Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-01-16
A DARING THIEF.
The Downfall of a Man Who Tried
TO Steal S22,S9S.
CUNNING G. N. CUNNINGHAM
He Was the Agent at Elmira of the
Mutual Lie Insurance Company. and
Forged q Check, Intending to
Skip to Spain with the Swag.


ningham, the Elmira agent of the Mutual
Life Insurance company, of this city, who
was arrested ON train as it was entering
Hoboken by Chief of Police Donovan charged
with forgery, passed the night in the private
room of Chief Donovan at police headquar-
ters, guarded by policeman.
He was cool and collected, and was only
anxious about the $40, 190 81 in gold and bills
which were found in hls possession and were
the proceeds of the forgery. This money was
placed in the safe of Tax Collector Bowes
after Police Commissioner Kaufman and
Chief Donovan had spent two hours count
ing the gold pieces.
Chief of Police Little, of Elmira, and James
A. Douglas, counsel for the Farmers and
Mechanics bank of that city, reached Hobo
ken in the morning
When they entered his cell, Cunningham,
who is a small sized man of 40 years. with
sandy mustache and gray eyes, greeted his
friends with cheerful "Gool morning"
"What have you done with the So, SOS
which you got from the forged draftsT' said
Chief Little "There was less than $1,000
found on you when you were arrested
"Oh, that is all right" coolly replied Cum
ningham. "I'n show you where that is
when get back to Binghamton.
Cunningham has gone back with Chief
Little and Lawyer Douglas, and with him go
the 200 in gold and the 81, 100 - in bills
and silver which he had in his vaise.
''This is a very strange case said Lawyer
Douglas to reporter. During the past
two years Cunningham has been the agent
at Elmira for the Mutual Life Insurance
company, of this city, and was apparently
very successful He was liberal and genial
in disposition, and made hosts of friends
among the business men and society people
of Elmira. He had an account in the Far
mers and Mechanics bank of that city, of
which institution Mr. Lewis NJ Smith was
the leading stakeholder
"On Saturday Cunningham deposited two
forged drafts purporting to be from the Mu-
tual Life Insurance company, and obtained
two certificates of deposit-from the bank for
the amount, So, $685. On Sunday he OBJ
tanned from the Chemung Canal bank, in
exchange for these certificates, draft on
New York city.
monday morning he went to Bingham
ton, where he formerly resided, and obtained
money on them.
"On Monday morning word came from
New York that the drafts deposited with the
bank in Elmira were forgeries. Chief Little
traced Cunningham to Bnghamton and
found that he had left for Jersey City on the
2:43 p. m. train. He telegraphed Chief
Donovan, and also telegraphed to Conductor
Harding, of the train Cunningham was on.
Harding kept the forger under surveillance
in case he attempted to leave the train at one
of the way stations He also kept a sharp
watch on the valise in which the money was.
Cunningham seemed perfectly unconcerned
and acted very little like a man running
away.
mo reason is known why Cunningham
committed the forgery. He was liberal, but
not extravagant and had no business en-
tanglement as far as is known. He must
have had the idea for some time, as it has
been discovered that some days ago he
bought number of maps of Spain and South
America and books which tell the countries
with which the United States has no extra
dition treaty. A steamer left New York
Tuesday for Buenos Ayres, and it is thought
he intended to sail by it if he had reached
New York in safety
''Oh, yes; Cunningham was very cunning"
said the secretary of the Mutual Life Insur-
ance company this morning.
II remember him very well, indeed con-
tinued the secretary. "This is not the first
time he has been caught in his little games
believe he was the means of some good for
nothing checks being presented to US a while
ago. The character of the paper was such
that our suspicious were at once aroused and
we did not accept the checks.
/ AUGUSTA, Me. Jan 16.-At noon today both
branches of the legislature voted for United
States senator. In the house the vote stood
121 for w. P. Frye, Republican, to 25 for
Harris NJ. Plaisted, Democrat. In the sen
ate all OF 20 votes were for w. P. Frye Two
senator's were absent.