St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-07
De FRANCE A RASCAL.
Rosy Record Of the Swindler
Wanted in st. Paul.
EE FORGED HEAVY DRAFTS
And Got Them Cashed in Va
rious Big Cities.
TWIN CITIES BOTH CAUGHT.
St. Paul National Secures a
Requisition for Him.
HIS LIFE VERY ROMANTIC

Special to the Globe.
DETROIT, Mich, Oct. 6.-Wednesday
the police of this city took into custody
J. De France, a well-knOwn man about
town, who resides in a palatial Trumbull
avenue home, and is considered a man
of wealth. For three days reporters
have been endeavorlng to discover on
what charge De France is being held.
but until tonight without success. The
following dispatch from Lansing to-
night explains the mystery:
HoNoRED BY RICH.
Lansing. Mich, Oct. Gov. Rich
has hOnOred the reQuIsition from the
governor of Minnesota, and issued a
warrant for tine return of Stonewall j.
De France. The warrant was given to
a Minnesota officer. Frank W. Kinney,
who left for Detroit at 12:45 p. IN. The
original warrant was issued by the
municipal court of st. Paul, charging
forgery Ill the second degree. In the
official papers Arthur g. Anderson,
cashier of the st. Paul National bank,
charges that on the 11th day of April,
1892, Stonewall j. De France, alias
Cameron Elliott, appeared at the
bank and presented a draft for
$4,000. This purported to be
drawn by the Bank of Commerce of In
dianapolis, payable to the order of Cam
eron Elliott. 1t was drawn on the
United States National bank, of New
York, The draft was accepted and
credited to Cameron Elliott, and before
the maker had chance to protest,
Elliott had drawn $4,000 and disap-
peared. Edwin F. Conley, De Frances
lawyer, at first intended TO appear be-
fore the governor and argue against the
issue of a warrant, but finally decided
to resort to the habeas corpus. The
charges as made are certified to by
Cashier Anderson and Assistant Cashier
Gerry.
HIS DETROIT CAREER.
De France came TO Detroit about ten
years ago. His relatives live in Pitts
burg and are said to be well-tO-dO. The
young man was inclined to be quiet. but
dressed well, and sooE made a good
many friends. The only employment
which he is known to have had in De-
troit was that in the insurance Office of
1hayer d Dunning. For the past two
Or three years he has been something of
a mystery to his friends. About two
years ago he left Detroit, and was alb
sent five or six weeks. When he left he
was undoubtedly SO poor that he had all
he could do to keep atloaU. He came
back apparently a rich man, when he
bought
HIS ELEGANT RESIDENCE.
The large purchase price, $1,000,
was planked down in bills. Shortly
afterwards he and his wife made an ex-
tensiye tour of Europe. De France is
reported as man or excellent habits.
He does not drink, only very lately
learned to smoke, does not know enough
about cards to gamble, and is said to be
generous to fault. His wife, who is
said to be both proud and extravagant,
came to Detroit with her mother
from Toronto. Her maiden name
was Mamie Bergeman. Her folks
at one time kept boarding house on
Randolph street. De France boarded
with them prior TO his marriage. They
have been married about seven yeals,
and have two children, a girl and a
boy. The newly acquired home on
Trumbull avenue is said to be one of the
most elegantly and eXpensively fur
nished residences in the city. 1t is
known that the De Frances were on
quite intimate terms with John Cousi-
dine,
LEADER OF A NOTED GANG
of Crooks, their wives often exchanging
visits at their respective residences.
This fact has always been cause of
more or less surprise to the other friends
of De France. 1t is expected that De
Frances attorney will at once insti-
tute habeas corpus proceedings for his
release on the grounds that he is not
held under proper warrant of law.
''It would be useless for De Frances
attorneys to institute habeas corpus
proceedings for his release said Pros
ecutor Frazer, las he will be held under
any and all circumstances"
There is one point on which all in
any way connected with the case posi-
lively refuse to talk. They will not
divulge how Stonewall j. De France
was identified as
CAMERON ELLIOTT,
or what first led to his discovery. This
feature of the case evidently has some
connection with the more sensational
developments whicn are expected Il
follow. The revival of the Perrien alb
duction case just at this time adds ma
terially to the speculation over the DE-
France arrest. His relations with the
parties who are supposed to have com
mitted that crime are said to be wei
known to the police. De France i:
known to have been i'll Detroit at the
time Perrien was abducted, and it i.
SAID that he knows considerable abou
it. 1t is now believed by the Detroi
officials that the st. Paul and Minneapo
lis bank swindles are only two of man,
such which he has perpetrated in vari
parts of the country. They say hi
millionaire style of expenditures woul(
have exhausted the S3S, 900 long ago hat
it not been supplemented
BRAINS OF A GANG.
81 believe that De France is the brain
of clever gang of rogues, several O
whom live i'll Detroit" said prominen
local official this morning. "He is on,
OF the slickest chaps l ever struck
These two bank forgeries are scarcely
drop III the bucket to the sensation