Evening journal., 1896-05-14
FORGERS IN THE TOLLS
Two Clever Bank Swindlers
Caught In Newark.
FOLLOWED ACROSS THE CONTINENT

the Nevada Bank Swindlo Raised n
Check From sIa to see. 900 and After
ward Got II cashcd,
NEwAEg, n. j., May 1t-Aftor bcine
followed across the continent from San
francisco and being lost and found sew
rral times by Pinkorton detectives who
had boon on their track since Dec. 2l Of
last year, two men, who are said to be
among the clevorest swindlors in the coun.
try, were arrested at Market and Broad
streets, this city, by Policeman W. J. Lof-
tus
They were taken to police headquarters
and held as fugitiyes from justice.
They gave their names as James w.
Crogan aged 85 years and Charles Beck
or, aged AZ yoars.
Whom searched at police headquarters,
tho sum OF g., 307 50 was found upon
them. Cregan hnd ono 1000 bill, 12
500 bills and some change Becker had
the remainder Of the money.
.Iewolry worth at least 81, 800 was also
taken from thom. Cregan had diamond
ring in his pooketbook which is worth at
least S400. Becker wore q sapphire scarf
pin sot in dilmonds, which is probably
worth $3.50.
The prisoners have been hunted during
the past five months. Hundreds of de
tectives between here and the Pacific coast,
whore the swndlors performed their last
known extensive steal, have boon on the
watch for them. The other members OF
the quartet are now in custody in San
Francisco. They were arrested In Denver
over three months ago and were removed
to the Golden Cato city. They were not
tried, for the alleged reason that without
the arrest OF Cregan and Becker, the chief
conspirators, their conviction would have
been difficult
The American Bankers association has
been the real pursuer of the men arrested
Tho police OF all the cities I'm America
were warned TO lookout for and were fur
nished with descriptions OF the men.
A detective spotted Becker and Cregan
walking down Broad near Market street
and promptly informed LOTUS that the
men were desperate criminals and were
wanted. The patrolman at once took
Cregan, tall, athletic and good looking
man, In tow, while the Pinkorton men
assumed charge Of Becker.
The latter has gray hair dresses modest
", Is attractive In appearance and looks
like prosperous business man.
Inclined to Resist Arrest.
Cregan protested and at first was in
olined to resist arrest, but LOTUS warned
him that a tap on the head would be his
lot II he displayed any intention TO skip.
This brought Cregan to his senses.
Detective fallon says Becker is the
leader Of the gang-the most dangerous
and most sought forger in this country.
Ilo is said to be ablo to perform tho cley-
crest work known TO bank swindlers.
Tho specific crimo for which the men
are wanted and for which they have been
indicted in San Francisco Is the raising OF
draft from sle to see, 600, and upon
which they obtained all Of the money OF
this amount 5000 was paid in gold,
Dec. Is last Cregan secured at Nevada
bank Of San Francisco a draft for Sl2.
Tho figures donominating tho amount OF
tho draft were punched through tho pa.
per. It was drawn upon the Crocker-W Wool
worth bank Of San Francisco.
Becker, with some sort OF pulp, 10 Is
said. filled the punotures and with
stamping maohinu precisely like the one
in use In the Nevada bank restamped the
figures e22, 600. Tho writing, all except
the signatures on tho draft, were obliter-
ated with tho aid Of absorbent Guid and
the word twelve replaced by the words
twenty two thousand.
So we'll was the soEemo worked thatit
Is said the cashier uf the Crockor Wool.
worth bank paid out tho money without
requiring the applicant 60 be identified.
There Is a dispute as 60 whether Booker
OF one OF the mon In custody I'm San Fran.
Disco had the draft cashed but il is be-
loved that Becker Is the man. Il was not
until 80 hours aftor the money was I'm the
hands Of the swindlers that the crime was
brought 10 light BY that time the swim
dlers had separated and were milos away
with tho money.
1t was n difficult task to keep track OF
Cregan or Becker. They would appear in
one city suddenly and vanish as suddenly
as soon as the detectives got on TO theii
trail Two weeks ago the agents of the
law oame up with them IN Philadelphia
and arrested them.
Their Operations In Philadelphia.
Becker went to tho Park House, where
Cregan was stopping, and when they
emerged they were followed TO where the
arrest took place.
Becker's object in coming to this city,
It Is said was 20 assist in recovering from
the Philadelphia police 81, 200 which was
taken from them when they were arrested
there.
The men did not walt long enough in
tho Quaker city 10 secure their money.
Cregan had a typewritten affidavit pre-
pared, which no had signed and 70 which
Becker was to afllx his signature in the
presence Of a notary.
They were on their way to the notaryis
office when arrested They were much
chagrined over being caught with the af
ldayit in their possession, and Cregan at
tempted TO drop the envelope. but was
prevented from doing so by Detective Fal
Ion.
Detective Jaegers, who searched the
mon, found money In all Of Cregans pock-
cts After he had insisted that he had no
more money upon his person the detective
found 81, 800 pinned TO his underdrawcrs
at the knee. Whom Jaegers fished the
money out Becker quietly remarked
There goes the doodle"
Detective fallon says that both men
are known TO the Newark detectives and
have served terms in Sing Sing and in
western prisons. Before they were record
ed as prisoners Cregan. with considerable
nonchalance, said 'Well / suppose woil
have to get a lawyer. 4"
Later he said they had been in this city
of and on for ten days