New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
4 NOTORIOUS FORGER TRAPPED.
+ WHITMAN ONCE A WELI~KNOWN
POLITICIAN. ARRESTED FOR SWIM
DING CITY BANK.

, o,.,e,,,,1v snoear,nr man called a. the Co.
I,r,bia Bank No. 5m Fifth-ave. on saturday Feo-
ruarv 90 gave hts as J. II. Williams ano stated
that he was physician in West Fortie;h-st- that
he had lately moved into that neighborhood from
prooklvn and desired 10 transfer his account from
Rrooklvn bank 10 the Columbia Bank. The bank
accented his account. whereupon he deposited
check FOR g. 76 p. purporng 10 be on the National
Ci.v Bank az brooklyn. 20 the order OF the Columbia
Rank and signed ]. II. Williams Shortly after the
Columbia Bank opened on Tuesday, February ..
Mr. williams called and presented his personal
check FOR $3.50 which was paid without hesitation.
Shortly after this the National City Bank OF Brook
lyn telephoned the Columbia Bank that J. II. VIII
Jams had no account with them and was unknown
20 that institution.
The Columbia Bank. realizing that Il had been
swlndled. Immediately informed the American Bank
e-s' Association who IN turn informed Pnkerton's
National Detective Agency. The Pinkertons. on re-
ceivng the checks az recognized them the
work OF the notorious swlnder and forger Alonzo
J. Whiteman alias Delafeld alias Whiting. who was
recently released from the San Francisco Jail.
Whiteman's photograph. on being shown to the bank
officials. Immediately recognized.
The Pinkertons traced Whiteman 10 n prominent
hotel at Lakewood. " j.. where under the alias
OF John l.. Whiting he had been posing hail
fellow. well met; a good poker and pool
player and had borrowed money Unfortunately
from the other guests Here 1t vas learned that
ne nAQ LETT the motel suddenly on the IiSnl OF
February % From Lakewood the Pinkertons traced
Whiteman to his mothers home in Dansville. y. Y.
whore OF their detectives keeping him
under surveillance until a warrant for his arrest
could reach there. Whteman indicted Friday
and Detective Sergeant Robert Mcknight, OF Cap
tain OBriens STAFF. detailed at the Distric-Attor-
ney's office. started Friday evening FOR Dams
Vile En- route he received on the train a telegram
from the Plnkerton detective that Whlteman was
his way 10 New-York City. Detective McNaught
left the train he was al Scranton, Penn, ana
took the whiteman on. and when White
stepped of the boat at Barcay-st.. arrested
him and took him to Police Headquarters. where
he was identified ]. II. Williams. who swindled
the Columbia Bank.
Aonzo J. Whiteman. alias A. Deaheli, alias John
l.. Whiting alias J. II. Williams. ,orger. swindler
and racetrack "wecher." was at time mem
Der OF the Minnesota Senate and occupied high
place in financial, commercial, social and political
circles. He treasurer OF the Whteman PAPER
and Pulp Company OF Dansville. ~ y. OF which
his father was president. After being graduated
from Columbia he moved 10 Duluth. MINI. ana
there engaged In the pine lumber business Ills
father died In March. ls:s. leaving ii large estate
o; which Alonzo J. and his mother were the e%-
ecutors without bond. The other members OF his
family demanded an accounting OF the estate, Wheh
1t was found that part OF the assets consisting OF
from $50 5000 worth o. notes were iorgeries
While member Of the Minnesota Legislature ne was
the author or what was known a. the W hIteniah
min The adoption OF the Australian ballo; system.
In 1850 Whteman was Ne Democrats randie 10Y
but defeated ~ the Farmers Alliance candi-
Afier his defeat for Congress his lumber specu
lations proving disastrous. Whiteman became a
bookmsker failed in this business and weiehed
behind him. passed forged checks on other BOOK
makers and PerpeaeG sw no gy m did
thing In the way OF racetrack swlnding.
In 1890 he visited the Nashville Tenn, racetrack,
II. ,n.ra lied a
known 81. Paul bookmaker, out OF $1,000 by means
Of forged telegram Whiteman never denied TINS
ly how easy it was 10 perpetrate the swindie. IN
s wheman swndled Joseph u fdTnnd ihe we
purporting TO be signed by d. Gideon, asking tH-
A. P,nkerion head OF the Chicago branch Of PIN
kertons National Detective Agency. met White
man on the Bay Ridge boat coming from the Brook
lvn rscetrack and accused him OF swindling Mr.
Iuman Wheman did not deny this swindle. ana
iaughingly told Mr. Plnkerton how he had de-
stroyed the proof Of the crime by stealing the
bogus telegram while Mr. Clman was busy al the
on June .. 1894. whiteman attempted TO collect
$500 from each OF the ninety bookmakers doing bus-
ness al the Washington Park Racetrack Chicago,
ill., Whiteman started out with his bag over his
shoulder and began TO collect the 800 lie collect
ed from three Of the bookmakers, but the fourth,
being suspicious. refused 10 pay unless Whteman
WAS Identified by W. A; Pinkerton. who had charge
Of the detectives at the Washington PARK track.
Whireman then left the incosure. and, going over
to the French mutuals stand; threw the bag CON
tendan Tel Ira Mcbride only sGsr,td from
around he found the bag containing the $500. but
Whiteman was missing from the track. having left
in, m eIia fely after handing the bag with the
non.v After being implicated in number OF
other swindling operations on May ?. 1879. White
man was arrested by the police OF ths city at the
reoi,est Of l. w Lees captain Of detectives. OF the
San Francisco Police Department After a long
ia~aI dDht when ne had exerted al the influence
OF his political and business friends TO prevail
upon the Governor or New-fork not 10 sign me
raac,,isfsIon psDers, Whitcman taken San
Francisco TO answer the charge Of forgery AGAINST
r,n, in that State. lie convicted on June 30
is,5 and on August 30 following was sentenced 10
nine wears in the California State prison. He re-
ceived a sfav of proceedings. a new trial followed
and on the San Francisco authorities concluding
there was no, sufficient evidence 10 again convict
him. Whitenan was discharged from CUSTODY Oh
November Q. 1886
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