Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-20
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.


bank robberles in Baltimore.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
How Noted Imitator Of Other Peoples
sOhirography Came to Grief in an East
ern City.
PRovIDESCE, r. l., August l9.-Chas.
. BrOckway, notorious forger, one Of
the best in the country, and two accom-.
plices, were arrested here yesterday
morning by our officers, under direction
OF Detective Gdyler, OF Pinkerton Agen.
cy, from New York. The story of the
events which led to their arrest is as fol.
lows:
Brockway has long been considered
one OF the most skilliul and dangerous
iorgers in the country. Several times
has he been arrested, but somehow he
has been able to escape. The last time
he was arrested, however, he was taken
to Chicago and imprisoned. Two or
three weeks ago he came away from
Chicago, having served his time, it is
understood, and returned to New York.
AS so)n as his presence there was
known, it was safe to suspect that he
was going to work, and he was
Carefully Watched by Pinkerton's De-
II tectlves.
Some ten days ago two strangers
visited this city. One Of them visited
the bank of Henry G. Cranston and sold
u United States bond for 800, asking
for u check for the amount, saying he
wanted to use it in Boston. The other
visited the bank OF Chase, Watson K
Butts, and went through the same oper.
ation-that is to say, it is supposed
there are two OF them, though one
might have visited both places. These
checks went back to New York and fac
similes were made, even to properly
prting on the United States stamp.
This became in some mysterious man.
ncr known to Pinkerton's men, and the
whole thing was plain to them. 1t was
evident that some one was goin, 10
work in Providence, and it WAS probable
that that one was Brockway. So Detec-
tive Gayler, vino knew Brockway. but
who it was Thought BroCkway did not
know, was sen; in here to block his lit
tie game.
On Arriving Here Week Ago
he reported the facts and his suspicious
to Chief OF Police Hunt, who, OF course,
lent his aid. 1t should be stated that
the check from Cranston was on the Old
National Bank, and that from Chase,
Watson & Bell, on the Fourth National
Bank. The probable pan was to work
on these two banks. Mr.. Gayler was
provided with an Office on Weybosset
street, where he could at once watch
Mr.. Cranston's, and the old National
Bank detectives, Swan and Waldron,
we're stationed in the Old National
Bank, and Detective Parker and Officer
Svmonds in the Fourth National Bank.
There these officers have watched and
waited for nearly week. Time passed
on, but Mr.. Gayler saw nothing OF
Brockway and his accomplices. He had
his theory, however, as time passed, and
that was that they would
Commence Work Late Saturday Even
a-s ing.
So sure was he of this and of the man.
ner Of their work that he told the bank
ers what they wonld do and about when,
and also told them wi at 20 DO.
d Sureiy enough, Saturday afternoon,
soon after two O'Clock, the banker
found his prophecy true. A stranger
went into each office with 500 United
States bond to sell, objecting TO receiv.
ing cash, and asking for check. Each
got a check, according to request. Ii
appeais that they went at that time OF
,lav, nearly the closing hour, so as to
Get as late a numbered check as posi-.
bic, that they might number the forged
checks within Il lew numbers, and then
run less risk OF detection.
At about the time this was going on
Detective Gayler was yladdened by the
sight OF Brockwsy on the street, close
by Crans,on's and the old National
Bank. lie was alone when first seen,
but was soon alter joined by his accom-
plices. Their the detective knew his
game. He dad not need to be told that
United states bonds
Had been soid At the two Bank.
which VS. The case. II. knew that in
all probability the real work would com.
mence Yesterday. and he thought. and
s,ili thinks. that they went TO Boston
Saturday night to prepare the forged
clerks.
= Monday morning Gaylor and his as
sistants from our own force were on the
alert. There was no knowing at what
time the forged checks might be present.
ed, or how soon some OF them might he
engaged in deadly encounter, for the
men are known to be desperate. The
officers We're ready. however, and 1t IS
not 10 be wondered at that Gaylor, as he
sat alone in his office anxiously waiting
and watching for the appearance oil
Brockway on the street, and for the sig.
nal which was to tell him a strike had
been made on one OF the banks, in which
case he was 10 arrest Brockway, II he
could find hint is not TO be wondered
At that he could not sit still, 80 fearful
vas he that
The Thing Might Slip Up.
or that some one might give il away.
But il must be said that all concerned
kept tue thing we'll TO themselves, and
NJ Inkling escaped of what was going
Oh. or, as one of the detectives said,
Even the newspaper men did not get
hold OF ii.
About 1890 a stranger presented q
check at the counter OF the Fourth Ma
tional Bank for 81 1927, payable to 10.
seph Cook. signed by Chase, Watson q
Butts. Just at this time Detective
Parker stepped up close to him with
another check in bis hand, a. If he, too
wished some money. This gave him Al
opportunity to get close 70 the fellow
1 vislpat being suspected. The fellow
ve sRsd il his name was Jos Cook
/ and nplied that it WA The none!
was counted out to him and be va