The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-22
CAUGHT IN BAVARIA.
Forger Landers Again In PrIsOn-HIs E1.
elOIts In Pittsburgh md Other Cities,

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ST. PAUL, Nov, 2l.-Warden Randall,
Of the Minnesota State Prison, at Still
water, has received dispatch from Ba'
Varla stating that Frank Landsrs, the
most expert forger known to the Amer
lean police, has been captured,
He and another man rented room
above q jewelry store and cut down
through the ceiling into the room be.
meath, which they burglarized, securing
considerable booty and also succeeding
In getting safely away with 1t, After
eluding the officers several days they
were arrested, and one Of them was
identified by means Of photograph as
Frank Landers, The men were tried,
convicted and received sentences Oi ten
years each imprisonment at hard labor,
Landers committed iorgeries In at
least twenty OF th5 principal cities OF
this country. In the fall OF 1882 lie en-.
tered OOrurll University, registering as
from Elmira, n, Y. He renamed there
only partot a term, winding up his col
Iege career by stealing his Chum's trunk
and forging his name to a check for 500,
tic went 10 Pittsburgh, assumed a new
name, aud obained nearly $4,000 on
aldaClous check fOlgeries, He next APP
peared at Omaha, and In three days
worked the merchants and bankers for
over $4,000, moving along to Sau Frau
cisco, In the Golden Gate City he
tarrled several months In apparent in.
activity, but wound up his stay there
with some sharp manipulation Of paper
which netted him over $4,000,
For tho next three or tonr months he |
was around among small places, turning |
up In st. Paul in the spring OF 1854 as |
Wilbur +. James, the sou Of pronii.
nent Lacrosse, Wis, business man.
Henry James, a lumber man, who did u |
great deal oil business In st, Paul, aud
city merchants were very willing to deal
with his son. At the rooms al the Clar-
endOn he prepared checks to the amount
OF over 5000 on tho Autographs oi
Henry James and sailed forth. He Wis.
tied all the iewelry stores in the city,
looking at diamonds which he wished to
purchase for his bride, announcing his
approaching marriage. Nothing was
too good for him, aud In the prosecution
Of his netarious plans he successfully
victimized every merchant he visited,
obtaining not only diamonds, but also
money in return for all mis- worthless
checks.
He got away with the money and dia.
molds and was not heard OF until Sep
tember, when, under another name, he
ylctimized several Worcester, Mass,
MerChants. The latter traced him tO
Boston, where he was arrested. Henry
Finch, Of st. Paul, seeing notice OF the
eastern iorger's method Of procedure,
concluded that he must be Landers,
went to Boston, identified him, got tue
Worcester authorities 10 waive their
claim on him, secured u reQusition aud
brought him to 81. Paul. Hero he was
confronted with overwhelming evidence
OF his guilt. lie broke down aud con-
confessed, not only to. the st. Paul iorger.
les but all those iu other cities. Perhaps
the most peculiar part Of his confession
was the story OF entering the Law school
at Ann ArbOr for the purpose Of Gluding
the officers OF justice then in hot pur.
suit.
Landers was but 81 years old when he
confessed his crimes in ST, Paul, and his
lawyer asked for leniCncy oil account oil
his youth. Judge Brill, Of the District
Court, however, did not SEQ /. iu that
light, and sentenced him to u tenn Of "a
years in Saltwater, Scarcely had he
donled stripes, however, before be
began planning for escape by worming
himself into tho warden's good graces.
He made an eloquent speech on the
Fourth Of July, 1887, TO the ConviCts iu
tue corridor Of thu. prison in support OF
the wNrden's administration. He urged
the boys to preserve discipline and
thus encourage the new oilicer
to continue the mUrClIul regime
which they hRd established, Ian.
ders attained his object and secured
q clerical position Uh the State books,
working in the office between the iron
doors leading into tLe prison proper
This position gave him a few privileges
and pIVru liberty than no had formerly
He held this position about
three months aud then one dark evening
In October, with the help OF an iron
he pried the window barr
apart, and IN company with another
convict made a sale and speedy exit
through the window and over the wall
to tue world beyond.
LaLueIs lS SUI u young man, and ar.
rangements Will By made to have him
sent back to America rs aoon as his BA.
varian SENTENCE iS served,