The San Francisco call., 1896-08-29
Prior Convictions Seal the Fate
of the Nevada Bank
SwindlerS.
STAY OF EXECUTION GRANTED
History of the Crime of Which the
Two Notorious Rogues Were
Convicted.

To State prison for life. That Is the
sentence Judge Wallace imposed upon
James Creegan and Charles Becker, the
convicted forgers.
The crime for which the prince OF
Forgersn and his "paP' will in all proba-
bility spend the balance of their lives be-
hind prison bars was one of the most sem
sational bank swindles ever perpetrated
in California. In December last Frank
Seaver, alias A. III. Dean, deposited draft
for $4,000 at the Nevada Bank. Dean
already had an ccount there, having es-
tablished it short time before. The draft
was on the Crocker-Wo Woolworth Bank and
was drawn by financial institution.
The Crocker Woolworth Bank ac-
knowledged the draft to be all right, and
two days later Dean drew $40, 900 from the
Nevada Bank.
1t was subsequently found that the draft
had been raised from $12 to $4,000.
Becker, Creegan, Dean and others were
suspected of completely in the crime, and
after long chase were arrested, Becker
and Creegan being the last of the opera
tors to be taken into custody, and that on
the eve of their departure for Guate mala.
Great interest has been taken in the
case by banking authorities all over the
country, and determined effort was made
convict Becker and Creegan, the former to
being regarded as the penman and the
latter as the general manager of mum ber-
less clever forgeries which have been sue
cessfully carried out in recent years.
Captain Lees was the recipient of much
congratulation when he arrested his men,
and personally interested himself in the
trial which; through the turning of States
evidence OF Dean, alias Seaver, resulted in
the conviction of the accused several
weeks ago. Sentence has been put off q
number of times to allow counsel to pre-
pare arguments for a new trial.
The celebrate swindlers were again be-
fore the court yes terday for sentence but
It was hardly expected that the penalty
for having repeatedly broken the law of
the land would be meted out to them. 1t
was rather supposed that the eloquence of
their attorney, Peter Dunno, would secure
TO the forgers new trial.
During the trial which resulted in the
conviction of the Eastern crooks, the
attorneys for the defense noted over 100
exceptions to the rulings of the court. and
1t was confidently believed by the prison
ers that one or more of the legal tech
nicalities would be made to stick, and in
consequence, rehearing be allowed.
Mr.. Dunno, in his argument for new
trial, was rather severe in his remarks as
to the rulings of Judge Wallace, and did
not hesitate to score his Honor, particu-
larry as to the admissio of the evidence
OF McCloskey. He claimed that the ques-
ton, "Were you arraigned on charge OF
being an accomplice of these menP"
should not have been allowed, and that
the effect of the question and its answer,
Yes" was highly prejudicial to his
clients.
The query, "Were you tried and ac-
quilted p was also put to McCloskey, and
to this Dunno objected but was overruled.
1t was also made subject of comment in
the argument.
Dunne vigorously attacked the Judges
charge to the jury, making that portion
which referred to the facts in the case the
point of assault.
Judge Wallace said to the jury that the
evidence tended to show that Becker COM
1mitted the forgery in Oakland, and there
fore the courts here had no jurisdiction
over the actual charge of forgery, but
could convict him of uttering the forged
draft in San Francisco. Dunno claimed
that the charge IN this part decided upon
a question of fact instead of law, and that
the court had no right to make such re-
marks to the jurymen.
Judge Wallace in summing the matter
up said that he had been very careful dur
ing the trial and had looked after the
interests of the defendants equally with
those of the prosecution. There had been
a number of obje ctions taken on techni-
calities, but ne was satisfied that the ac-
cused had had a fair and impartial trial
and did not think they should be per-