Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1876 — How a Chieage Landlord Was Swindled Out of &5,000. [ARTICLE]

How a Chieage Landlord Was Swindled Out of &5,000.

The aireei of Dr. Charles Worn*, the Indian oontract lurger, iu Montreal, on Saturday laat, waa effected solely through the exertloni of Special Poatofflce Agents Shall cross and Tibball, who tracked him to Canada. Worms is a native of Lille, in France, and came to tills country in 1861. He enlisted in the Fitly-eighth Regiment, National Guard, of this State, ana was appointed Commissary Sergeant, and roae to the rank of Lieutenant. In February, 1808, he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster, with the rank of Captain, and assigned to duty In the Department of the Gulf. At the close of the war he came to this city and engaged in the fancy-goods business with his in-law, Strauss. Their warehouse was burned under very suspicious circumstances, and Worms left this city. In October last Worms appeared in Chicago and went to board in a notel (the Atlantic) kept by Mr. William L. Newman. He speedily gained Mr. Newman’s confidence, and informed that gentleman that he could procure him a lucrative contract to furnish supplies and clothing to the Indian Department, from which a large sum could be realized. Mr. Newman assented to the proposition and went to Washington with Worms. Worms went to the Department of the Interior, and remained there an hour or so, and on his return informed Newman that everything was satisfactory, but that they had better go to Philadelphia and await events there. They went to Philadelphia and put up at a second-class hotel. Worms informed Newman that if the contract was awarded him and his partner, John Keller, he must forward with the signed contract $5,000 for President Grant. Newman agreed to do so. On the following day Worms sent the hotel-boy to the posloffice for a letter addressed to him. The boy came back saying that the postoffice clerk refused to give him the letter, as it was registered. Worms then went to the postoffice and came back with a registered letter, which he opened in the presence of Newman, contract signed by Hon. Zacharlali Chandler, for furnishing Indian supplies, and a large envelope addressed “His Excellency U. S. Grant, President United States.” Worms told "Newman to sign the contract, which he did. Worms then told Newman to put $5,000 into the envelope for the President. Mr. Newman did so. Worms then asked Newman to get him some sealing-wax. The latter left the room to do so, and while he was absent Worms substituted for the envelope containing the $5,000 one containing newspaper scraps, addressed to the President, which he had in readiness. This letter was mailed and received at the Executive Mansion on Nov. 22d. When opened its contents considerably astonished the President, who read over the newspaper scraps and wondered who had sent them to him. Meantime Worms had told Newman to so to Boston and put up at the Revere louse. Mr. Newman did so. Worms telegraphed him; “*Things are mixed. You had better go home.” Mr. Newman went home, and, on arriving in Chicago told an intimate friend of the affair. His friend happened to be a man of commonsense, ana at once said: “ You have been robbed by a swindler. You had better go to Washington with me.” They went to Washington and saw the President and Secretary Chandler. Mr. Chandler at once pronounced the signature a forgery, and the swindle was laid bare. The President, Secretary Chandler and Gen. Co wen at once sent for Agents Shallcrosa and Tibball aud placed the matter in their hands, or dering them to spare no expense in hunting down Worms. They came to this city and consulted with Mr. Joseph Gaylor, City Superintendent of the Posfofflce, formerly Chief Special Agent of the Department. A decoy letter, based on a most ingenious theory, was sent to Strauss, Worms’ brother-in-law, who unsuspectingly forwarded Worms’ address to the officer. Mr. Newman was at once telegraphed to, to proceed to Montreal, and Worms was arrested.— N. 7. Times, Feb. 1. -—.t-—....