The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-03
BLAMES HIS
fall upon
COLD.LUST
"Money My Curse Says
Alleged Master Mind in
$50, 900, 600 Fraud
BY ROY GIBBONS

WOODSTOCK. ILL.,. sept s.-Vl m
thru, I'm done, This chase after
he almighty dollar has got me- at
hst. a. II gets everyone In the end.
II has wrecked me. My GIT por
money.making has been my misnpr'
fortune
The speaker was John W. Worth
tngton. arrested by Chicago federel
authorities as the master mind OF an
alleged swindling ring whose frenzieti
finance operations over the entire
country are estimated to have i'm
vclved $50. 900. 900.
HE EXPECTS TO
HE RELEASED
worthinston Is confined In the
McHenry county jail here. In thu
first interview he has given since
his arrest moro than q month ago, he
denied the accusations OF graft made
against him. And he said he ex-
pected TO 80 free within q month
without even facing trial.
''l'vs been a fool" he said. "Ail
my life. even ~ n boy. money has
been the one goal OF my ambitions.
hut every penny made has been
honest. l have done no wrong. Now.
too late and almost ready to die.
go the mistake I have made.
Il would have been far happier
had I done manual labor. Money
brings but rcgrets-"
worthtngton Is 81. He was born
On . farm and began life as q book.
keeper. For the past 30 years he
has been . banker and promoter OF
>big business.
He h married and has three chill.
dren and . grandchild.
Even ~ q boy. he told me. the
peculiar wixardy he Possesses for
making money seemed to be with
him
HE POSSESSED
THE MIDAS TOUCH
A. youngsser he made profits by
Financing and managing the pooling
Of eggs and chickens raised by farm
err wives in his ncighborhood-
Then. as he grew older. he turned
his hand to larger ventures. Like
Midas OF old. almost everything he
touched turned 20 gold. In the past
20 years Worthington claims to have
made Sl5.ooo.ooo or more. and to
have organised some 100 corpora
tons
But today all this fortune has been
swept away.
Il am penniless. almost he told
ne. "A 1inx has been on my trail.
Ne sooner would make money than
some adversely would take Il from
ne II has always been that way.
tho.
-Rich men have their parasites
Nancy II tho lure that tsmpts human
volves to strange and cut the
threats Of those who have IT, Tho
wolves have been bowling for mo
long enough. Now they have me.
NO. ! am not guilty.
III I had only been content with
just = little--but. now Il seems too
lnts to regret.
0AY0 HE'S NOT
CRATER OR CROOK
II am an old man ready to die.
hut the fight has not gone out OF me
yse Sixteen times before have !
boen arrested Why. I cannot say.
nut always I have gone free. Tbs
eharges Of my accusers have failed
They call me slick and sleek. A
Gyafter. A crook ! am none OF
these.
IAN my misfortune comes from the
knack ] possess for making money,
IL u . peculiar Gift and very fev
men have IT, Even now, down ami
out ~ appear. within 4s hours
after leaving this jail. can make
100000. II left alone. And tho
money will be made honestly, accord.
ing 10 strict rules OF business.
They say ! worked with French.
Why. I know the man scarcely at
ALL The only reason I have been
locked up 10 because the authorities
cannot perceive. nor can they recos-
nixe. that am not one OF the herded
sheep following the salary path.
Mature and birth gave me the
knack for making money. Stupid
people suspect any man who has this
faculty.
How DO I make TT BY simply
h2ERAi8 my ofitsc5 dt<El ana Fl4NIlfZ-
ing opportunity. One OF my ways
ID TO take a small firm. intrench II
soundly. and then increase the capt
taiization by honest and fair means
and with honest intent.
In all my life 1 never defrauded
. man Of a penny. In all my bust
ness dealings lost only $4,000 out
Of all the millions Of other peoples
money that I've handled and taken
charge over.
when get out Of this mess tell
you I'm thru. I'm going to buy
a little home some place and live In
sccIusion, far away from the money
marts and the jeaiousies OF men.
The money god has been my god.
Now ! wish ! had worshiped some.
thing else"
eSDyrishs 1891 sy r:w:espsr zn.srpri..,
CHICAGO. Sept. 3.-The total
amount Of alleged spurious notes re-
covered in the investigation into
activities Of the Charles w. French
gang of alleged swindlers was
brought to 1926, 900 today.
Receipt Of word from Cleveland
department Of justice agents that 81.
z65. 900 worth Of the gangs notes
were received there was the latest
amount added to the grand total.