New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-28
CAREER OF A NOTED CRIMINAL.

ARREST OF VAN EErRN ,srHE SUSPECTED RoBbER or
THE CUBAN JUNTA BONDS, FOR DLFRAUDiNG TIE
BANK OF CALIFORNIA.
The memory of a famous robbery and of
still more famous forgery. both committed by one man,
was revived yesterday, by the arrest of Louis NaNnil
ian Van Eeten on charge OF defraudng the Bank OF
California, in 1870, OF $4,000 In the Fall OF 1853 senior
Carlos DE Castillo dc LOyZlgo, treasurer OF the CUBAN
Junta. had apartments IN the st. George Hotel WINE
at supper in tho dintngroOm OF the hoJeI one
night strange knocked at the door OF his sleeping
roo and then asked chambermali to tell Senior 10y
zago that a friend desired to see him. The servant
went to the dlningrOom and gave the message. Mean
while the stranger had unlocked the door OF nor 10y
LAGOS roo had broken open trunk, and had obtained
possession United states Fiye-twenty bonds 10 the
value OF $4,000 The thief then fled With his plunder
ana was never arrested ut least Tor this crime II was
suspected Van Eten the man who executed the
robbery, but there was no direct proof at tue time.
Afterward there WAS much clrcumstautial evidence
developed against HIN. Nine months aiterward Gorge
W. Chadwick, "a Wau-st broker, sold ono Oh ochor
LDyzagOs bonds for $4,000 to Earle Co. OF Pearl-5t,
Obtaining g. $40 for IT, Earle sent the bond to ash
ingon to learn whether 1t genuine or not and was
soon informed by tho Treasury Department that
although the bond good the signature OF the pur-
ported owner was forged, LoyzagO's name having been
erased and another written IN its place. Upon reeeiy-
ing this information Earle took the bond 10 Chadwick
asked for the return Of his money claiming that the
bond was worthless Chadwick appeared surprised,
examined tue bond carefully and then taking 1t out OF
Earles hand said that ne would 10 the man OF whom
he bought IT, who was honest and would return the
money Chadwick did return to his office, however,
ard re did not meet him again until three days after
ward. Chad wick then refused 10 give back the
bond or make any return or the money.
It was afterward learned that the same day
on which lie had recovered the bond he had
given Van Eeten, and that the latter had He'd from
the city. Van E,ten afraid that he himself wonld
arrested for three serious crimes few months be-
fore he and Chadwick had obtained possession of rail
road bonds worth $4,000 from the Wells 81 Fargo Ex-
press Company by means OF check which was raised
$50 the amount to be pad for the bonds They
had then sold tho bonds TO the New-fOrk Warehouse
Company and had been given check In payment. The
check paid. however. and months afterward
was declared invalid by the courts Again Van Eeten
had passed check for S1.j purportlng 10 be signed
by Halgaren Co.. and mad attempted to obtain $3.50
from Fisk Hatch by means of forged check OF the
Park Bank Alarmed at the prospect OF arrest, as
already stated Van Eeten fed from the city and went
to San Francisco lie there, it is alleged, committed
the crime for which he was arrested yesterday
Enterius the Bank OF California in the early part OF
September, 1870 he introduced himself Augustine C.
Van Tasse and offered for sale the $4,000 bond sold to
Earle by Chadwick. The bank officials said that they
would purchase the bond but that they must first sat
lsfy themselves OF IT'S genuineness They accordingly
sent the bond to Washington, but before
received Van Eeten again entered the bank accom-
panied by Mr.. wakelcy wealthy resident Of the city
and one OF the customers OF the bank Mr.. Wakeey
said that he had received letter from George W. Con-
verse OF NewYork personal acquaintance and
broker, introducing Augustus c. Van Tassell" Mr..
Converse a very careful man and would not send
such letter without the bearer was responsible
The bank officers thereupon paid Van Eeten the money
A week afterward word came from the Treasury
Department that the signature in the bond
was forged and that the bond had been stolen.
The detectives searched San Francisco In vain
for Van Eeten, who had already departed 10
steamer bound to Panama. Crossing the Ishmus. Van
Eeten proceeded In steamer to st. Thomas, then to
Jamaica to Havana, and at last went to SewOrleans.
Detective Thomas Sampson heard of his presence there
jrneyed to the city, and arrested Van Eeten for de-
frsudng Hallgarten & Co. and attempting to defraud
Fisk Il Hatch While the officer on his way to this
city with his prisoner. Van Eeten confessed that the
bond he had sold the Bank of California the
that Chadwick had sold TO Earle Meantime, Chadwick
had been arrested for defraudnR Earle, and the only
link in the chain OF evidence against him the bond
mentioned. Chadwick and Van Eeeten were put upon
detective force OF san Francisco present at the
trial OF Chadwick and exhibited 10 the court the forged
bond. Chadwick convicted and sentenced TO 10
years Imprisonment and $4,000 He sent to the
Auburn State Prison, where he is at present. Van
Imprisonment and $1,000 fine. He was sent to Sing Sing
Prison aud served three years OF bis sentence In the
early part OF June last he furnished the authorities with
information Of intended instruction by the conycts
in sing Sing and also OF faults IN the prison manage
ment. Gov. Dix pardoned him for this act; he was at
released and to this city, The officers Of the
Bank OF California, upon hearing OF his release resolved
him the Grand Jury OF the u .. District CouIt on
Sept H. 1870, charging him with defraudlng the bank
and with the assistance Of Detectives Sampson and
Farley succeeded In finding Van Eeten and arresting
him Saturday last. The prisoner VIII DO taken TO
California Ut once.