.
The receipt from Reynolds, the
secret of her relationship to An
drew Carnegie, a few Carnegie
notes, strong personality, and al
unlimited amount Of nerve comprised
the capital with which this woman
worked from that time. Small coun
try banks were the principal objects
of her attention, though individual.
were among her victims. A humble,
Of banks did not bite at the tempting
bait which she threw to them O
eight per cent interest Rnd large
bonus, but some did With some tie
dishonest greed of officials won he
point for her when she offered then
large sums individually if they woulc
m Ike the leans she wanted from thei
banks The securities" have prove,
to he worthless the notes are ais
worthless and Mrs Chadwick is il
jail, sondemued in the popular min'
as adventures. aud sEindler.
TIL whole story is remarkable. l
ia one to shake tie confidence of ma,
in man and man Il woman. Banking
law have b en- violated by banl
officials in the most astounding man
ner Business men, supposedly O
sound and we'll balanced minds anC
also Of suppC sed integrity, have beef
duped or bribed into taking steps tina
now result in their financial ruin, thu
ruin OF their bsnks, suffering and los
to stockholders and depositors, ant
their downfall in the eyes of tn
world as honest men. Ascribe thei
acts to greed or to the hypnotic influ
ence of this woman, it matters not
the fact still remains that nerve, bolt
and wonderful as was ever manifested
has resulted IN swiudles amounting Il
probably million of dollars. Ant
it has not been the 'Reubens" of I'll
comic papers that have been foolet
bat men supposed to be distinguished
among Their fellows fer business in
tegrity and ability.
The national bank 'ng laws mus
come in for the finish in this matte
or else the confidence of people il
banks will be lessened Such wilfu
and outrageous violations of all prope
business rules-and especially banking
rules-must be punished Mrs. Chad
wick will undoubtedly get her pun
ishment. but she should not he tn
only one to go behind the bars.