File:Big Conspiracy in The Standard Union in Brooklyn, New York on 12 July 1897.jpg

Summary[edit]

Text[edit]

Big Conspiracy? Business Houses Allege Have Been Swindled. Henry Seelig Will Be Tried. Said To Have Conspired With Seven Other. Men, Who Are Under Indictment Established A Bank And Business House, Which Obtained Good Credit. A Clever Scheme. One of the most remarkable stories of an alleged conspiracy that has ever been tried in this city will be unfolded when Henry Seelig, alias C. C. Henry, will be placed on trial on a charge of conspiracy, before Judge Aspinall In the County Court. The other members of the alleged gang of swindlers are Adolph Jacobson, alias Daniel Baur; Martin Schoenwald, alias Rudolph Schoenwald; Adolph Jacobson, Jr., Gustave Ebeling, F. W. Newman, Philip Ronshelmer and Isidor Naumann, alias L. Newman. These men are also Indicted on seven separate charges of grand larceny In the second degree for alleged forgery. This is the basis of the charge of conspiracy. Judge Aspinall said that as the extra session of the criminal branch of the County Court was called for trying jail cases, he could not try the Seelig case today. It is said that the District Attorney thinks he has unearthed one of the cleverest swindling schemes that has been operated In this city for several years. The members of the alleged gang had individual dealings with some of the famous Valentine-McLaughlin swindlers, who were arrested by the New York City and Brooklyn police. Ex-Assistant District Attorney John U. Shorter, who appeared for the prisoner today, moved to dismiss the indictment. The same facts, he said, set up In the indictment for conspiracy were set up In the one for grand larceny, and the minor charge was absorbed by the greater one. Assistant District Attorney Ward opposed the motion on the ground that the District Attorney had the right to elect on which case the prisoner shall be tried. Judge Aspinall reserved his decision. The evidence in the Indictment for grand larceny Is mostly that given by conspirators. Both Valentine and McLaughlin will be brought from Sing Sing to testify against Seelig. The defendant is accused of conspiring with the others to establish an alleged banking house, which was known as Behrens & Co., at 64 Stone street, New York City. Checks were drawn on this bank and cashed by members of the gang. When they were presented for payment the money obtained by cashing them was on hand to be paid out. In this way the men established a credit, and started a commercial house which secured a rating by referring to the alleged bank. Through this commercial house the members secured goods from out of town concerns on long credit, and then sold them. The men then disappeared. The victims of the alleged false checks are Ludwig Vill, $258.25; Adolph Fisher, $27.75; Henry J. Botterman, $101.20, and Bernard Schmitt, $86.25. Adolph Jacobson is believed to be at the head of the scheme, but the police have been unable to arrest him.

People[edit]

• Judge Joseph Aspinall (1854-1939)
• Assistant District Attorney John Urquhart Shorter (1844-1904)
• Martin Schoenwald, possibly Martin Schoenwald (1868-1941)
• Chester H. McLaughlin, forger
• William E. Valentine, forger

Keywords[edit]

• Chester McLaughlin's Valentine gang of forgers
• Valentine - McLaughlin gang

Notes[edit]

If the Martin Schoenwald mentioned is indeed, Martin Schoenwald (1868-1941), then there is a tangential family connection, by marriage, to Charles Frederick Lindauer (1836-1921) and the Lindauer gang of criminals.

Licensing[edit]

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published (or registered with the U.S. Copyright Office) before January 1, 1929. Public domain works must be out of copyright in both the United States and in the source country of the work in order to be hosted on the Commons. If the work is not a U.S. work, the file must have an additional copyright tag indicating the copyright status in the source country. Note: This tag should not be used for sound recordings.PD-1923Public domain in the United States//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Conspiracy_in_The_Standard_Union_in_Brooklyn,_New_York_on_12_July_1897.jpg