Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-04-12
arrest of an Accomplished Bigan,iss
and SWindIer- Career.

NEW YORK, April 2.
William c. Russell, the check-passer,
who is also known by the name of Ballard,
AIaltby, and other aliases, was taken into
custody on Saturday afternoon, while Ioiter-
ing in the neighborhood of the house in
which dwelt Miss Van Houten, the young
woman whom he married in Baltimore in
December last, and abandoned in a few
weeks afterward at Earl's Hotel, in this city.
1t was during Detective William AIcLaugh-
Inns watch that Russell put in an appear
ance. Arriving near the bank on which he
had attempted to pass the forged check,
he turned to Detective Sergeant AIcIaugh
lin and said: 81 am now satisfied that
1t IS your intention TO show me up. It's no
use, l surrender" The prisoner has within
the past two years proved to be a skilful
forger and "layer down" of worthless
checks. When he had made up his mind to
become criminal, Russell, late in the sum-
mer Of 1881, went to Newburg, n. 7. He
appeared there under the name of R. S. Bal
lard, and IN the role Of retired Philadelphia
physician and land Spectator. He engaged
board at the house of a Mrs. Brock and there
perfected his schemes. To better carry out
his plans and also remove suspicion, he APP
peared to be Smitten with his landiady'S
he was married to Miss Amelia Brock,
by the Rev. A. Mclean, at st. Johns
Church, Newburg. Two days after his
marriage he induced Samuel Ward, a grocer
at that place, to cash a check for him. 1t
was for 500, and was drawn on the Tuar-
raick bank. He succeeded in passing the
check by representing that he had suddenly
run short of funds and desired to go to Goshen,
n. Y, to search the titles of some property.
Ia loft hl-i5n hot
and never returned again. About the
middle of November, however, he turned up
under the name Of Ballard at the Eutaw
House, Baltimore. While there he
made the acquaintance of q comedy
and respectable seamstress named Van
HOuten. She was daZZled with his preten-
SiOnS of wealth. He had exhibited to her
numerous bank-bOOls containing entries of
large deposits, bundles of railroad shares,
deeds of property, and other securities. The
seamshess accepted the offer, and after
cOurtShip of a few days they were married.
On the goth of November Russell came on
with his bride to this city, going to Phila-
delphia several times and VictimiZing several
persons there. December 20 he gave his
bride as a Christmas present a check
for 50, 600 on the Fifth Avenue Bank. She,
uIlSuSpecting woman, went to the bank to
draw the money, and then learned that it
w
was also received that the check which her
husband had deposited for collection from
the Western Bank of Philadelphia was
worthless, and was returned Endorsed ''nO
account She was detained, and subse-
quentIy handed over to Detective Slevin,
When the detective called at Earl's Hotel he
was told that RUSSELL during his wife'S abb
sence, had called for his bill, which he
paid, by a check for $3.50 on the
Fifth Avenue Bank, and had left for
parts unknown. This check was also
worthless. Mrs. Russell's story We
found to be true, and she was thereupon re-
leased and went to live with her brother at
Eighth avenue and Fifth-ninth street
At Police headquarters he cOnVersed free
ly touching his swindIing operations, and
limited that he. had swindled the East River
National Bank, the National Bank of Ma
Tyland, Riggs & Co., of Washington, bank
eTs, and many business men in this and 9th
er cities. The police are of heOpinion that
he has boarded up his ill-gotten gains. In
his room last evening was seized a number
of checks, which were all filled out ready for