New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-02
now THE BAND WAS CAPTURED.

OBTAINED on FORGED LETTERS OF CREDIT
AERRsTs N THIS CITY AND AT NEw.LOTs. L. I.
This band originally was composed OF George
Wilkes Charles Becker. George Engals, Pete"
Burns. "BIll" Bartlett. Edward Burns. George
Bell, al" Wilson. "Shell" Hamilton and Henry
Clarey. OF these Wilkes, Hamilton and Pee"
Burns are now he'd by tho Italian Gov
ernmcnt on charges of forgery; Becker
and Engals are prisoners in New-York awaiting ex-
traditions; Wilson is in State Prison in Baltimore,
and Bell Is awaiting his ttal for forgery IN the Jail
of that city Clarcy IL in the Albany Pontentiary
in this State. Bartlett and Edward Burns alone are
free. Wilkes and Becker were The most skllful of
tho band. Becker is German, Wilkes
New-fOrker, ami in Their different
ways they were probably as dangerous criminals as
there are in the county. Becker was the mechanic
IA most expert and ready iorger. equal to any work,
Wilkes was the planner of the work. He is said by
the police TO have managed nearly all the great
criminal enterprises of the particular kind he ex-
ceed in for years. lie is of fine presence. OF excel
lent manners and is the last to be suspected OF
dishonest dealings or association with thieves.
He has held himself above his con-
federates, too, and was seldom, II ever known 10
the men who for a share in the plunder assumed the
risk Of carrying out his schemes by 'placiug" the
paper forged by his intimate friend and companion,
more than ordinary note. Edward Burns and Bart.
lett were the middlemen with whom the persons
who put the paper in the market had their deal
ings Engals is an uncommOnly expert forger
Almost all are ex-convicts; Wilkes alone has never
before been arrested to the knowledge of the police.
PREPARING THE SCHEME
II is now nearly year since Wilkes and Pete'
Burns began to prepare for the execution of scheme
to defraud European bankers, by means of forged
letters of credit. to be made out to American or-
ISIS, lwho wers to be represented by the ADLER mcm-
bers of the bandl travelling with their families
the Continent,
The notes had been prepared by Becker. The
field had been surveyed and the band was mustered
for the work that was to open with the summer
season of travel on the Continent. Wilkes was a.
ready in England. and Engais and Becker Joined
HIM in June to await the maturing of their plans.
The last Of that mouth Bartlett and Edward Burns
sailed from this city with Bell. Clarey and Wilson,
the Tourists" They landed D Eng
laud where they were TO BEGIN operations,
on the day after " Dan Noble a well-know Grim
iual had been convicted of forgery and sentenced
to twenty years imprisonment. His crime was
small in comparison with the work that was before
them, and the prospect in case of their failure
frightened these men, Bell, Clarey and Wilson
fused to travel" unless they know with whom
they were dealing, and what their chances OF
safety Wilkes and Becker fearing TO trust men
mad betrayed cowardice refused to disclose their
nd ntily and open rupture followed. Bell. ClareY
Wilson aud Bartlett returned 70 Amerra on the
next steamer, and Edward Burns by the way of
Canada Their passage was palI; ana each obtained
IS through WIlkes's agents. On the voyage tic
three, VINO passed for gentleme succeeded IN bor-
rowing ali the ready money the captain had and
forgot to pay it back.
Ihnv landed in New-York July IL and imme-
dIately fell III with BrOckway. the fOrger. who was
in New-YOrk Oh visit IRON Balt more. Where he
4 sha tnH ,hnpn hanU rtaa
on local banks. Brnckway. who ~ "a manager like
Wilkes i'll search of tools ~ carry out his plans
and, falling in with the five travellers, took them
back with him. How promptly they fell to work ~
seen ~ the lact that July IL they had obtained on
forged drafts $4,000 at the Merchants National
Bank and on tue following day $4,000 at another
bank With their share of the plundcr the five ut
once returned tO New-fOrk.
Tie a,timore police ascertained the direction the
criminals had taken and Cashier Hawcs, Oi the
Merchants National Bank. cslne 10 Ncw-l Ork aud
consulted Inspector Byrnes. He was able to de-
scribe their. appearance and to identify BelS.
Clarey and Wilson, whom Inspector Byrnes promptly
arrested. Wilson pleaded guilty to two indictments
OF forgery IN Baltimore, and was sent to State
Prison Bell stlLawalts lrIal there Tor the same
offence Henry Clarey had previously committed
an offence IN this Sfate and was sent To the Albany
Pententary for five years. Ind ctments await him
IN Baltimore when his tImo expires.
DEVELOPMENT or The PLOT IN EUROPE.
The poce OF this city, vino had a faint idea of
the movements of the other members of the band.
were meanwhile waiting, dav by dav, for news Of
the movements of Wilkes. Becker aud EnVas in
Europe Their places OF residence were not known
and for q while they were not heard from at all.
Four five weeks ago, Inspector Byrnes
obtained % key to the recent movements of tho
forgers by the arrival from Europe of drafts OBJ
tained OH forged letters of credit. which clearly
the work OF very expert criminals. At the same
time he learned of the arrival in TINS city of George
Engals and Charles Becker, and surmIsed that they
A Il.
until their arrival home IN order 10 avert suspicion
A sharp watch was set on them. Last "Wednesday
cable dispatch came, to Police Commits
aioner Smith from United States Con-
sni Crosby at Florence. advising him
of the capture III that city of three American
forgers, who were travelling with their wives under
the names OF George Ashton Colbert, Henry Mills
and James j. Julius. Forged securities letters OF
credit and drafts on American houses were found IN
their possession. General Smith conferred at once
with Inspector Byrnes, and bret teeGraphc cor
respondence with Consul Crosby developed the fact
that Colbert was an alias for " Pete Burns wills
for Wilkes and Juius for "Shcll" Hamilton who
had been out Of prison hardly nine months. Noxt.
dispatch announced that evidence had been found by
the police of Florence lmpicatlngCharles Becker and
George Engals aud asking for their arrest. Engass
alias as discovered by the Italians was Hilger.
ARRESTS IN NEw-yORK.
Traps were set at once by Inspector Byrnes's de-
tectiyes and on Friday night the Inspector with
Detectives Reilly, Finn and Radford, succeeded In
arreslinq Engas. He was locked up at Police Head
quarters.
The most difficult piece OF work yet remained to
be done In the arrest of Becker, who was wary and
shrewd. II was intrusted 20 Detectives Kinds,
O,Connor. Roland and Healey. who started
Oh Wednesday night for his house almost two
miles back of New Lots on Long Island.
The house stands alone. surrounded by vacant lots.
IN which the only object aordng shelter is large
board ngn, advertising firm OF ciothlers 10 the
eity. Behind this the officers lay all night, exposed
ta the full force Of the storm. They were lore than
SaH.bnr,ed in snow, watching for their man He did
not come. Thursday the watch was kept up ana on