The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-29
COMMISSION MEN
 STOLE $256,OOO ShreWd Deals Carried on for Eighteen Months NELSON NORRIS NEPHEW Used the Name to Secure. Money to Pay for Cattle Feed Which He
 Claimed Was
 Bona Eide.
NELSON MORRIS NEPHEW

Chicago November 2S.-Samuel W. Hoff- heimer, a nephew of Nelson Morris, the millionaire packer was arrested here to- night charged with having swindled s. w. Strauss & Co., mortgage bankers. 114 La Sale street, out of $256,00O Being unable to furnish sl50,O00 bonds fixed by Justice Cochrane, who issued the warrants for his arrest, Hoffheimer was taken to jail.
 The alleged swindle operated by Hof- henlier is a complicated affair and extends back over a period of eighteen months. The fact of his family relations with the Morris family it Is said, made 1t possible for Hoffheimer to carry out the scheme for such a long period without detection. Two years ago while the young man was carrying on small commission business in buying and selling cattle feed, 1t is allaged he went to Strauss & Co.,, and explained that he was buying large quan- titles of cotton seed and cotton seed hulls. which he disposed of to Nelson, Morris x Co. In order to carry out the business it is alleged, that he explained that large amount of money was necessary to take up the drafts which were made daily upon him for the feed, and to take up the bills of lading made with the shipments. It is said he requested Strauss & Co.,, to finance the deals which they agreed to do.
 Delivered Daily Lists.
 From that time on it is alleged Hoff- heimer delivered to Strauss & Co.,. daily of car loads of cattle feed which he said he had bought from various concerns and had sold to Nelson, Morris & Co. He would obtain checks for the amount of his purchases from s. ". strauss & Co.,, and at the same time he would deliver to the bankers a draft on Nelson, Morris & Co.,, for the amount for which he had informed them he had sold the feed to the packing company. The draft taken by the bankers was deposited in their bank in the usual course Of their business. At their beginning according to the bank CTS, Hoffheimer carried on only small sales. but the amounts of the transactions grew so that sales to Nelson. Morris & Co, as represented by Hoffheimer amounted to more than s15o,oOo day.
 Until the first of this month the sup posed sales continued and then it was learned. it Is said. that all the sales here were fictitious.
 Took Up Nelson Morris Drafts.
 Instead of taking up the drafts which he had said were made out against him when he bought the supposed feed. Hoff- heimer took up the drafts which he gave to s. w Strauss & Co.,, against Nelson, Morris & Co., In that way ne continued from day to day increasing his supposed sales. and taking up the larger drafts against the packing company with the larger check given him by the bankers the following day. making small gain each day on the use of the bankers money. Knowledge of the drafts did not reach the packing company until Novem- Der l. when Nelson, Morris & Co.,. acci- dentally discovered one check while it was in the bank at the stockyards.
 An investigation followed and Hoff- heimer Is alelger to have made complete confession to Strauss of his operations. admitting that for eighteen months he had been carrying on the scheme which had made him a living. and at the close had netted him s256.o0o the amount of the check received from the banking con cern to take care of the days business. After a months effort to. recover the money which 1t Is alleged Hoffheimer de- clared he had lost in investments. Strauss & Co.,. had him arrested tonight. Hoff- heimer will be given hearing before Jus tice Cochranes December 5.